About girls baseball

About Us...

A "League of Your Own"
The Chicago Pioneers Girls Baseball Program is all about providing opportunities for girls to play baseball with their peers of similar age and same gender. Since August, 2006, the program has grown to nearly 80 girls ages 9-23 who want to play our national pastime.

If you are a girl playing baseball or softball and want to know more about joining the Pioneers and additional opportunities to play baseball on all-girls teams, please contact the Chicago Pioneers by calling Mary Jo Stegeman at 847-707-8944 or click on the contact link below.

History
In October of 2006, the first 12 Pioneers players competed in and won the 14U division of the Women's World Series VI held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, the first American girls baseball team to do so.

Through that first season, the Pioneers met weekly to get to know each other and hone their baseball skills preparing for the 2007 season. The younger girls were getting ready to participate on their first little league teams, while most of the girls have been playing baseball for their community's house or travel teams for several years. One player was even preparing to play on her high school's freshman baseball team which she did!

In December, 2006, the Chicago Pioneers petitioned a boys travel league, the North Shore Baseball League, for an opportunity to play as a team in their league.  The petition was accepted and in June, 2007, 16 Pioneers ages 12-15 became what is believed to be the first all-girls baseball team in the United States to participate in a previously  all-boys travel baseball league, competing in the 14 B division of the NSBL.

Also in 2007, The Pioneers won the last and decisive game of the 15U Division of the CAN-AM Women's Tournament held in Detroit, June 30-July 1.  Again believed to be the first United States Girls Baseball Tournament, The Pioneers defeated the Pawtucket Slaterettes 5-4 on a bases loaded walk-off suicide squeeze play.

Historic Thillens Stadium played host to the Pioneers on July 25 and August 1 in again what are believed to be the first two all girls baseball games played in its nearly 70 year history.  26 girls ages 8-13 watched former AAGPL players Eileen "Ginger" Gascon and Jackie Baumgart throw out the first pitches and played two intra-squad baseball games in an all girls setting.  Plans are underway for playing at Thillens to become an annual event for the Pioneers and other all girls baseball teams.

The Pioneers Tournament Team, 11 players ages 13-23, competed in their first elite women's baseball tournament  playing in the upper division of the USA Baseball scouted 11-team CAN-AM International Tournament, June 30-July 2 in Detroit.  Going 2-2 in the tournament, 2 Pioneers players, ages 15 and 16, were selected to the 2007 Women's National Baseball Team.

In 2007 the first Fall Ball Season began for the Pioneers September 8 in the North Shore Youth Baseball Association League for 11-15 year olds.

The reigning Girls World Series Champions participated in both the Women's Baseball Nationals and the first 15U Girls Baseball Nationals in Fort Myers, Florida in October of 2007. The Pioneers won the inaugural 15U Girls Baseball National Championships beating the Slaterettes of Rhode Island in a 4-game series, 4-5; 16-4; 9-4; 4-0.

In the women's division the Pioneers were 4-1 and seeded 2nd out of 10 teams after pool play.

Future Goals
The Chicago Pioneers Program is working with Little League International of Williamsport in the hopes of starting a girls baseball pilot program across the United States in the near future.

In fall 2007, the Pioneers discussed with NSBL Administrators the possibility of having all girls teams participating in multiple divisions of the North Shore Baseball League beginning with the 2008 season. In Spring 2008 the Pioneers will enter two teams in the NSBL travel league at the 11 and 14 age levels.

The Chicago Pioneers are working with the Skokie Indians Little League's Board of Directors to investigate the possibility of having a girls baseball division within their organization.

Chicago is a good candidate to host one of the Champions Program girls 15U tournaments when USA Baseball initiates this segment of their program.

Sponsorship - Currently it is not easy or convenient to play baseball on an all girls team or in an all girls setting. The Pioneers are looking for sponsors to defray the cost of practice facilities, travel, uniforms, equipment, league, tournament participation fees, etc. If you are interested in helping girls baseball and the Chicago Pioneers, please click onto "Tax-Exempt Gifts" to the left and send in your donation. In advance the Chicago Pioneers THANK YOU for your gift.....