Arnold Field will be the site for a historic evening on Friday when the Sonoma Stompers start two female players at People's Home Equity Ballpark.
Ben Lindbergh/Sonoma Stompers, FiveThirtyEight
Originally Published: The Comeback
Harry Lyles, Jr., Contributor
For just the third time since the 1950s, a United States professional baseball team will have women on its roster. The Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs have signed Kelsie Whitmore and Stacy Piagno, who will both make their debuts on July 1 when the team faces off against the San Rafael Pacifics.
This isn’t the first time the Stompers are making the news for the signing of a player. Last year, the Stompers made news when pitcher Sean Conroy became the first openly gay player to play at the professional ranks.
Theo Fightmaster, GM of the Stompers, told the Sonoma Index-Tribune that there should be more opportunities for women in sports:
“We hope this sends a message to the rest of the baseball world that there is room for women and girls in this game — from Little League to the Major Leagues,” he said.
The pair will be playing for Team USA in the Women’s Baseball World Cup in South Korea. Whitmore is attending Cal State Fullerton next season on a softball scholarship, and Piagno played softball at the University of Tampa.
It’s great to see women getting a fair shake in sports, and these two are certainly helping pave the way for future women.