On April 6, 2024, Kelsie Whitmore, a former U.S. women's national baseball team player and Sonoma Stompers athlete, made history by joining the Oakland Ballers, becoming the team's first female player after participating in open tryouts. Marisa Ingemi, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, was also among the tryout participants on April 7, 2024, underscoring the event's significance and the talent at baseball's lower levels. The Oakland Ballers announced on April 10, 2024, the signing of Whitmore and two other players, marking a notable moment in the sport's efforts to embrace diversity and inclusion.
Kelsie Whitmore — who played for the U.S. women’s national baseball team and the Sonoma Stompers in 2016 — is back playing for a Bay Area baseball team, making the Oakland Ballers after trying out on Saturday. https://t.co/zihcqDGMKy
The Oakland Ballers have signed three new players after hosting an open tryout last weekend, including the team's first woman player who has broken barriers before. https://t.co/Ud9cOSlAKK
The Chronicle’s Marisa Ingemi was one of two women to try out for the Oakland Ballers on Saturday. She gained new appreciation for pioneer Kelsie Whitmore and the talent at baseball’s lower levels. https://t.co/hVJpS3BwWA
The Chronicle’s @Marisa_Ingemi was one of two women to try out for the Oakland Ballers. She gained new appreciation for pioneer Kelsie Whitmore and the talent at baseball’s lower levels. https://t.co/PB9Th4pnCn
btw Kelsie Whitmore was at Ballers tryouts as well https://t.co/90L19DepO0