A Japanese schoolgirl is attempting to become the first woman to ever play professional baseball in Japan. Eri Yoshida, 16, was drafted by the Kobe 9 Cruise, a professional team in a new independent Japanese league that starts its first season in April. "I always dreamed of becoming a professional," Yoshida said at a news conference Monday. "I have only just been picked by the team and haven't achieved anything yet." Yoshida, a right-hander who is 5 feet and 114 pounds, throws a sidearm knuckleball.