Paige Sinicki stepped onto the field at Hillsboro Ballpark on July 8, as a professional softball player for the first time, eight months after being diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

The 22-year-old former University of Oregon shortstop entered the Portland Cascade's game against the Carolina Blaze in the fifth inning, replacing Sis Bates at second base. She went 0-for-1 at the plate but looked sharp on defense.

Sinicki learned of her diagnosis in November 2025 while working as a graduate assistant for the University of Utah's softball program. Treatment included surgery, eight rounds of chemotherapy, and radiation. The Cascade had selected her 20th overall in the December 2025 AUSL Allocation Draft, just weeks after her diagnosis.

"I think I've learned a lot. The really big thing for me is taking one moment at a time," Sinicki told the Beaverton Valley Times after the game.

"When I heard Car (Carley Hoover) say 'one pitch' on the mound, it brought me back to times when I was in the treatment room just having to go one infusion at a time."

Before cancer interrupted her career, Sinicki had built an impressive résumé at Oregon. She won the NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove at shortstop, posted career highs in nearly every offensive category, and helped lead the Ducks to a Big Ten championship and the College World Series.

She also played for the Utah Talons during the AUSL's inaugural 2025 season.

The Cascade, an expansion team in the AUSL's second year, plays home games at Hillsboro Ballpark under head coach Tairia Flowers, a former UCLA All-American and Olympic medalist.

Sinicki, originally from Henderson, Nevada, said the game felt natural once she was back between the lines.

"I feel like it's just second nature and my mind just goes blank," she said. "I just feel like I'm playing whiffle ball with my friends."

The AUSL regular season runs through July 20, with the postseason beginning Thursday, July 23. The AUSL Championship Series is scheduled for July 25-27 at Davis Diamond in College Station, Texas.