New NPF Team In North Carolina Set To Begin Play In 2012

CHARLOTTE, NC – January 24, 2012 – The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League announced today that a new professional women’s fastpitch team, the Carolina Diamonds, has been franchised and will begin play in 2012. The team is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The League is certainly happy to be making this announcement,” said Cheri Kempf, Commissioner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. “We believe the Carolinas region is a very good area for expansion in the women’s professional fastpitch market for a number of reasons. Primarily, there is an audience there that understands and appreciates the game and has shown their support in the past. We are looking forward to returning the top level of competition the sport has to offer to current and future fastpitch fans in the Carolinas area.” … Continue Reading

Rosemont To Host NPF (Women’s Softball) Championship

Rosemont will host the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, Aug. 23 through 26, at Rosemont Stadium, home of the Bandits, officials announced today.

Dubbed the “World Series” of women’s softball, the NPF Championship Series is the league’s hallmark event and will feature the nation’s top four professional teams. … Continue Reading

2011 USA Softball Women’s National Team Makes Winning Debut

PLANT CITY, Fla. — The 2011 USA Softball Women’s National Team made their first appearance Saturday in Plant City, Fla., in two controlled exhibition games against the 2010-11 USA Softball Junior Women’s National at Plant City Stadium. With both teams playing their compatriots for experience before heading into international play, the Women’s National Team defeated the Junior Women’s National Team 13-1 in Game 1 and 12-0 in Game 2.

For 11 members of the Women’s National Team, including NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS) co-Most Outstanding Player Michelle Moultrie, the Plant City exhibitions marked their first time in a USA uniform. Other newcomers to the program are Whitney Canion, Lauren Gibson, Kelly Grieve, Taylor Hoagland, Stacey May-Johnson, Christi Orgeron, Keilani Ricketts, Brittany Schutte, Rhea Taylor and Chelsea Thomas. … Continue Reading

USA Softball Women’s National Team Named For 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY ― The roster for the 2011 USA Softball Women’s National Team is now set as announced today by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball. The 18-person roster, plus one alternate, will hit the road in less than a week for their first competition, a two-game exhibition series in Plant City, Fla, on Saturday, June 25.

After the matchup in Florida, the team will travel to Salem, Va., for another exhibition series on June 29. The final tune-up before International play will be in Bowie, Md., on July 1. All exhibition games will be a doubleheader format against the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team. Tickets for these three exhibition series can still be purchased by logging on to www.usasoftball.com … Continue Reading

NPF Launches Twenty for 20 Campaign

Nashville – National Pro Fastpitch Commissioner, Cheri Kempf announced today the launch of the “Twenty for 20” fundraising campaign. The campaign is an initiative designed to raise vital League funding from individual donors. The campaign is designed with a structure that makes it affordable for almost anyone to contribute. … Continue Reading

ESPN To Host Bandits, Pride Opening Weekend

Nashville – National Pro Fastpitch announced today that coverage of the NPF 2011 Opening Weekend will be carried live on ESPN2 June 11th at 3:00 p.m. EST. The featured game will be a re-match of the 2010 Championship Series Final Series between the Chicago Bandits and the USSSA Florida Pride. The game will broadcast live from ESPN’s Wide World of Sports at Disney and will feature the top players in the sport of fastpitch softball.

To accommodate the televised game, the Chicago Bandits and USSSA Florida Pride have made a change to their respective 2011 schedules. The Bandits, who were originally scheduled to open on June 9 at home versus the Pride, will now begin the 2011 season in Florida. … Continue Reading

2011 NPF College Senior Draft

NASHVILLE – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and its four-affiliate teams will hold the 2011 NPF Senior Draft presented by Miken on March 18, 2011. The Draft will be streamed at 8pm EST from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. For the third consecutive year the NPF will broadcast the Draft on MLB.com. … Continue Reading

NPF Announces Board of Directors

The National Pro Fastpitch League Office announced today the formation of the NPF Board of Advisors. The Board of Advisors will address issues and concerns that face the League. Additionally, the Board will advise the Commissioner and Team Owners and will contribute to the League’s primary initiatives of expansion and increased media coverage. … Continue Reading

Monica Abbott To Ink Deal With Bandits Tuesday In Rosemont

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Team USA pitching superstar and National Pro Fastpitch veteran Monica Abbott and the Chicago Bandits are hosting a press conference on Feb. 15, for the Olympic pitcher to sign a contract with the team. … Continue Reading

National Pro Fastpitch Releases 2011 Championship Series Site

Nashville – National Pro Fastpitch in conjunction with Sulphur Parks and Recreation announced today the site for the 2011 NPF Championship Series. The Series has been awarded again to Sulphur, Louisiana and will be held August 18-21 at McMurry Park in Sulphur. The event will be hosted by, and with the cooperation of, the Sulphur Parks and Recreation Department and the support of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention &Visitors Bureau. … Continue Reading

NPF Announces 2011 Schedule

January 13, 2010

Nashville – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League Commissioner Cheri Kempf announced today the schedule for the upcoming 2011 Season. … Continue Reading

Bandits Players To Visit At James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club

ROSEMONT, Ill. – On January 18 Samantha Findlay, along with her teammates from the Chicago Bandits, will meet with children at the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club in Chicago, Ill., _

Fiery Shortstop, NU Alum Set To Rejoin Bandits

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Chicago Bandits Owner Bill Sokolis wasted no time making a splash this offseason, working with former Northwestern shortstop and 2009 National Pro Fastpitch Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Tammy Williams to return to the Chicago Bandits. She spent last season playing in Japan and for Team USA. … Continue Reading

Bandits Announce December, January Clinics In California

Saratoga, Calif. – U.S. Olympian Vicky Galindo, 2007 ESPY winner Taryne Mowatt and 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Defensive Player of the Year Lisa Modglin are teaming up with Bandits assistant coach Mike Steuerwald to hold a December and a Januar clinic in Saratoga, Calif. and San Luis Obispo, Calif. … Continue Reading

2007 ESPY Winner Joins Bandits Pitching Staff

Bandits swap pitchers with Akron Racers

ELGIN – Chicago Bandits General Manager Aaron Moore announced today a trade between the Akron Racers and Bandits, bringing pitcher Taryne Mowatt to Chicago in exchange for Kristina Thorson. … Continue Reading

NPF Announces Fall Tour

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (September 1, 2010) – National Pro Fastpitch announced today, in cooperation with USSSA, a tour of NPF All Stars that will be focused on competing with college teams throughout the fall. The NPF “Back to School – College Tour” presented by USSSA will kick off next week on September 10th in Memphis, TN against the University of Memphis softball team. … Continue Reading

USSSA Florida Pride Win 2010 NPF Cowles Cup

Sulphur, La. — Facing a decisive game three in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, the Florida Pride handed the ball to ace pitcher Cat Osterman. Osterman was electric, pitching her way to a complete game, two hit, two run, seven strikeout performance.

Osterman and the Pride out pitched and out hit the Bandits, putting seven runs off 12 hits on the scoreboard. Osterman held Chicago to just two runs on two hits, both Samantha Findlay home runs, for a 7-2 victory. The end of this game not only marked the end of the playoffs, but also the end of two illustrious careers for the Bandits — Jennie Finch and Stacy May. … Continue Reading

Finch Throws Perfect Game

Tension was thick in the ball park as Crystl Bustos stepped up to bat with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Not because she could win the game for the Akron Racers (12-7), but because she had the opportunity to ruin Jennie Finch’s (1-1) no hitter. … Continue Reading

Bandits Welcome Third Coach To The Bench

ELGIN, Ill. – Chicago Bandits general manager Aaron Moore announced today the addition of a third coach to the Bandits coaching staff. Georgia Southern University softball coach Maggie Johnson will join Bandits head coach Mickey Dean and assistant coach Mike Steuerwald as an assistant coach on the Bandits staff. … Continue Reading

Crystl Bustos Returns To Racers Lineup For 2010 Campaign

AKRON, Ohio (June 3, 2010) – Due to several unforeseen circumstances surrounding the Akron Racers roster, Owner and General Manager Joey Arrietta has reinstated two-time Olympic gold medalist and former field manager Crystl Bustos, effective immediately. … Continue Reading

Dynasty 6 to Play Prince George’s County Firefighters in Season Debut Game

Sparks, MD – The Dynasty 6,a team of six professional-level players that travels across the country taking on teams of all-male challengers, will make its season debut against the PGFD Softball Team, it was announced today. The game will take place at 5p.m. June 12 at the Robert E. Taylor Softball Stadium at the University of Maryland. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to The Burn Center at Washington Hospital Center and towards the advancement of breast cancer research. … Continue Reading

Tennessee Diamonds Headquarters Move

Nashville – National Pro Fastpitch released today that the Tennessee Diamonds NPF team will be moving operational headquarters from Alcoa, TN to Nashville, TN.

The Tennessee Diamonds team is the newest club in the NPF and was slated to begin play in the 2010 season. The team was originally purchased by an investor group in East Tennessee and planned to play in Alcoa. For reasons unknown, the investor group has not funded the team and has not complied with other contractual commitments made to NPF and certain of its affiliate companies. As a result, NPF and those affiliates are currently evaluating their legal options and remedies with respect to the investor group. … Continue Reading

All-Pro Dynasty Fastpitch Professional Teams To Train & Play At University Of Maryland

Sparks, MD – The U.S. Professional All-Stars and Dynasty 6, a pair of traveling professional women’s fastpitch teams created by Maryland-based firm API Sports Management & Marketing and Atlanta-based Dynasty Media and Entertainment, LLC, will hold their preseason training camp and open play for their summer 2010 tour next month at the University of Maryland. The teams will train at Maryland from June 5-10 before hosting a festival weekend that will include three games, meet-and-greet opportunities and interactive clinics June 11-12 at the Robert E. Taylor Softball Stadium on the university’s campus. … Continue Reading

USSSA Florida Pride Makes Preseason Move

Kissimmee, Fla. – In a stunning pre-season move, the USSSA Florida Pride announced today that they have traded veteran pitcher Monica Abbott to the Tennessee Diamonds in exchange for Diamonds’ pitcher Cat Osterman. Also being traded is Pride catcher Shannon Doepking, with Tennessee’s Megan Willis joining the Pride roster in her place.

This trade comes off the heels of another impressive signing to the Pride roster, with Team USA member and former Olympian Andrea Duran joining a team already brimming with talent. … Continue Reading

Tim Walton Named USSSA Pride Head Coach!

May 5th, 2010, University of Florida head softball coach Tim Walton was named the head coach of the National Professional FastPitch’s (NPF) USSSA Florida Pride. In addition to his duties at Florida, Walton will coach the 2010 pro team as the schedule runs through the summer.

“I am grateful to Mr. Don DeDonatis for this opportunity,” Walton said of the Pride’s owner and general manager. “I also want to thank UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley for allowing me to be involved with the Pride this summer while also attending to my duties at Florida.” … Continue Reading

Diamond Sports Signs Tennessee Diamonds Catcher Megan Willis

April 20, 2010, Cypress, CA – Megan Willis signed a 3-year professional athlete contract with Diamond Sports on March 22, 2010 that extends through 2012. Willis will be playing for the National Pro Fastpitch Tennessee Diamonds this summer in Knoxville, TN.

This will be Willis’ third year in the NPF. She was the starting catcher for the 2009 NPF Champions Rockford Thunder last season as well as the Chicago Bandits in 2007. Willis will be the starting catcher for the Tennessee Diamonds this season handling her fellow University of Texas and Rockford Thunder teammate Cat Osterman behind the plate. … Continue Reading

Pro Women’s Softball Teams to Tour U.S.

Sparks, MD – Maryland-based firm API Sports Management & Marketing, parent company of All-ProFastpitch, LLC, has partnered with Atlanta-based Dynasty Media and Entertainment, LLC, to create All-ProDynasty Fastpitch, LLC, an entity that has established two women’s professional softball teams that willtour the United States in 2010.

The U.S. Professional All-Stars and the Dynasty 6 teams will begin touring the country in June, participating in weekend fastpitch festivals in locations such as Atlanta; Baltimore-Washington; New York; Worcester, MA; Norfolk, VA; and Oklahoma City. Dates and times of each event – along with addition allocations – will be announced shortly. … Continue Reading

NPF Softball Series Coming To The Dell Diamond

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Ryan Sanders Showdown National Pro Fastpitch Softball Series will be held Aug. 12-15 at The Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. Hosted by Ryan Sanders Baseball, the series features two professional teams: the Chicago Bandits and the USSSA Florida Pride.

The teams will play five games in the four-day period with single games at 7 p.m. CDT Thursday, Aug. 12, and Friday, Aug. 13, a doubleheader at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, and a single game at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15. … Continue Reading

Two Olympic Veterans And One Free-Agent Pickup Officially Signed By Bandits

ELGIN – Chicago Bandits GM Aaron Moore announced the resigning of two Bandits veterans to the Chicago roster today, and the finalization of a returning free-agent.

Bandits’ outfielders Vicky Galindo and Caitlin Lever finalized their contracts to return for the 2010 season. The duo both spent time with Chicago and their respective National Teams in 2009. For Galindo, it was Team USA and Lever called Team Canada home for parts of the season in 2009. Both will again spend time with their respective National teams this year. … Continue Reading

NPF Holds 2010 Senior Draft Live Presented by Miken

KISSIMMEE, FL – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and its four-affiliate teams held the 2010 NPF Senior Draft Presented by Miken on Wednesday night which was broadcast for the first time in league history on MLB.COM, live from the Hermitage Key Resort. This was the second consecutive year the NPF has broadcast the Draft live but the first time on MLB.com.

Each team had at least three selections in the five-round draft. The USSSA Pride held seven of the 20 overall picks due to a draft-day trade in 2009.

With the first pick in the draft the USSSA Pride selected University of Alabama’s Charlotte Morgan. Charlotte Morgan has been a key impact Player for Alabama’s Offense. She became the first Player in Alabama history with three 50 or more RBI seasons. … Continue Reading

Monica Abbott Inks Multi-Year Endorsement Deal With Worth

ST. LOUIS — Worth Sports has signed Olympic Medalist and pitcher for the NPF’s Florida Pride, Monica Abbott, to a multi-year endorsement contract. Abbott will be endorsing the new Worth 5-Tool product line of training equipment and designing two Monica Abbott signature fielders gloves.

“Monica is acknowledged as one of the greatest pitchers in the fastpitch game,” said Mike Thompson, Senior VP of Marketing at Worth. “Her unparalleled athletic accomplishments are clearly exemplified by her statistical records. Worth is committed to being the best at every level of fastpitch softball. Monica will play a critical role in the development of Worth products for youth and amateur players right up to the highest level of professional players.” … Continue Reading

USSSA Announced The Signing Of Natasha Watley

Kissimmee, Fla. – The USSSA Florida Pride, a member of the Women’s National Professional Fastpitch League (NPF), announced today that they have signed former Olympic Gold (2004) and Silver (2008) medalist Natasha Watley as a new addition to the Pride’s 2010 roster.

She will be joining fellow Team USA members Jessica Mendoza and Lauren Lappin, also recent signees to the Pride for the 2010 season. The three are welcome additions to a team which already features former Olympians and Team USA members Monica Abbott, Kelly Kretschman, and Caitlin Lowe, as well as recently signed Katie Burkhart, formerly of Arizona State University and the NPF’s Philadelphia Force. … Continue Reading