Rachel Balkovec cheered in debut managing Yankees affiliate
![<i></i><br/>](https://abc17news.b-cdn.net/abc17news.com/2021/06/RaJNk2xK-kmiz-sports.png)
By MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Rachel Balkovec signed some autographs, drew a nice ovation when she as introduced and posed for a picture at home plate. Then it was time to get to work. The manager of a New York Yankees minor league team had a game to run. The 34-year-old Balkovec became the first woman to manage an affiliate of a Major League Baseball team when she guided the Class A Tampa Tarpons against the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League on Friday night. The Yankees announced her hiring as a minor league manager in January. She was a former softball catcher at Creighton and New Mexico.