Stacy Piagno pitches the last inning of the Sonoma Stompers' 13-4 victory over the Vallejo Admirals on Friday. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, is offering a 20 percent off discount with promo code “THERELISH” for Women in Sports Night tickets on July 6 in an effort to raise awareness about the gender pay gap.
As of 2015, women were paid an average of 80 percent of what men were in the United States, so the discount represents the 20 percent pay gap. The code also gets fans 20 percent off of merchandise online and is thanks to the Relish, which serves up sports coverage for female fans.
“The pay gap is real,” wrote Board Chair Patricia Fae Ho in the foreword of a 2017 report by the American Association of University Women. “The good news is that the gap has narrowed considerably in the last hundred years. The bad news is that the gap is still sizable, it’s even worse for women of color, and it doesn’t seem likely to go away on its own.”
The Stompers became the first co-ed professional baseball team since the 1950s when they signed pitcher Stacy Piagno and pitcher and outfielder Kelsie Whitmore in 2016. Later that year, Whitmore made history again as she formed one half of the first female battery in professional baseball history with catcher Anna Kimbrell. The Stompers' commitment to the advancement of women in baseball is in partnership with Virginia Dare, a Francis Ford Coppola winery.
To celebrate women in sports and the Stompers' place in women's baseball history, the Stompers want to hear from their fans. Fans can use the hashtag #MYSTOMPERSSTORY to share what Sonoma baseball means to them or a woman they know, or leave a comment on any of the Stompers social media sites. Stories will be featured on game day.
“Right as I was about to consider giving up baseball, I went to (a Stompers game) and everything changed,” said Twitter user Niamh Mayhew (@ignorant_art123). “I was able to meet and talk to Anna, Stacy, and Kelsie while grabbing some dinner. They are the reason I still want to play.”
Find the Stompers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sonoma faces the second-place Pittsburg Diamonds on July 6. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The promo code is only redeemable online and does not apply to jerseys.
STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.
For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.