Rene Robinson had been an athlete all her life — she played college basketball at Carlow — but this game was as competitive as any she ever played. It happened four years ago, but she remembers it well. “Our hearts pounding and hands sweating in the championship game against the Diamond Divas,” Robinson said. “Game’s tied 0-0 up until the seventh inning, and it was a fight until the finish. Eventually, the Divas scored in the bottom of the seventh. You could cut the air with a knife at that time. Everyone was invested. It was intense.” It was kickball. he Steel City Kickers is a kickball league designed to promote lifelong enjoyment of recreation for women of all ages in a safe space while encouraging sisterhood, community bonding, healthy habits and equipping the next generation of women through mentorship. The league plays a 10-week schedule from June until August, including playoffs, skills competitions and an annual awards ceremony. There are seven teams in the league: the Renegades (Robinson’s team), the Royal T Divas, the Diva Dolls, the Main Event, Alive & Kicking, the Hell Katz and defending champion Blackout. On opening day at Scott High Field in in North Braddock, Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey was in attendance.

Photo Credit: Asha Blake/Pittsburgh Tribune Review