USA Baseball announced last week that Temecula’s own Kelsie Whitmore was named Sportswoman of the Year. Whitmore made her seventh career appearance for the Women’s National Team this past summer and played a vital role in helping the stars and stripes clinch their friendship series against Canada in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Whitmore started all five games – two on the mound, one as the designated hitter, and two in the outfield – and tallied at least one hit in four games. In the series opener, Whitmore was lights out as she was a double short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while pitching 4.2 innings of shutout ball. She led all players in the series with seven runs, eight hits, 10 RBIs, and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
If you have been following her story, along with her accomplishments with Team USA and in college at Cal State Fullerton, Whitmore made history this past spring by becoming the first female to play baseball in a league affiliated with Major League Baseball. She made her professional debut with the Staten Island FerryHawks on April 21, making 39 appearances in her rookie season in the Atlantic League.
The complete list of the 2022 USA Baseball organizational award winners is as follows:
- Richard W. “Dick” Case Award: Bryce Eldridge, 18U National Team
- Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year: Denny Hocking, 18U National Team
- Sportswoman of the Year: Kelsie Whitmore, Women’s National Team
- International Performance of the Year: Christian Rodriguez, 18U National Team
- Team of the Year: 12U National Team
- College Coach of the Year: Mike Bianco, Collegiate National Team
- Developmental Coach of the Year: Drew Briese, 15U National Team
- Volunteer Coach of the Year: André Butler
- Coach Educator of the Year: Bill Krejci
- “Doc” Councilman Science Award: Adam Moseley, 18U National Team
- Service Provider of the Year: Daisy Nelson
Kelsie says she will continue training during this off season to get prepared for next season and will continuing to strive to get to the next level in this game.
“My same goal hasn’t stopped,” Whitmore says about playing professional baseball at an even higher level. “I have been using this time during the off-season to focus a lot on myself as both a player and person.”
On the diamond, USA Baseball is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the reigning World Baseball Classic champion, and its national teams have won 62 gold medals in international competition. Off the field, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL and the Prospect Development Pipeline.
For more information on the organization, its national teams, and Whitmore’s recent accolade as Sportswoman of the Year, visit the official website at http://www.USABaseball.com.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
