Musik » a runner-up finish behind Skylight Glow in a

Thanks to the Sonoma Stompers, Kelsie Whitmore and Stacy Piagno are one step closer to getting a woman into The Show.Whitmore and Piagno, two female baseball players who helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at last years Pan Am Games, signed a deal with the Stompers, an independent league baseball team based in Sonoma, California, that plays in the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. The players will debut on Friday.Whitmore, 17, is an outfielder/pitcher who will play left field, while the 25-year-old Piagno, who went 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA in a team-high 15 2/3 innings at the Pan Am Games, will use her?fastball, knuckle-curve and slider on the mound.While many believe its only a matter of time before we see a woman playing in the MLB, Ive learned over the past several months that there are many steps in between where we are and where we should be in terms of women in this sport, Stompers VP and GM Theo Fightmaster said in a news release. 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.The Stompers made history last year when Sean Conroy, baseballs first active professional player who came out as gay, played in a game last June -- and threw a shutout.?Sonoma will become the first coed professional team since the 1950s, when three women played in the Negro Leagues.Whitmore, who will attend Cal State Fullerton on a softball scholarship in the fall, and Piagno will suit up for Team USA in September in the Womens Baseball World Cup in South Korea. But theyre not the only Team USA players to make noise this season. Teammate Sarah Hudek earned her first college baseball win?in February.Back in April, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he believes there will soon be a female baseball player in the majors.Perhaps this is just the start for Whitmore and Piagno. Rob Holding Arsenal Jersey .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Arsenal Jerseys . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. http://www.footballarsenalstore.com/Women-Sokratis-Papastathopoulos-Arsenal-Fc-Jersey/ .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Alexandre Lacazette Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Alex Iwobi Arsenal Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Cameron Crockett has ridden a countless number of horses in his life but none quite compare to his stable star Barbass.But the young trainer wants Barbass to make the transition from talented two-year-old to proven three-year-old in his first-up run against his own age group in a benchmark handicap over 1400m at Rosehill on Saturday.Crockett is the son of famed horse trainer Max and has ridden many of his better horses over the years.At his best hes probably the best horse Ive ever ridden, Crockett told AAP.Ive never ridden any champions but Ive ridden plenty of good horses for Dad.He just gives you a feel thats different to any other horse.While he doesnt doubt Barbasss ability, Crockett is wary of horses which performed well in their juvenile season holding their form as three-year-olds.Hes still a horse thats got to prove that what he did the first time wasnt a fluke, Crockett said.The horse was the Mudgee trainers first Group One runner when he finished near the tail of the field in the J J Atkins at Doomben on June 11.While the elite level might have come too soon, the most compelling form reference from Barbasss two-year-old preparation was a runner-up finish behind Skylight Glow in a racee where Acatour was third.ddddddddddddBoth of those horses acquitted themselves well in Group company during the spring carnival.Two barrier trials over 1000m on November 6 and 18 showed Crockett that the sharpness which helped Barbass to win the $100,000 Inglis 2YO Classic (1100m) at Scone in May was no longer there.Hes given me every indication hes starting to need further now, Crockett said.After returning to the stable in August, bad weather in NSWs central west held up the horses preparation.He hasnt had an ideal prep but were getting back on top of things now hes had the couple of trials, Crockett said.Hes pretty fit. Id be disappointed if he wasnt running a good race on the weekend.Crockett said veteran trainer Les Bridge told him the difference between a good horse and a great horse was in improvement shown after a spell.Winx takes it to the next level every time she comes back in. Thats what separates her, Crockett said.With that in mind Crockett is hoping the best horse he has ever ridden will not fall the way of two-year-olds who fail to step up at three. ' ' '