By DEAN ROVENTINI
Traditionally men and women are separated on the softball and baseball diamond, but today more female athletes are making their way to the 90-foot base line.
In 2004, USA Baseball created its first women’s national baseball team. They started with only 4 competing teams to now having a 25-game schedule. This transformation is eye-opening, and girls are breaking boundaries by competing on the same teams with the boys.
Stacy Piagno, 25, and 17-year-old Kelsie Whitmore, 17, were signed to minor league contracts this past July. The Sonoma Stompers, of Sonoma, California, had both Piagno and Whitmore in their starting lineups on July 6, according to MLB.com. This is not the first time a woman has played in a men’s league, but it is the first time two women have played and started on the same team in the modern era. Piagno is an outstanding pitcher with a accurate fastball and a curveball with “pro-level” movement. Whitmore is a utility player, who can play multiple positions, but played left field for the Stompers.
George Hunkele, a diehard baseball fan and senior at Ramapo College, is unsure of how this transition will be executed. “It is something I think will never happen, but if it does then I have nothing but respect for those girls,” said Hunkele. “I just hope the girls aren’t treated as side-shows or just a way to get ticket sales up.”
These girls want to play the game of baseball and be treated as an equal player.
Divison l softball player of Elon University, Natalie Norcutt said, “When women prove they can play with the boys, it is inspiring to me as a woman.” Norcutt continue to explain how playing either softball or baseball if just a choice. “It is merely your perference on which sport you like to play. Unlike me, these girls like to play baseball instead of softball and that is why they continue to play pass these obstacles.”
There are no girls in the MLB nor in the minor leagues.
France native, Melissa Mayeux, 17, is the first female to register for the MLB and has now become an international prospect. Mayeux will be available to sign by the time she is 18.
Mike McClellan, one of the directors for International Game Development, was quoted in an MLB.com article saying about Mayeux, “She’s a legitimate shortstop who makes all the plays and is very smooth and fluid in the field,” he continued to say, “She swings the bat really well and is fearless.”
Mayeux has been playing with the boys her entire life and plans to continue playing with them.
“I would like very much to continue playing baseball in France until I’m 18 years old,” said Mayeux to MLB.com’s Lindsay Berra , “and then have the ability to leave for university or another opportunity abroad. I’d like to stay in baseball as long as possible.” Her passion for the game is strong and may take her very far.
Junior college coach CJ Mooney of Middlesex County College, shared his opinion on girls playing on a predominantly male team.
“It would definitely be a first for me as a coach to have a girl on my team,” said Mooney. “It really doesn’t matter to me if a player is a girl or boy. If you bring the passion for the game and have the skill set to help my team win, then why shouldn’t I have he or she on my team?”
The trend is catching fire. Fox is debuting a show about a woman making it to the MLB called “Pitch.” It can help ignite the movement of women in baseball.
I thought it was a well written article with good introductions to good quotes. I learned that this was the first time two girls started at the same time on a men’s team.