San Francisco Firebells’ debut in Women’s Professional Baseball League is a winner

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — Esmeralda Griego, two of her sisters, a sister-in-law, and other family members wanted to honor the family matriarch. The Women’s Professional Baseball League debut seemed like the appropriate occasion.

All originally from San Jose, the group drove here from different parts of the country to also celebrate women, particularly the debut of the San Francisco Firebells.

Attired in matching homemade purple Firebells’ logo T-shirts and facial sparkles, the group sat behind home plate on the warm Sunday night as San Francisco beat the Boston Hunters 11-3 at Robin Roberts Stadium.

“We wanted part of this history,” said Griego, 23. “When I was a little girl, one of my favorite movies was A League of Their Own. I was highly inspired.

“Our mother, who recently passed, was a trailblazer all her life. She played softball. She raised us in sports. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be here. So we are here for her.”

With Kelsie Whitmore, a longtime women’s baseball trailblazer, former Oakland Ballers pitcher and the WPBL’s No. 1 overall draft pick leading the way, the Firebells took a 10-3 lead after four innings. Amanda Gianalloni had a single, one of her three hits, in the Firebells’ seven-run third inning.

Two years after the WPBL was formed, the pro women’s game returned this weekend at the 101-year-old neutral site Midwest ballpark. It’s a strong outfield throw from where women’s pro baseball began in Springfield in 1875.

The league opener was Saturday night, when the Los Angeles Queens rallied to defeat the New York Heights 10-8. Heights catcher Denae Benites’ home run, a solo blast to center field in the bottom of the fourth inning, was the league’s first.

Rain and an extended opening ceremony prompted a 90-minute delay on Saturday. But it didn’t deter the crowd of more than 4,000 eager to watch the first women’s professional game in the United States in 72 years. The crowd was smaller on Sunday night, but the league didn’t announce the official attendance.

Brook and Alicia Smith’s presence in Springfield was similar to the travel tales of fans coming from Florida to Ohio to California.

Brook Smith, 13, was first in line when seating opened for spectators three hours before the scheduled opening-game start. Brook and her mother traveled more than 800 miles to the ballpark from Pulaski, New York for the opener.

With two baseballs, one each of Heights’ and Queens’ autographs, ready, the Smiths played cards for hours in the back of the family’s SUV parked near the stadium’s entrance.

“I play on a travel baseball team and as soon as we heard about it, I said, ‘We have to go,’ ” said Brook Smith, who started playing baseball at age 8.

Lines were long during both games for jerseys ($94.99), hoodies ($89.99 ) and caps ($39.99). Well-known beer brands were priced at $7.75. Four craft beers from a local brewery and with names including “She’s On First” and “Field of Blackberry Dreams” were priced at $9.25.

Springfield was announced as the league’s host city in March. Larry Rockford, the stadium’s head groundskeeper, knew in January but wished he’d known earlier.

“It’s been a grind from January to this day,” said Rockford from his work shed office about five hours before the first game. “We had to find a lot of the equipment; a lot of these tools are mine.

“It’s a huge undertaking. I don’t think people can even imagine what it takes to run a facility, from your plumbing to your electric to questions and answers to maintenance.”

The stadium has been the home of the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the collegiate summer Prospect League. Some alterations were made for the WPBL, including a temporary outfield fence that shortened the center field fence from 415 to 330 feet and other dimensions accordingly.

Rockford’s brother was hired to paint the blue fence black to improve lighting for the league’s night games. Rockford was also concerned about potential damage to the field’s irrigation system.

Of immediate concern was getting enough help to remove the massive tarp after Saturday’s rain. Rockford believed he might have to ask concession workers to help. But an hour or so before the season opener, more than 20 people assisted, including several members of the Firebells and Hunters.

“I tell people I’m pulling tarps and I’m going to be 64 years old,” said Rockford, who raked the basepath and homeplate areas minutes before the first game. “It’s a grind. It really is, physically. But I love it.”

Rockford’s enthusiasm was particularly heightened. The opener, he recalled, was the fourth sellout in the ancient park’s history. He was a youngster in the packed facility in the late 1970s when the St. Louis Cardinals triple-A team visited. He remembers the same turnout for Max Patkin, the entertainer known as the Clown Prince of Baseball, and for Ted Giannoulas. He was the university journalism student who became the San Diego Chicken, the mascot of the San Diego Padres.

“I wish we had more time to prepare,” said Rockford. “But I also tell people ‘If you don’t have a groundscrew, you don’t have baseball.’ ”

The WPBL’s six-week regular season continues Wednesday night when Boston plays Los Angeles. The Firebells face New York on Thursday night.