Borders aims to inspire with book

SANTA ANA – Ila Borders is pitching again. Not in the center of the diamond, where she made history as a female competing and winning against college and minor-league hitters, but delivering her story of overcoming struggle, in baseball and in life.

On Tuesday, her target was a group of about 30 students at Cesar Chavez High School, where her former Southern California College coach, Charlie Phillips, teaches.

Borders, now 42 and a firefighter-paramedic living in Portland, Ore. is promoting her book ‘Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey,” which she wrote along with Laguna Beach author Jean Hastings Ardell.

But Borders is also aiming to connect with those who can identify with her pain of growing up in a dysfunctional family, dealing with their own sexual orientation, breaking new ground in male-dominated baseball, and the depression spurred by the unexpected deaths of her grandmother and her then-fiancee, Shannon Chesnos, in 2007.

“I think our kids can gain inspiration on how to survive and do great things in society,” Phillips said of bringing Borders back to Orange County.

Borders, who considered herself a misfit growing up – shunned by fellow bookish nerds because she was an athlete and snubbed by athletes because she loved the escape of reading – encouraged the students to embrace their individuality and focus on pursuing their passion.

“I’m a very private person, but I became convinced by others that it was important to get my experiences out there to help people,” said Borders, who as a freshman at what is now Vanguard University in 1994 became the first woman to earn the pitching victory in a college baseball game.

Borders, a 5 feet 9, 140-pound left-hander, went on to play three seasons in the independent Northern League, winning two games.

She retired midway through the 2000 season with the Western League Zion Pioneerzz. Her equipment and uniforms have subsequently been displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Borders spoke Tuesday about a difficult childhood, living in poverty during her time in baseball, and reaching the depths of depression that included contemplating suicide.

She also cited her persistence and work ethic with helping fashion a career as a firefighter-paramedic, a job she said has allowed her to “give back” for 13 years.

Last year, Borders married Nike shoe designer Jenni Westphal with whom she has found great happiness. Borders said she is exploring the possibility of returning to baseball, perhaps as a scout or a coach. She said it is a career change that could happen soon.

She held the students’ attention, genuinely engaged with them, both as an audience and as individuals, autographed items for all who asked, and thanked school officials for creating the event.

“These kids were fantastic,” Borders said afterward. “I really relate to them because, I’m assuming, they had a little bit of a tougher upbringing and background, since this is an alternative high school.”

Borders encouraged the students to reach out to her and said she would always respond to email messages with support and encouragement.

“I care. I’m here, and I’m with you,” Borders said.

Borders said writing the book involved cathartic laughter, as well as deep anguish.

She also said that reflecting upon her baseball career was somewhat uncomfortable.

“If I had to sum up my [pro baseball career] in one word, it would be stress,” Borders said. “I was having fun and I also loved the game. But then there was so much stress, and I remember a lot of that too.

“If it were just me pitching out there, it would have been fine. But because everyone was [weighing] in saying if I mess up, I’m messing of for women … Oh my gosh, I thought, I can’t mess this up. I’ve always been fine failing on my own and owning it. But then failing for everybody, when they are not going to recover, that takes on a whole different meaning.”

Borders hopes her story will have meaning for others.

barry.faulkner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5