ZINK: Whitmore makes professional debut; Inland Sports hot dogs it – Press-Enterprise

ZINK: Whitmore makes professional debut; Inland Sports hot dogs it

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RIVERSIDE – Each year, on Fourth of July Weekend, we celebrate American Independence and honor those who fought for our right to be free to pursue the “American Dream.”

Saturday, on the Inland Sports radio show, we talked with Kelsie Whitmore, a 17-year-old Temecula Valley grad who recently signed to play professional baseball, becoming one of a very few women that have ever played a traditionally men’s game. We then took stock of the fortunes of many Inland area Olympic athletes that are competing to go to the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janero, Brazil. Finally we began a July 4th Inland Sports tradition – the inaugural Inland Sports hot dog eating contest.

WHITMORE PLAYS BALL

Friday night Temecula’s Kelsie Whitmore started in the outfield for the Sonoma Stompers, an Independent minor league baseball team, and became one of a just handful of women to play in a professional baseball game.

Whitmore and Stacy Piagno, the 25-year-old pitcher from St. Augustine, Florida, were signed earlier in the week to a professional contact by Sonoma Stompers’ General Manager Theo Fightmaster to play for the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs team.

Whitmore and Piagno, members of the United States women’s national baseball team, both played Friday night in front of a huge crowd and a throng of media in an event not seen but a few times in the last 60 years.

Piagno gave up three hits, including two RBI doubles, and walked two. Whitmore walked and struck out in two plate appearances and the Stompers lost 8-4.

Despite the disappointing result, Whitmore told the Inland Sports Show Saturday that the experience was amazing, more than words could describe.

“I was at a restaurant after the game and I saw myself on ESPN,” said Whitmore, who will play softball at Cal State Fullerton next season. “It was an incredible experience and it’s cool that women’s baseball is getting bigger.”

Some might have thought it was some minor league publicity stunt, but Whitmore assured Pep and myself that it was a sincere attempt by team owner and movie mogal Francis Ford Coppola to promote women in sports.

“Mr. Coppola asked the stompers to spcifically sign some women and give them an opportunity to play baseball,” said Whitmore, who noted Coppola thinks women can succeed in baseball.

“I think that the more girls get opportunity, looks and work in men’s baseball, girls will rise to play in Major League baseball,” Whitmore said.

Whitmore said she felt honored to play for the Stompers and noted that she signed so many autographs that she couldn’t tell the show’s listeners how many she penned.

“There were way too many to count,” said Whitmore.

Touched by the ESPN television report, show contributor Geoff Gorham commented to Whitmore that his wife Carla, not a huge sports fan, was inspired her segment.

“You inspired a 35-year-old woman and will inspire many more young women,” said Gorham. “Heck, I’m inspired by your story.”

Before heading back to the Stomper Stadium to prepare for Saturday night’s game, Whitmore left the Inland Sports Show with one last comment.