Thanks to all who commented -- I appreciate you taking the time and offering your point of view. It always helps to see how others view what I've shot.
This is a great idea for the challenge. Some people will view the fence as a real detractor - however - this is exactly the kind of picture you find in the sports pages. A pic of just the pitcher on the mound is dull ........ get othe players into the foreground and you've got a hit. Excellent job.
I think if this was cropped wider it would of helped this shots score. IMHO. I do like the black and white, the subject and yes this would be something seen in any paper.
Too much use of Neatimage or PS despeckling. The composition itself is not bad, though the differences in light from the girls in the dugout to the girl on the field is throwing me off a little.