SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League season will end tonight after a thrilling five-game championship series between the top-seeded San Francisco Firebells and the second-seeded Los Angeles Queens.
And, as many great baseball series do, this one has had a bit of everything. There were grand slams in Games 1 and 2. There have been fierce comebacks. There have been different stars each night helping to deliver big wins for their teams.
A truly fitting ending to a season of celebrating the history of women’s professional baseball and hope for a lasting future.
“I have never wanted to do anything else except be a baseball player, and to have it be something we can consider as a career is a game-changer,” San Francisco shortstop Joely Leguizamon told reporters after recording four hits in Sunday’s Game 4 victory. “For it to be a professional league and us to carry that on our shoulders, it means a lot.”
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Leguizamon has been vital to this Firebells run, registering a team-high eight hits in the championship series. She is batting .571 with six RBI and a big home run in Game 3. As a team, San Francisco is hitting .422 in the championship series.
“I feel like we’re pretty locked in,” Leguizamon said. “It hasn’t been too long of a season, but enough for us to understand our job, understand our role. It definitely feels good. We know we’re making history, but ultimately we’re here to do a job so that’s been the mindset.”
The Los Angeles Queens built up a 2-0 lead with come-from-behind victories in each of the first two games, but with their backs against the wall, the Fireballs have avoided elimination.
They won 10-5 in Game 3 and then exploded for a 17-4 victory in Game 4 to extend the series again. San Francisco recorded 20 hits on Sunday, including eight in the fourth inning alone. Their pitchers held the Queens to eight total.
“One of the mantras when we started the season was, ‘pass the baton,’” Firebells manager Matt Williams said. “The idea of us as a collective winning games is really important to us.”
Even though the Firebells might have some momentum behind them, the Queens won’t go down without a fight.
“I think we’ve just lost a little bit of focus these last two games,” Los Angeles third baseman Ashton Lansdell said. “We’ll come out inspired, ready to win and hopefully everybody on the roster, on the staff, comes out ready, locked in.”
Queens closer Meggie Meidlinger pointed to the team’s experience in the semifinals facing the New York Heights as a good practice run for elimination games.
“We’ll come locked in because it’s do or die, the last game no matter what so we’re going to be leaving it all out on the field.”
If Game 2 was any indication, these Queens have the potential to score in dominant fashion, too. They scored 10 runs in the fourth inning, including a grand slam by second baseman Ayuri Shimano.
Both teams will return to Robin Roberts Stadium on Tuesday after a welcome off day, ready to play the biggest game the sport has seen in decades.
“I’m going to be pretty cool,” Lansdell said. “It all comes down to the last game, so it’s gonna be special; it’s gonna be invigorating. All the emotions are gonna be pretty high.”
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