Memphis, TN – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and its four-affiliate teams held the 2012 NPF College Draft Presented by Miken from the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Draft was streamed live through profastpitch.com.

Each team had at least three selections in the five-round draft. The USSSA Florida Pride held the most picks with seven and also the coveted number one slot. Several Draft trades led to USSSA’s position including a 2011 July trade of the Diamonds 2012 first round draft pick for USSSA Pride pitcher, Danielle Spaulding.

For the first pick of the Draft, the Pride selected LSU’s standout ace, Brittany Mack of Round Rock, TX. This marked the third year in a row that the first selection overall was a player from the Southeastern Conference. Mack has been a key factor in the circle for the Tigers since 2009 and in 2011 she was decorated All SEC, All South Region, All NCAA Regional, and NFCA All American. With the number 2 selection, the Chicago Bandits drafted the University of Washington’s stellar outfielder, Kimi Pohlman. The Akron Racers selected Lexy Bennet, shortstop at the University of Texas with the third overall choice. The USSSA Pride chose again in the first round at the fourth spot and made UCLA’s utility player, Andrea Harrison the latest addition to the Pride roster.

USSSA Pride began the second round with the fifth pick overall, and their third choice in five draft selections by choosing Georgia Bulldog infielder/catcher, Kristyn Sandberg. The Chicago Bandits followed with the No. 6 pick overall and selected outfielder, Katie Schroeder of UCLA. With the No. 7 pick, the Akron Racers chose Arizona State pitcher, Hillary Bach. USSSA Pride added Cal’s versatile Val Arioto with the No. 8 selection to close out the second round.

The Carolina Diamonds led off the third round with the number 9 overall selection by choosing UMASS’s decorated pitcher, Sara Plourde. The Chicago Bandits added Hawaii’s pitcher Stephanie Ricketts for the number 10 pick. The Akron Racer’s made their third grab of the night and selected University of Michigan third baseman, Amanda Chidester as the No. 11 overall pick. With the final choice of the third round, the USSSA Pride acquired Michelle Moultrie, from the University of Florida.

The Carolina Diamonds continued the 2012 NPF Draft by adding Georgia Tech’s Kelsi Weseman. The fourth round continued with the Akron Racers taking Alicia Herron of The Ohio State University at number 14 and through a recent trade, the Akron Racers chose again in the No. 15 spot naming Fordham University’s standout pitcher, Jen Mineau. The USSSA Florida Pride rounded out the 4th by selecting Washington’s Nikia Williams.

For the final round of the Draft, the Carolina Diamonds chose pitcher, Angel Bunner from Auburn University. The Bandits with their final selection chose locally with Adrienne Monka from Northwestern as the number 18 selection. The Akron Racers, through a trade with USSSA Pride held their No. 19 spot and nabbed Cal’s speedster, Jamia Reed. The final pick of the draft went to the USSSA Pride who chose University of Louisiana Lafayette’s Christy Orgeron.

NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf stated, “I wholeheartedly extend my congratulations to the 20 young women selected in this year’s NPF College Draft. These women represent the future of professional softball and I cannot wait to see them in action beginning in June.”

The 2012 NPF College Draft was dominated by 7 selections from the PAC-12 Conference. Of the 7 choices there were 2 each at the University of Washington, UCLA, and Cal. Arizona State was represented with 1 selection. The SEC, which dominated the 2011 Draft fell into a not-so-close second place with 4 players selected.

Re-broadcast information on the 2012 Draft can be found at www.profastpitch.com.

Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete is not eligible to sign with her respective franchise until her 2011 season is complete.

2012 NPF Draft Results

Round 1

1 (1) USSSA Florida Pride – Brittany Mack

2 (2) Chicago Bandits – Kimi Pohlman

3 (3) Akron Racers – Lexy Bennett

4 (4) USSSA Florida Pride – Andrea Harrison

Round 2

1 (5) USSSA Pride – Kristyn Sandberg

2 (6) Chicago Bandits – Katie Schroeder

3 (7) Akron Racers – Hillary Bach

4 (8) USSSA Florida Pride – Valerie Arioto

Round 3

1 (9) Carolina Diamonds – Sara Plourde

2 (10) Chicago Bandits – Stephanie Ricketts

3 (11) Akron Racers – Amanda Chidester

4 (12) USSSA Florida Pride – Michelle Moultrie

Round 4

1 (13) Carolina Diamonds – Kelsi Weseman

2 (14) Akron Racers – Alicia Herron

3 (15) Akron Racers – Jen Mineau

4 (16) USSSA Florida Pride – Nikia Williams

Round 5

1 (17) Carolina Diamonds – Angel Bunner

2 (18) Chicago Bandits – Adrienne Monka

3 (19) Akron Racers – Jamia Reed

4 (20) USSSA Florida Pride – Christi Orgeron

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Brittany Mack, Andrea Harrison, Kristyn Sandburg, Nikia Williams, Valarie Arioto, Michelle Moultrie, and Christi Orgeron were all selected by the USSSA Pride at the 2012 NPF Draft, held in Memphis, Tennessee on March 7, 2012.

Louisina State University Pitcher and overall SEC standout Brittany Mack was selected as the first overall pick by the USSSA Pride in the 2012 NPF Draft.

Mack should feel right at home with the leadership of her new team as Beth Torina, the head coach of the Pride, has also been Mack’s head softball coach at LSU since June 2011.

“First off, I am extremely excited for the chance to play professional softball this summer,” Mack said. “I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for the coaching staff and my teammates at LSU. It is such an unbelievable feeling to be honored with the opportunity to compete at one of the highest levels in the sport, and I’m hoping that I will be able to contribute to help expand the NPF’s greatness throughout the country. Until then, I have unfinished business at LSU. My heart and my mind are focused on the path towards returning LSU to the Women’s College World Series and winning a national championship.”

The USSSA Pride selected utility player Andrea Harrison as the fourth pick overall in the first round of the draft. The UCLA Senior And NFCA First Team All-American now has the opportunity to play alongside fellow former UCLA All Stars and new teammates Andrea Duran and Natasha Watley for the first time.

Kristyn Sandburg was the USSSA Pride’s third pick. Sandburg, a senior catcher and infielder at the University of Georgia, is expected to bring both offensive and defensive power to the Pride in 2012.

First-and-third baseman Nikia Williams, selected fourth by the Pride, will join former University of Washington teammates Ashley Charters, Jenn Salling, and Danielle Lawrie, all of whom were a part of the Husky’s 2009 Women’s College World Series Championship team in William’s freshman year.

Three of the players that the Pride selected in the 2012 NPF Draft previously played together on the 2011 US Women’s National Softball Team: Valarie Arioto, Michelle Moultrie, and Christi Orgeron.

In the eighth pick in the second round of the 2012 NPF Draft, the USSSA Pride selected senior Valarie Arioto, first baseman and pitcher at the University of California, Berkley.

Michelle Moultrie was selected as the fourth round of the draft by the USSSA Pride. The senior and University of Florida outfielder will be reunited with former teammates Francesca Enea and Kelsey Bruder on the Pride in 2012.

Christi Orgeron, who plays utility for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns, was selected 20th overall in the 2012 NPF Draft. A 2011 USA Women’s National Team member, Orgeron led the nation in RBI in 2011 with 101.

The Pride in their regular season opener against the Chicago Bandits on June 7th.

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ROSEMONT, Illinois – Mar. 8, 2012 – With the second overall pick in the 2012 NPF College Draft, the Chicago Bandits selected University of Washington outfielder Kimi Pohlman.

Pohlman, a senior at Washington, was named to the 2009 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team after winning the National Championship with the Huskies. Most recently, in 2011 she was named co-offensive MVP at Washington after leading the team in batting average (.432), at-bats (183) and hits (79).

“Kimi is a proven winner and a very consistent player,” said Bandits General Manager, Aaron M. Moore. “We look for her to come in and bring the same type of game she played in Washington with her here in Chicago.”

The Bandits next pick came in the second round where they selected outfielder Katie Schroeder from UCLA as the 6th overall pick. A 2009 All-Pac-10 First Team selection, Schroeder has 202 hits in 557 at-bats including 24 doubles, 19 homeruns and 74 RBIs so far in her college career.

“Katie is a solid outfielder, but one thing we really like is her knack for scoring runs,” said Moore. “Any player that scores almost a run per game is finding ways to get the job done.”

For their pick in the third round, the Bandits selected pitcher Stephanie Ricketts from the University of Hawaii. A two-time WAC Pticher of the Year Ricketts has compiled a record of 74-32 with an ERA of 1.99 in 712.1 innings pitched throughout her collegiate career so far.

“Stephanie is going to be a great addition for the Bandits,” said Moore. “We’re looking for her to come in and make an immediate contribution in the circle for the Bandits.”

Following a trade with the Akron Racers for their fourth round draft pick in the 2013 draft, the Bandits used their final selection in the fifth round to draft infielder Adrienne Monka from Northwestern University as the 20th overall pick. Named Big 10 Freshman of the Year in 2009, adds even more power to the Bandits lineup. She has a .375 batting average with a .798 slugging percentage including 41 home runs and 142 RBIs in her college career to this point.

“Adrienne has become one of the most feared hitters in the college game and that hopefully will carry over to the professional level,” said Moore. “We’ll look for her to come in and provide some immediate pop offensively with the likes of Alisa Goler and Megan Wiggins.”

2012 NPF Draft results:
Round One
USSSA Pride – Brittany Mack, P, LSU
Chicago Bandits – Kimi Pohlman, OF, Washington
Akron Racers – Lexy Bennett, IF, Texas
USSSA Florida Pride – Andrea Harrison, UT, UCLA

Round 2
Pride – Kristyn Sandberg, C/IF, Georgia
Bandits – Katie Schroeder, OF, UCLA
Racers – Hillary Bach, P, Arizona State
Pride – Valerie Arioto, UT, California

Round 3
Diamonds – Sara Plourde, P, UMASS
Bandits – Stephanie Ricketts, P/1B, Hawaii
Racers – Amanda Chidester, 3B, Michigan
Pride – Michelle Moultrie, OF, Florida

Round 4
Diamonds – Kelsi Weseman, IF, Georgia Tech
Racers – Alicia Herron, IF, Ohio State
Racers – Jen Mineau, P, Fordham
Pride – Nikia Williams, UT , Washington

Round 5
Diamonds – Angel Bunner, P, Auburn
Bandits – Adrienne Monka, IF, Northwestern
Racers – Jamia Reed, OF, California
Pride – Christi Orgeron, UT, Louisiana
All drafted players are not eligible to sign contracts or commit to professional teams until the completion of their college season per NCAA rules and regulations.

The Bandits kick off the 2012 season on Saturday, June 2 with a special day designed for fans, including a meet-n-greet. Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 7 when the Bandits host the USSSA Pride at the Ballpark at Rosemont.

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AKRON, Ohio – With the third overall pick in the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) draft, the Akron Racers chose shortstop Lexy Bennett from the University of Texas.

“Bennett’s versatility in the infield makes her very valuable,” said Akron Racers’ President/GM Joey Arrietta. “From first base to second to shortstop she has performed flawlessly in every position. She is fluid, she’s graceful, she is the real deal! And she brings a big bat.”

The Akron Racers second pick (seventh overall) came when Arrietta selected pitcher Hllary Bach from Arizona State University.

“Bach is a great pitcher and has a National Championship under her belt,” said Arrietta. “She is a finesse pitcher and I think that’s the name of the game in professional softball.

“You’ve got to be smart, use the tools you have and can’t necessarily over power the hitters. You have to work to your strengths and she has those abilities playing for a big-time program. That mental toughness will do her well as a professional.”

The Racers third pick and eleventh overall came from University of Michigan with Amanda Chidester.

“She too is a versatile player. Rarely do you come across a player who can play both corners, sit behind the plate and drive in runs like her.”

The Racers drafted six players overall with two in a row in the fourth round. Alicia Herron from Ohio State being the fourth pick and the fifth pick coming for Fordham University in pitcher Jen Mineau.

“We’ve had an eye on Herron for a while now as she’s playing down the road in Columbus,” said Arrietta. “She moves well up the middle and has a powerful swing at the plate. She has a future in the NPF and could fill a hole for us at shortstop as a rookie.”

“Mineau has that ability to take some pressure off our hitters, allowing them to take the lead instead of playing catch up,” said Arrietta. “She chips away at the corners, which tends to catch batters leaning away or pulling back. In any case, she reminds me a little bit of Lisa Norris – mentally tough all the time.”

The Racers final pick in the draft came with Cal-Berkley outfielder Jamia Reid.

“Reid brings speed and an ability to get on base to the plate for the Golden Bears,” said Arrietta. “She would make a great addition to our lineup as a table-setter or late order spark plug. Her experience in international competition with the Japan Cup victory in 2010 shows she can handle the pressure of playing against and with the best players in the world.”

All in all the Racers selected six picks through the five rounds, filling the final six roster spots for the 2012 season. Drafter players are not eligible to officially join or sign a contract with their respective professional teams until after the conclusion of their NCAA senior season.

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ASTARKVILLE, Miss. – Sophomore pitcher Teylor Schiefelbein of Concordia University (Texas) has been named the Louisville Slugger Division III National Player of the Week for games played Feb. 27-March 4.

The Houston, Texas, native posted a 2-0 record this week, with both of the wins coming against then-nationally-ranked opponents (#23 East Texas Baptist and #2 Texas-Tyler). In 19.1 innings pitched, she had a 1.09 ERA, giving up just three earned runs while striking out nine and allowing opponents just a .229 batting average against her.

In three appearances, Schiefelbein helped Concordia improve its record to a perfect 4-0 this season against 2011 NCAA tournament teams (3-0 in the circle in those four games). Her two complete game wins this week included handing Texas-Tyler its first loss of the season, which also snapped a 24-game winning streak at the American Southwest Conference First Pitch Tournament. Against the Patriots, the lefty gave up just one earned run and also contributed offensively with a hit and two sacrifices. Her contribution against ETBU was similar, giving up just one earned run in the 2-1 win, while hitting a double and scoring a run.

Schiefelbein was also named the ASC West Division Preseason Pitcher of the Year and is currently 4-1 overall.

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As you may know I am a State Director for USSSA Fastpitch.

Since I am a state director I receive emails from time to time from the USSSA home office.

Today I received one about the new bat rules getting ready to go into effect. I thought I would share it with everyone.

The Fastpitch TV Website is sponsored by:

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Kissimmee, FL- USSSA Florida Pride of the National Pro FastPitch (NPF) League announced today the addition of former Olympian, Leah O’Brien-Amico to the Pride coaching staff. Amico, a three time gold medalist (’96, ’00, and ’04) will be an Assistant Coach for the Pride for the 2012 season.
“I am grateful to Don DeDonatis for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this team as a coach. I appreciate all he has done for the sport of fastpitch softball.” Amico said of the Pride’s president and general manager. “Many young players have dreams of becoming the next Jessica Mendoza or Natasha Watley and thanks to Don and the other owners in the NPF, as well as the commitment of the Commissioner, Cheri Kempf, they can live out those dreams.”

The Pride is filling a vacancy on the staff left by former Head Coach (and University of Florida Head Coach), Tim Walton. Former Pride Assistant Coach (current LSU Head Coach) Beth Torina has been assigned the duties of Head Coach of the 2012 Pride team.

“USSSA’s goal for the Pride in the NPF is, and always has been, to contribute to the highest level of competition this sport has to offer,” stated USSSA Chairman and Pride General Manager, Don DeDonatis. “Leah O’Brien-Amico is obviously an accomplished athlete, but more importantly to us, she is a class act and a quality person who we believe will help lead our talented crew of players to more NPF Championships. We are in this to provide role models to young athletes throughout the USSSA amateur ranks and softball players everywhere, and we believe we hit a homerun with this addition.”

Since joining the NPF in 2009, the USSSA Florida Pride has experienced much success. In their inaugural year, the Pride finished the season in the Championship Series Final Series. Eventually falling to the Rockford Thunder in a best of three match-up, the Pride took home the Championship Series runner-up. In 2010, second place would not be theirs however, as the Pride marched all the way to the Championship Series Finals again, this time to capture the crown in the best of three over the Chicago Bandits. 2011 saw another remarkable season for the Pride as they ran away with the regular season title (30-9 record), earning them the Ringor Cup. Playing for the Series title for the third consecutive year in the Finals of the Championship Series, the Pride yielded the crown in 2011 to the Chicago Bandits.

Amico is in familiar territory with the roster of the Pride team, having competed with many of the current Pride players either through the many years as a Team USA player herself, or as a college player at the University of Arizona. As a current analyst for college and professional softball for ESPN, Amico is also familiar with the rest of the squad.

“The past couple of years I have watched this team compete and I know that working with each of these athletes will help me to understand this sport at a higher level,” commented Amico. “Softball has always been a huge part of my life and there is always room to get better, no matter if you are a coach or a player.”

The Pride kicks off its NPF season on June 7 with the Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, IL. The opening series will be a re-match of the last two season’s Final Series of the NPF Championship Series. The 2012 regular season schedule ends with the league’s 2012 Championship Series August 23-26, also hosted by the Village of Rosemont, IL.

The Fastpitch TV Website is sponsored by:

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http://markwort.com Sporting goods for your sporting life.


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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was announced today that the National Fastpitch Coaches Association will relocate its national headquarters to Louisville, Ky., in the coming months. The announcement was made by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during a press conference in Louisville in which he proclaimed it “National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Headquarters Day” in the city.

Governor Steve Beshear also announced the relocation in a press release that also mentioned the NFCA’s upcoming purchase of a 10,000-square foot historic landmark building that housed the Crescent Hill Woman’s Club since 1937.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “This is a national nonprofit organization that could have chosen any city in the country but chose Louisville. Their decision to come here demonstrates how Kentucky’s central location, great transportation options and vibrant workforce make for a winning combination.”

NFCA Executive Director Lacy Lee Baker and NFCA Past President Carol Bruggeman, who is also the associate head coach at the University of Louisville, were on hand to talk about how the decision was made and what the move will mean to the Association.

“The NFCA is excited about moving to Kentucky and joining the Louisville community,” said Baker. “The state and city have a long and extraordinary association with sport, so the relocation of our headquarters to this storied area only makes sense for our future growth.

“With Louisville’s central location and outstanding transportation options, competitive cost of living and growing interest in the sport of fastpitch softball, the decision was easy to make, especially when you add in the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority’s incentives that were approved earlier this year.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in Louisville, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $240,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

“Louisville is quickly becoming a hotspot for sports entities and organized events, so we are very excited and think the National Fastpitch Coaches Association will find a great home in our community,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.

Also present at the event were two officers of the Crescent Hill Woman’s Club: Bobbie Tuggle, club president, and Mary Vest, chairman of the Board of Trustees. The club is closing its doors since, as the ladies say, “times have changed” and membership has dropped considerably since its high of close to 800 members.

“We’re very thankful that the Crescent Hill Woman’s Club has accepted our offer on the building,” said Baker. “The woman’s club has been an integral part of the Louisville landscape since 1917 and over the years has donated more than $1 million dollars to charity. It will be an honor for us to continue our work in such a place that generated such good deeds throughout the decades.”

Once closing is completed, the space will be renovated for NFCA use, with the NFCA relocating some time in late spring if all goes according to plan.

Here are other quotes from notable area dignitaries:

• “This investment by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a credit to our community and to our workforce,” said Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, of Louisville. “I am always pleased to see a company growing and creating new jobs. Louisville will reap the rewards of economic growth and additional job opportunities. I am especially glad because of the association’s plans to establish a nonprofit facility to provide educational opportunities for learning more about the game of softball. I applaud Gov. Beshear for taking the lead to support our industry, their employees and their families.”

• “This project is a major step forward for fastpitch softball and will give the already popular sport an even bigger boost,” said Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, of Louisville. “I’m glad that the state is helping to make this possible. The more young women we can get involved with this game, the better.”

• “The Louisville Sports Commission is focused on improving economic vitality through sports,” said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “Working with the NFCA leadership provided us with a real ‘home run.’ An added plus is that the NFCA is dedicated to growing women’s fastpitch softball, which is a benefit to all the local supporters of women’s sports.”

• “After a competitive five-city search, we are thrilled that the National Fastpitch Coaches Association has selected Louisville for the headquarters,”said Eileen Pickett, executive vice president of Greater Louisville Inc. “Louisville’s rich sports heritage will be delightfully complemented by the addition of the NFCA, their competitive spirit and drive to increase female leadership in sports.”

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This past weekend in Los Angeles at the International Olympic Committee’s 5th World Conference on Women and Sport, two-time Olympic softball medalist Jennie Finch (Team USA, gold – 2004, silver – 2008) joined former gymnast Nadia Comaneci and figure skater Michelle Kwan in receiving the “Power of I” award. During her remarks, the American pitcher called for the reinstatement of softball to the Olympic programme. Her complete speech follows:

“Thank you. This is truly such a special award. I want to thank Intelius for sponsoring this incredible event, and the IOC for this conference. I would also like to thank the International Softball Federation for providing the platform to reach so many young female athletes all over the world.

This award is one of the greatest awards that I’ve received because it goes beyond the playing field, which I like to call ‘This special, magical gift of sport.’ The magical gift inspires others and makes a difference with the platforms we’ve been given.

When I was an eight-year old girl, pigtails and a glove in the backyard, like you saw, with my two older brothers, I had a dream of competing in the greatest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of two Olympic Games, two Olympic teams, and to see the sport of softball grow and to be now played in over 130 countries. I have seen the growth and witnessed firsthand the development of the sport of fast pitch softball on all seven continents. There are millions of softball players in all of the world with the same dream that I had. I hope this one day can be a reality for them as it was myself.

I would like to thank and accept this award tonight on behalf of the women that have paved the way, along with the millions of softball players who deserve the very same opportunity, who are right now eight years old and looking for a dream – a dream to hang onto, a dream to play in the Olympic Games. Softball has taught me so much about life, teamwork, discipline, sacrifice, leadership, and more. But most importantly, that magical gift that goes beyond any playing field, and that’s inspiring others.

I know this is about the “Power of I” and I’m fully aware of the “Power of I.” We can all make a difference. We all have it within us to make this world a better place and to leave our mark. However, I am part of a team, and there is no “I” in “team.” There are so many softball players, teammates, trainers, and coaches making a difference. This award is for the sport of softball and the millions of players all across the world (applause) that have the Olympic dream.

This ball was one of the ‘first pitch’ balls that was thrown in the 2008 Olympic Beijing Games in China. I wanted to bring this ball up here as a symbol of hope, that it’ll one day be back in the Olympic Games, where it belongs. (applause)

During last night’s Opening Ceremonies, several leaders of the Olympic Movement spoke of the 45 percent participation female status statistic. As an Olympian I stand here today and I challenge all of you to make those numbers increase for the future. That 45 percent that we were all so very proud of, which we should be, but there’s no reason we can’t get that 45 percent up to 50 percent. (applause)

As a female athlete, we’re supposed to leave the game with greater opportunity for the next generation, and unfortunately this wasn’t the case for me and my sport of softball. Instead the platform, foundation, and dreams that were established through appearances in four Olympic Games were taken away.

As we at softball continue to forge ahead for reinstatement, I ask you to please help softball get back in the Olympic Games and allow others to experience the magic , the true magic of sport, the magic of the Olympic Games.

Thank you all.”

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Nashville, Tenn – National Pro Fastpitch announced final plans today for the 2012 NPF College Draft. The 2012 Draft which is presented by Miken will take place at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis Tennessee on March 7 at 5:00 CST. The Memphis Sports Council is hosting the event in conjunction with the Peabody Hotel.

All four affiliate teams of the NPF will take part in the Draft. The Draft consists of twenty overall athlete selections that are divided into five rounds consisting of four picks per round. The first overall pick in the 2012 NPF Draft belongs to the USSSA Florida Pride, a position that resulted from a mid-season trade in 2011 with the NPF Diamonds.

The Draft can be seen live through the internet broadcast hosted on the League’s website at www.profastpitch.com. The internet broadcast will go on air at 4:45 CST with a preview and introductions and the Draft itself will begin at approximately 5:00 pm CST.

GameDay Sports of Memphis is sponsoring several special events for young girls in conjunction with the 2012 NPF Draft. All events will feature NPF players. Leading the way will be an appearance and motivational speech by former Olympic gold and silver medalist and current USSSA Florida Pride player, Natasha Watley. Watley will be featured in an inner city youth event that will be hosted at the Memphis Red Birds stadium and supported by the Memphis RBI program.

For the past two years, the University of Alabama has garnered the first round draft choice. In 2010 the USSSA Florida Pride chose first baseman Charlotte Morgan of the Crimson Tide and in 2011, the NPF Diamonds made pitcher Kelsi Dunne the number one selection. National Pro Fastpitch has held a Draft every year since its inception in 2004.

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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.”

The Carolina Diamonds will be a woman owned and operated company. Owner, Amelia Nemeth and husband Alan Demaske will be involved with the day to day operations of the new Carolina NPF franchise.
“I am thrilled to be bringing professional softball to the Carolinas,” Nemeth said. “The excitement we hope to generate in the Carolinas is something both avid fans and the casual softball or baseball fans have been looking for. These ladies are fabulous athletes playing at the pinnacle of the game. It’s an honor to associate with the NPF, and have the opportunity to support women’s athletics.”

“As we were researching the possibility of ownership, we experienced the excitement of an NPF game last season. The athletes are superb on the field and inspiring to young girls both on and off the field. Our family is eager to share our NPF experience with families in the Carolinas.” stated Demaske. “There is a very large following in this area and we certainly hope to bring a winning program to the fans.”

The Carolina Diamonds will kick off their franchise as the NPF season opens in June of 2012. The team is slated to play its Home schedule at various venues throughout the Carolinas during its inaugural year of competition. With the franchise agreement, the Carolina Diamonds also obtain rights to the NPF Diamonds player roster. The NPF Diamonds and the Tennessee Diamonds were a league operated team in 2010 and 2011. That inherited Diamonds roster includes former UNC All American and ACC Player and Pitcher of the Year, Danielle Spaulding, and former UNC catcher with ACC honors, and North Carolina native, Brittany McKinney. The new team is currently working on contract renewals with NPF Diamonds players and should release player information soon.

North Carolina has played host to professional fastpitch before with the former Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) League and the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) locating teams in both Durham (Durham Dragons) and Gastonia, North Carolina through the seasons of 1997, 1998, and 1999.

“It is really exciting to have an NPF team back in the state of North Carolina! As a coach and a fan of fastpitch softball, I have watched many games when it was the WPF/WPSL and there was a team in Durham and Gastonia. The sport of fastpitch softball has grown in the state of North Carolina and I know there will be a great fan base. What a great opportunity for young developing players and families to come out and enjoy one of the best games there is,” commented Donna Papa, head coach of the UNC Tarheels softball team. “As a bonus, fans will be able to come out and see two players with North Carolina roots competing for the Diamonds, in pitcher Dani Spaulding and catcher Brittany McKinney. Both competed here at UNC and distinguished themselves within the conference and nationally.”

The Carolina Diamonds will replace the NPF Diamonds as the fourth member of National Pro Fastpitch. The League will not operate a team in 2012. “Although the total number of teams will not increase, the strength of the League will grow with four solid franchises in place, commented Kempf. “We are definitely moving in a positive direction.”

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. More information about the athletes who will play for the Carolina Diamonds and the team’s 2012 schedule will be announced in the coming days. For more information, visit the team’s Facebook fan page at Carolina Diamonds (professional women’s sports team) or follow them on Twitter at “npfcarolinas”.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – You can celebrate in your own community or join with thousands in Washington, D.C., to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 1. The theme of this year’s event is “Title IX at 40: In it for the Long Run.”

Started in 1987 to honor Olympic volleyball star Flo Hyman, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has grown into a nationwide celebration to honor the participation, success and accomplishments of girls and women athletes. The Washington D.C. celebration is organized by five national organizations for girls and women — Girls’ Incorporated, Girl Scouts of the USA, National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women’s Law Center and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

This year’s event will include athlete representatives Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, Donna de Varona, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Lillian Greene-Chamberlain and Grete Eliassen who will lobby leaders into supporting important legislation regarding girls and women in sports.

Despite the remarkable strides made in the 39 years since Title IX was enacted, high school girls still receive 1.3 million fewer participation opportunities than do boys, and evidence suggests that the money spent on girls’ sports programs lags significantly behind the money spent on boys’ programs.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Arizona State Sun Devils will began the 2012 exactly where they left off last year, as the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation, according to the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Preseason Poll that was released by the Association on Tuesday.

The defending national champion Sun Devils (60-6) claimed all 30 first-place votes in the poll to top the rankings for the sixth straight edition dating back to last season. Florida (56-13) and Alabama (53-11) also remained unchanged in the preseason poll, finishing the rankings in second and third, respectively. Rounding out the top five was California (45-13) who moved up one spot from the final poll last year to fourth, while Oklahoma (43-19) shot up two spots to fifth.

The only school to drop out of the poll from 2011 to 2012 was DePaul (41-15). Despite leading the receiving votes column, the Blue Demons swapped spots with Big East rival Louisville (38-20), who joined the fray at No. 25.

The Pac-12 conference led the way in the poll with seven teams, while the Big XII and the SEC each had six teams. Other conferences placing teams in the rankings were the Big Ten and Conference USA with two schools each, while the Big East and the Sun Belt each had one representative.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 30 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.

For the complete poll, click here.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Twelve athletes have been named to the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. An additional five athletes will be named to the squad, which will compete at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Championship, following a 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team and USA Softball Women’s Elite National Team Selection Camp in June.

The 12 athletes who were named to the roster by the USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) are Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif./Cal senior), Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif./Arizona State, 2009), Lauren Gibson (Pasadena, Md./Tennessee, junior), Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga./Alabama, 2009), Molly Johnson (Tucson, Ariz./Kentucky, 2010), Stacy May-Johnson (Reno, Nev./Iowa, 2006), Jenae Leles (Sacramento, Calif./Arizona, 2009), Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla./Florida, senior), Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif./Oklahoma, junior), Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Michigan, 2011), Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga./Missouri, 2011) and Chelsea Thomas (Pleasantville, Iowa/Missouri, junior). All athletes who have been named to the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team helped Team USA to the Gold Medal at the 2011 World Cup of Softball in July in Oklahoma City and the 2011 Pan American Games in October in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Athletes who have accepted an invitation to try-out for one of the five remaining spots on the team and the 2012 USA Softball Women’s Elite National Team are Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Oklahoma, freshman), Whitney Canion (Aledo, Texas/Baylor, junior), Raven Chavanne (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Tennessee, junior), Dallas Escobedo (Glendale, Ariz./Arizona State, sophomore), Kenzie Fowler (Tucson, Ariz./Arizona, junior), Taylor Hoagland (Flower Mound, Texas/Texas, junior), Meagan May (Spring, Texas/Texas A&M, junior), Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif./UCLA, 2010), Christi Orgeron (New Orleans, La./La.-Lafayette, senior), Ellen Renfroe (Jackson, Tenn./Tennessee, sophomore) and Jessica Shults (Valencia, Calif./Oklahoma, junior). With the exception of Renfroe, all athletes have played USA Softball previously on a Women’s National Team, Women’s Futures National Team or Junior Women’s National Team.

Throughout the spring, additional athletes will be invited to the June Selection Camp, where the five remaining members of the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team and the 17-athlete roster for the 2012 USA Softball Women’s Elite National Team will be decided. Following the Selection Camp, members of both teams will play each other in exhibition games before beginning competition.

The Women’s National Team will compete at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada, and the World Championship in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The Women’s Elite National Team will compete at the World University Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. Additional events may be added to the team schedules at a later date.

-Courtesy of ASA/USA Softball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Fourteen coaches were honored at the 2011 Convention In Las Vegas for having achieved the prestigious rank of Four-Star Master Coach, an honor bestowed to those that have completed all eight National Fastpitch Coaches Colleges courses.

These fourteen join 82 other coaches who have also reached the milestone since the program began in 2002. The first class of Four-Star Master Coaches was recognized at the 2005 Convention and included 22 members.

Since it’s founding in 2002, the NFCC has been one of the cornerstones of the NFCA’s pledge to help continually educate softball coaches of all levels. Along with earning the title of Four-Star Master Coach, completion of the eight-course curriculum can also count towards a master’s degree in coaching from Texas Woman’s University.

Having now completed all eight courses, this year’s crop of graduates was not shy in telling how the NFCC curriculum has made them a better coach.

“Perhaps the greatest benefit for me, has been the confidence to push the envelope (suicide squeeze, angle down, secondary first and thirds) in game situations,” said Cheqamegon High School (Wis.) head coach Ken Dischler. “The on-the-field sessions with college players have been especially beneficial in this regard — seeing how many times these techniques are successful, often when the defense knows what is about to happen.”

San Diego State assistant coach Stacy Nuveman-Deniz agrees that one of the best ways to expand your coaching repertoire is to attend NFCC courses.

“I have a whole new arsenal of drills and motivational tools to help my team now and in the future. Probably the best part of the NFCC program is the ability to interact with the best and most accomplished coaches in the game and to share ideas with fellow students.”

Madge Makowske, head coach at St. Catherine (Minn.), agrees with Nuveman that NFCC courses are an excellent way to expand your knowledge base.

“I thought it would be great to continue to add knowledge to the coaching toolbox and to hear from highly successful college coaches. I was able to challenge my philosophy and implement new ideas.”

One of the biggest assets of NFCC courses is the ability to interact with the instructors, who are some the brightest minds in the world of softball. Leslie Huntington, head coach of the 2008 Division III National Champions, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, says that the interaction is one of the best parts of the courses.

“I felt the courses provided a unique opportunity for the participants to share and engage in open conversation with the instructors and other participants, rather than just being “talked to” by the instructors.”

While the NFCC courses can teach you what to do on the field, they can also provide help in off-field situations.

“I coach travel ball and they helped me grow in every aspect of the game of softball, “ said Bill Beckham of Wizard of Magic. “From how to evaluate the fields before the game even starts, through specific offensive and defensive skills, all the way to how to react when we won the USSSA national championship.”

While each course is geared towards a specific topic, the classes themselves can be fluid based on the needs of those attending.

“The coaching courses are very versatile in that they allow the class to move into whatever topic the coaches really want to dive into,” said Yasmin Mossadeghi, head coach at Southwestern (Calif.). “If there are topics that the class really wants to talk about then more time is spent on those topics.”

Mike Delaney, head coach at Village Christian HS (Calif.), says that not only are NFCC courses a useful tool, but one of the best values on the market for coaches.

“As a coach, you are always looking for a way to get better, the NFCC program was the best use of resources that I have spent. Each course makes you re-think the way you run practices, teach and communicate with your team. To learn from some of the best minds in the game was truly a blessing for me.”

This year’s slate of NFCC courses will wrap-up at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City with Course 408: World Series Coaching & Game Observation on May 31 – June 2. John Tschida and NFCA Hall of Famers Gayle Blevins and Dianne Baker will lead participants in breaking down the on-field action and talking with WCWS participant coaches after their games.

NFCC Four-Star Master Coaches – Class of 2011
Bill Beckham – Wizards of Fastpitch
Lindsay Bramhall – Thomas More
Mike Delaney – Village Christian HS (CA)
Ken Dischler – Chequamegon HS (WI)
Blythe Golden – Gulf Coast State
Leslie Huntington – Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Greg Lamanna – Seton Hall
Madge Makowske – St. Catherine (MN)
John Maloney – Long Island Anthem
Yasmin Mossadeghi – Southwestern (CA)
Stacey Nuveman – San Diego State
Joanna Payette – Stetson
Sherry Tetreault – Eisenhower HS (OK)
Steve Tetreault

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Nashville, TN – National Pro Fastpitch announced today the establishment of the NPF Official Developmental Partnership Program. The Program is designed to join the professional ranks of owners, players, and staff with the amateur ranks of youth participants, their coaches and parents.

The NPF Official Developmental Partnership Program is broken into three distinct groups: Park Partner, Performance Partner, and Playing Partner. ODP’s are linked with NPF through a benefits and privileges package that includes preferential camp and clinic booking, preferential guest speaker scheduling, discounted tickets to NPF games and special events, opportunity to become an Official Retailer of NPF gear, equipment and apparel discounts, and more.

The Park Partnership enables a recreation, city, or privately owned park to enroll all of its membership teams in the program for the price of one ODP fee. Performance Partnership enables training schools, clubs, and groups along with private coaches, teachers, and organizations to enroll all students for the price of a single ODP fee. And the Playing Partnership is designed to allow teams and leagues that may not fall under a single park or facility to enroll team or league members into the ODP program for the one simple fee. The cost for becoming an Official Developmental Partner of the NPF is $250 annually per park, facility, etc.

“We constantly try to find ways to link the accomplished and impressive women athletes of the NPF with the impressionable young players that dream of being in their shoes one day,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “This program will broaden the awareness of the League by exposing tomorrow’s players to today’s athletes.”

Participants can become an NPF Official Developmental Partner by going to the NPF website at www.profastpitch.com, clicking on the “Youth Programs” tab, and filling out the information. More information is also available on the website.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Stacy May-Johnson has been named the 2011 USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year while Greg Connell was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. Cheyenne Cordes has also been selected as the Athlete of the Year from the Junior Women’s National team program.

Rookie infielder May-Johnson (Reno, Nev./Iowa assistant coach), who saw time at shortstop and third base, came out of retirement in 2011 to make her first USA Softball Women’s National Team at 27-years-old. She started 27 of 28 games the United States played at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada, the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City and the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. While the red, white and blue finished second in Canada, where May-Johnson earned the Defensive Most Valuable Player award, the team won a fifth straight World Cup title and seventh consecutive Pan American Games gold medal.

“When you play on a really good team like the USA Softball Women’s National Team, it is easier to play well,” May-Johnson said. “It’s easier to play defense when you are behind a good pitcher who strikes everyone out. It’s easy to hit well when the people before you are on base and when the batters behind you are dangerous. Sometimes when you’re on a really good team, you win these neat awards like the USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year, but I know this award is not all for me. It’s the people around me that I have to thank for helping me perform at this level.”

At the plate, May-Johnson went 33-for-79 for .418 overall, ranking her first on the team in hits and at-bats while placing her third among national team members in batting average. She had four doubles, a triple and a team-high six home runs for a .722 slugging percentage. May-Johnson had a team-high 26 runs scored and a team-high 30 RBI, nine more than her nearest teammate.

Connell (Moultrie, Ga.), a rookie on the Men’s Slow Pitch National team, played in five of the team’s games at the McQuade Sr. Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament in Bismarck, N.D., the Team Cincinnati exhibitions in Cincinnati and exhibitions in Oklahoma City and also played Border Battle III against Canada in Oklahoma City. For the season, he was 29-for-34 (.853) with 25 runs scored and 27 RBI. He also hit 10 home runs in 2011.

“It is a great honor to be named the USA Softball Male Athlete of the Year. When you play softball, you work hard all year but you never expect to receive an award like this,” Connell said. “I was excited just getting selected to be one of the 15-men to play for the USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National team this year. To be chosen over the other 14 players, the best of the best in our sport, as the Athlete of the Year is just an honor. I’m very excited and am thankful for this opportunity.”

His best performance came in the team’s opening game of the season against the Gene Were All-Stars, a squad of top players from the Dakotas, at the McQuade tournament. He led the offensive effort going 4-for-4 with five RBI on two doubles and two home runs. In the second game of the tournament, Connell continued his hot streak in going a perfect 6-for-6. During the exhibition games in Cincinnati, he went 8-for-10 with seven runs scored and six RBI.

When the team came to Oklahoma City in July to prepare for Border Battle III, the only internationally televised men’s slow pitch game, Connell once again was an outstanding performer, going 9-for-11 with seven runs scored and 11 RBI in the exhibition action. He was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI in Team USA’s 25-3 Border Battle victory over the Canadian National Team.

Cordes (Fairfield, Calif./Cal freshman) helped lead the United States to the Gold Medal at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship, Dec. 6-17, in Cape Town, South Africa. She was the only member of the team to start in all 11 games in Cape Town and one of two athletes to play in all 11 games. While seeing time at shortstop and primarily at third base, she also led Team USA in hits (15), extra base hits (seven), RBI (12) and stolen bases (three).

“It is such a tremendous honor to be named the Athlete of the Year for the USA Softball Junior Women’s National team,” Cordes said. “Words cannot describe how it feels to receive this award. It was a wonderful opportunity to wear USA across my chest the past two years and win two gold medals with such an awesome group of girls, who I love playing with. To be named the athlete of the year, it is a complete surprise. Everyone on the team is amazing, they’re so good, and everyone did their part to help us win the ISF Junior Women’s World Championship. I’m really honored. Thank you to USA Softball for this award and the experience of playing for my country.”

At the plate, Cordes went 15-for-26 (.577) with one of her hits, a fifth inning double, breaking open Japan’s no hitter on Dec. 16. She had a team-high 12 RBI, only six less RBI then all of Team USA’s opponents combined, and 10 runs scored, third most on the team. Cordes hit three doubles, a team-high two triples and a team-high two home runs. Both home runs, a solo blast and a three-run bomb, came in the second inning of Team USA’s Dec. 14 game against Puerto Rico. Her tournament slugging percentage of 1.077 was the highest on the team. She was walked five times, third most on the team, and struck out only one time in the entire tournament. On the base paths, she was 3-for-4, also making her the team leader in stolen bases.

Cordes was also a member of the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team. In 2010, the team qualified for the Junior Women’s World Championship by winning III Pan American Championships (18-Under) in Bogota, Colombia.

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ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Chicago Bandits annouced today that Darrick Brown has resigned as head coach of the Chicago Bandits.

“We want to thank Darrick for the wonderful year of service he provided to the Bandits,” said Bandits GM, Aaron M. Moore. “He was a big reason for the team’s success in 2011, including winning the team’s second NPF Championship.
“We respect his decision to focus on what he has going on in Michigan with his family and indoor center, Brown’s Fastpitch, and the Bandits organization wishes him nothing but success moving forward.”

During the 2011 season, Brown coached the Bandits to a 20-20 regular season record. In Sulphur, La. for the 2011 NPF Championship series, the Bandits defeated the Akron Racers in the first round, advancing to the finals where they eventually defeated the USSSA Pride for the title of 2011 NPF Champions.

“I intend to spend more time with my family, building and maintaining my softball training business and focusing on working toward a collegiate coaching position,” said Brown. “I appreciate the opportunity I was given to lead the Bandits in 2011. I learned a great deal about the organization and the NPF and think the future is bright for professional fastpitch softball.”

Originally from Kalamazoo, Mich., Brown began his coaching career at 19, becoming one of the top hitting and pitching instructors in the country. Prior to joining the Bandits, he spent time as a coach for Glen Oaks Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College where his teams averaged over 30 wins a season.

In addition, Darrick has developed the Brown’s Fastpitch travel softball program, which now has travel teams ranging from 10U to 18U.

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa – The United States claimed the 2011 International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship today in Cape Town, South Africa, with a 4-1 defeat of Japan in the Gold Medal Game. After a semifinal loss to Japan on Friday, the Americans topped Chinese Taipei 12-3 in the six inning Bronze Medal Game and then topped Japan to secure the Gold Medal.

“This is one of the greatest days of my life,” designated player Cheyenne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) said.

Tarango provided all the offense the Americans needed to claim the title. With bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, she hit the first home run of her USA Softball career, a grand slam home run over the left field fence.

“Honestly in my head, I was just thinking about a base hit,” said Tarango, who appeared in six games in the tournament. “I thought that if I could just get the first RBI, Lauren Haeger would be able to take care of the rest.”

Pitcher Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz.) did her part in the circle, allowing only five hits to a Japanese team that pounded three U.S. pitchers for 11 hits and nine runs Friday. The sole run crossed the plate in the sixth when a Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif.) fielding error allowed third baseman Mina Yamashiro to cross the plate.

“I felt really honored that my team had faith in me,” Haeger said. “I was so excited. To get to pitch against Japan in any game is awesome, let alone the Gold Medal Game. I feel honored to have had the chance to pitch a game like this for my country.”

Haeger struck out eight batters including the last two.

“I was really excited to just get in the Gold Medal Game and play,” she said. “I was hitting my spots and doing everything right today. I was throwing hard. Everything, every pitch worked out.”

The United States finishes the tournament with a record of 10-1, the only loss being the 9-0 five inning loss to Japan.

“It is always tough to take a loss like we did to Japan last night but I think that it was good for them,” Head Coach Karen Johns (Whippany, N.J.) said. “It showed them how much they wanted to have a Gold Medal around their neck and gave them the motivation to fight for it. I am so proud of them and how they performed today. Without a doubt, they deserve to be called Junior Women’s World Champions.”

It is the second consecutive title for the Americans. Team USA has played in each of the six previous Championship Games held, defeating China for the inaugural title in 1987, losing to Japan in 1991, defeating Japan in 1995 and losing to Japan in 1999 and 2003 before reclaiming the top spot from Japan in 2007.

The U.S. qualified for the Junior Women’s World Championship in August 2010 by winning the III Pan American Championships (18-Under) in Bogota, Colombia, with a 9-0 record that included two wins against Canada and another against Puerto Rico. In the Championship Game, Team USA defeated Canada 3-1. The two teams also met in pool play during that event with the U.S. claiming a 3-0 victory. In the semi-final, the Americans defeated Puerto Rico 6-1.

Since competing in Bogota, the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team played in a summer exhibition series against the 2011 USA Softball Women’s National Team in Tampa, Salem, Va., and Bowie, Md. The team rejoined in Cape Town for the first time since early July.

The members of the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team hail from seven states and 11 universities. Team members are Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif./UCLA freshman), Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Oklahoma freshman), Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif./California freshman), Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif./Florida sophomore), Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo./Florida freshman), Escobedo, Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif./Arizona State freshman), Erin Gabriel (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary High School senior), Goodacre, Lauren Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz./Florida freshman), Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif./Washington freshman), Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif./Oklahoma sophomore), Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md./South Florida sophomore), Cheyanne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Tennessee freshman), Nyree White (Eugene, Ore./Stanford freshman), Hallie Wilson (North Tustin, Calif./Arizona freshman) and Chelsea Zgrabik (Nokomis, Fla./Florida Gulf Coast sophomore).

Coyle was named to the roster in late July by the USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) after Shelby Pendley (Albuquerque, N.M./Arizona freshman) withdrew from the team due to injury. Madison Shipman (Valencia, Calif./Tennessee sophomore) also withdrew from the team due to injury in September and was replaced by Damico.

The Junior Women’s National Team is coached by Johns with assistants Suzy Brazney (Huntington Beach, Calif./head coach Golden West College) and Tony Rico (Huntington Beach, Calif./coach Worth Firecrackers). Joe Salvatore (Monroe Township, N.J./coach New Jersey Breakers) serves as the volunteer assistant coach. Michael White (Eugene, Ore./head coach Oregon) is the batting and pitching coach.

-Courtesy of ASA/USA Softball

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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.

Landing the championship is a coup for the village, which is trying to establish itself as an entertainment and sports hub.

Rosemont Stadium was built last year specifically as a venue for women’s fastpitch softball, Mayor Bradley Stephens said.

“We have the only field (in the league) that is specifically designed for the women to play on. The other three teams play on modified men’s fields,” Stephens said. “There has been a tremendous groundswell of support for and excitement about women’s fastpitch softball in our community, and bringing the NPF Championship Series to Rosemont will only build upon this strong foundation.”

The village also will be expanding its stadium complex, building a dome with two additional fields west of the stadium on village-owned land. Officials are also working with a group to bring tournaments there, Stephens said.

The championship series is being supported by the Rosemont Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Mayor Stephens and the village of Rosemont have demonstrated a strong commitment to women’s fastpitch softball,” said Commissioner Cheri Kempf of the National Pro Fastpitch League said in a news release. “The Rosemont Stadium is an ideal venue for the series from both a player and a fan perspective. The environment in Rosemont will no doubt enhance the premier women’s fastpitch softball competition in the world.”

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CAPE TOWN — The United States thumped Botswana 17-0 in three innings Monday at the 2011 International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship in Cape Town, South Africa. Nyree White (Eugene, Ore.) threw a perfect game, striking out three, to help the team remain undefeated after five pool play games.

“The team put up a ton of runs today so it was pretty easy for me just going out there throwing strikes,” White said. “I wanted to use my defense, roll up ground balls, which is the same approach that I usually have. I wanted to make sure that we got back in the dugout so we could keep scoring some more runs.”

The Americans set the tone in the top of the first with 11 runs scored. Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) started the offensive outpouring with a single to left field that scored Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md.), who was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif.) doubled to move Carda to third. Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif.) reached on an error, scoring Carda. Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo.), pinch running for Freeman, stole second.

Cheyenne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) made it 4-0 with a double to score Cordes and Damico. Chelsea Goodacre (Temecula, Calif.) singled to center field, moving Tarango to third, then stole second. Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif.) walked to load the bases. Pitcher Tjitjoo Rapelang then walked Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) for her first of five RBI in the game.

An error in left field allowed Salvarola to reach base and score Goodacre and Coyle. With Chamberlain on third, Carda hit an RBI single. A Cordes triple scored Salvarola and Carda, who went 3-for-3 on the day. Freeman singled up the middle to score Cordes, which marked the final run of the inning. The first ended with a Tarango fly out.

Goodacre and White started the second with consecutive singles. Coyle doubled to left field to score Goodacre. With two-on, Chamberlain hit a home run to make it a 15-0 contest. The homer marked Chamberlain’s first of the tournament but the second for the team, which benefited from a Chelsea Zgrabik (Nokomis, Fla.) homer against South Africa on Sunday.

“The game was all about adjustments,” said Chamberlain. “The team adjustment was to wait back, see it deep and that was my plan. I got a good pitch and good things happened.”

In the third, White doubled to score Goodacre, who reached on an error by the second baseman than advanced to second on a passed ball. Chamberlain later added a run to the board when White scored on her double.

“Hitting wise, I’ve just tried to get a nice pitch and take a good hack, see the ball deep,” said White, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. “It’s cool when I’m hitting and pitching because it keeps me from getting to wrapped up in either side of the game. It’s cool to be able to balance it out that way.”

Team USA has two pool play games remaining in Cape Town before the playoffs (Dec. 15-16) and medal rounds (Dec. 17). The Americans face Czech Republic on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. SAST/9:30 a.m. CT and close out pool play Wednesday with Puerto Rico at 2 p.m. SAST/6 a.m. CT.

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa – With the momentum of five two-out hits in the fourth inning, the United States overcame a slow start to beat South Africa 8-0 in five innings Sunday. The win over the well-supported home country at the 2011 International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, improves Team USA’s record to 4-0 in pool play with three games remaining.

The Red, White and Blue had only one hit each in the first, second and third innings. In the top of the fourth with two-outs, designated player Lauren Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled up the middle to start the American rally. Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif.) followed with a centerfield triple, the first of six extra base hits for the team, and put the first run on the board. After a series of foul balls, Chelsea Zgrabik (Nokomis, Fla.) hit a two-run home run that made it a 3-0 lead.

“After my first at-bat, which was a strike out, they were throwing me outside so I figured that’s where I had to go,” Zgrabik said. “Then I had [assistant coach] Tony Rico tell me ‘Look to the right side, look to the right side’ so I just had to calm myself down. [Assistant Coach Suzy Brazney] told me to take a deep breath. I fouled off a bunch of pitches then she happened to throw me the right pitch.”

It marks the first home run of the tournament for the Americans. While Zgrabik holds the record for the most home runs hit in a Florida high school season with 13 blasts, the shot to left center in Cape Town is her first as a USA Softball player.

“The wind has been a really huge factor in us not hitting home runs,” Zgrabik said. “I didn’t even think I hit it out honestly. I thought I missed it and it just happened to go over. It was one of those.”

Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo.), who was added to the team roster in September following Madison Shipman’s (Valencia , Calif.), next recorded her first hit in USA Softball play with a double to left center. Nyree White (Eugene, Ore.) hit an RBI single before the rally ended with a Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif.) fly out.

Four runs were also recorded in the fifth. Second baseman Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif.) led off with a single then scored on an Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) double to left center. Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md.) hit a single through the left side that scored Carda, who had advanced to second on a stolen base. The RBI chased Natalie Abrahams, who allowed three earned runs in relief of starter Lauren Mulder.

With Angelque Botes pitching, Chelsea Goodacre (Temecula, Calif.) grounded out to second base to record the first out of the inning. Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif.) doubled to score Salvarola. Coyle advanced to third on a Zgrabik sacrifice fly. She scored when Damico reached on an error and later advanced to second on a passed ball. White flied out to end the inning.

Cheyenne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) recorded two consecutive strike outs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game. Tarango, pitching two innings in relief of starter Erin Gabriel (Poland, Ohio) struck out three batters overall. She allowed one hit, giving up a double to Shadine Van Der Merwe, the first batter she faced in the top of the fourth.

Gabriel received her first start of the tournament. After Abrahams singled to right field and Christine Cronje walked in the first, Gabriel kept the South Africans off the bases. She struck out three batters.

“I was fortunate enough to get the home crowd, South Africa, so it was pretty loud and pretty exciting. It gave me a lot of adrenaline,” Gabriel said. “I couldn’t really hear what was going on in our own dugout, which was kind of hard, but once I calmed myself down and got used to the [20 second] pitching timer, everything went well.”

At 17 years old, Gabriel is the youngest member of the 17-person 2011 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team. The Poland Seminary senior, who signed a National Letter of Intent with Tennessee, is also the only player still in high school.

“Erin impressed me with how well she performed in front of the enthusiastic South African crowd. It was a great crowd today,” Head Coach Karen Johns (Whippany, N.J.) said. “They were extremely supportive throughout the whole game. Sometimes a young pitcher can really let an tough opposing crowd affect her performance but Erin did a nice job of playing her game. She kept her focus and her intensity no matter how loud the fans were at times.”

Team USA has three pool play games remaining in Cape Town before the playoffs (Dec. 15-16) and medal rounds (Dec. 17). On Monday, the Red, White and Blue face Botswana at 12:30 p.m. South African Standard Time/4:30 a.m. CT. Team USA also faces the Czech Republic on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. SAST/9:30 a.m. CT and closes out pool play Wednesday with Puerto Rico at 2 p.m. SAST/6 a.m. CT.

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CAPE TOWN – In their first contest of the 2011 International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team defeated Canada 11-4 in five innings Thursday. The bottom of the fifth started with a Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md.) single up the middle and ended on a similar note, a walk-off Salvarola single up the middle that scored Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif.).

“At that point in the game, the lead that we had was kind of short, it was kind of small so I was just trying to get on base and give ourselves that base runner that would widen the gap again,” Salvarola said. “When I got back up at the end, I was honestly just freezing, really cold and we just wanted to end the game. I was trying really hard to hit the first pitch and end it.”

The action was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. but did not get underway until after 9:30, delayed by previous games including the Czech Republic’s 9-8 victory over Puerto Rico. The pool play match-up between Canada and the U.S. ended just short of midnight in Cape Town, with the temperature in the low 50s and winds continuing at nearly 20 MPH.

“I am really proud of how the team performed with the tough weather conditions and the late start,” said Karen Johns (Whippany, N.J.), who is in her second year as head coach of the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team. “It would have been easy for these young women to get distracted tonight but they fought through the adversity, which is a huge positive. We have to make some improvements if we want to be Junior Women’s World Champions but an 11-4 victory over Canada is not a bad way to start the tournament.”

Team USA headed into the bottom of the fifth holding a two run lead over the Canadians. With Natalie Becker in the circle, the first four USA batters reached base. Salvarola advanced to second on a Hallie Wilson (North Tustin, Calif.) hit then scored on Ally Carda’s (Elk Grove, Calif.) single. Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team Athlete of the Year, was walked to load the bases.

Jaycee Affeldt walked Kylee Lahners, the first batter she faced, to put the Red, White and Blue up 8-4, and then allowed an RBI single to shortstop Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif.). Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo.) struck out swinging to record the first out. Then Affeldt walked Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif.), allowing Chamberlain to score, and struck out Chelsea Goodacre (Temecula, Calif.) before facing Salvarola.

“I was just looking for a pitch that I could at least put in play,” said Salvarola, who went 2-for-2 with two walks. “I went up there knowing that she wasn’t throwing many pitches for strikes so I was focused on getting a good pitch and putting it in play.”

The Americans scored one run in the first when Canada’s starting pitcher Karissa Hovinga walked Coyle with bases loaded, scoring Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif.). A total of 11 U.S. batters were walked including Amber Freeman, who was hit by a pitch with bases loaded in the third, and Salvarola also with bases loaded in the third.

Dallas Escobedo (Glendale, Ariz.) pitched the first three innings for the win. Of the 11 batters faced by the Arizona State sophomore standout, she allowed two batters to reach base, walking Shannon Davidson and then giving up a single to Natalie Wideman in the second. Escobedo struck out three batters.

“I felt really great warming up and was excited that we were finally playing games,” Escobedo said. “We’ve been out here practicing for about a week now. Finally getting out there and playing against another team really adds fuel to my fire. I was just ready to perform and I think I did well.”

Nyree White (Eugene, Ore.) pitched 1.2 innings, with all four Canadian runs crossing the plate with her in the circle. Only two runs were earned, while another pair came on a sloppy play that started with a throwing error from third baseman Cordes to first baseman Chamberlain.

White was relieved in the fifth by Cheyenne Tarango, who faced three batters.

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12/7/2011

CAPE TOWN — The local organizing committee for the IX International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship (19-Under) in Cape Town, South Africa, announced that five of the 2011 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team’s pool play games will be webcast live through the official tournament website http://jwwc2011.co.za/.

The top ranked Americans open the tournament Thursday against Canada at 7:30 p.m. South African Standard Time. Team USA’s opener and pool play games against China (Friday at 2:30 p.m.), New Zealand (Saturday at 12:30 p.m.), Botswana (Monday at 12:30 p.m.) and Czech Republic (Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.) will be streamed live from Turfhall Softball Stadium.

All Junior Women’s World Championship games played on Field 1, as well as the Closing Ceremony, will be streamed through the tournament website. On the first two days (Dec. 7-8) and the last two days (Dec. 16-17), seven-camera broadcasts will be done. Games played Dec. 9-15 will be shot with a single camera.

Live stats for all USA Softball games will also be available through Gametracker at USASoftball.com. In addition to the games that are scheduled for live streaming, Team USA will play host country South Africa on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and Puerto Rico Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. The playoffs and medal rounds are Dec. 15-17.

For all 66 games played at the Junior Women’s World Championship, the tournament website will also be updated at the end of each half inning with the current score. Team and tournament statistics will also be posted on the tournament website at the end of each day.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Ithaca head coach Deb Pallozzi and Tennessee co-head coach Ralph Weekly became members of one of the most elite groups in all of softball on Friday night at the 2011 NFCA Convention in Las Vegas, the NFCA Hall of Fame.

During Pallozzi’s tenure, Ithaca has made 19 NCAA regional appearances, won 10 consecutive Empire 8 regular-season titles, seven tournament crowns and the 2002 NCAA Division III National Softball Championship. While at the helm of the Bombers, Pallozzi has coached some of the best players in school history including 14 NSCA and Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America selections.

Although the awards have not just been limited to her players, as Pallozzi has been the recipient of several awards during her storied career. She is a five-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year and is a four-time NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honoree.

Since taking over in Knoxville, Weekly has made the Tennessee softball program synonymous with success, vaulting over the next level to become one of the most elite programs in the nation. During Weekly’s tenure in Knoxville, the Lady Vols have been to the NCAA tournament eight times, captured two SEC East titles, two SEC tournament championships and have made four trips to the Women’s College World Series.

When at the WCWS under the Weekly, Tennessee has never finished lower than third, including a runner-up finish in 2007. During his tenure, Weekly has produced 34 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region selections, 21 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America selections and 12 Capital One Academic All-America selections. He is also a three-time NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year winner, a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and has guided the Lady Vols to the SEC tournament in every year of his tenure except his first.

After the banquet, NFCA First Vice President and chairperson of the Hall of Fame committee Kathryn Gleason named the three members of 2012 NFCA Hall of Fame class. Former Palomar head coach Mark Eldridge, Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso and North Carolina head coach Donna Papa will join 55 other members next year when they are inducted into NFCA Hall of Fame next year at the 2012 NFCA Convention in Orlando, Fla.

A legend in Cal JC, Eldridge ended a stellar career in 2010 and finished his 32-year tenure at Palomar with a record of 1083-304-6. Under his guidance, Eldridge led the Comets to 27 conference titles and three state titles. He has produced 29 All-Americans during his tenure and has been named the California Coach of the Year six times.

In just 17 seasons as the head coach of Oklahoma, Gasso has turned the Sooners into a national power that has made 17 NCAA regional appearances and six trips to Women’s College World Series. With almost 1,000 career wins at both Oklahoma at Long Beach City, Gasso has won four Big XII regular season-titles, four conference championships and has produced 38 All-Americans.

For a school that is known for its coaching icons, Papa has continued a legacy made famous by names like Smith and Williams. With over 1,000 career wins, she has created a winning culture at UNC that is rivaled by few. Under her tutelage, the Tar Heels have had 23 winning seasons, including the last 13 in a row, and have been to the NCAA tournament in nine of the past 11 years

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http://www.USAfastpitch.com A complete listing of every USA player to have played in the Olympics.
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Louisville, KY (November 28, 2011) – Louisville Slugger® TPS® is making some serious noise in fastpitch softball. It started with the “mean sounding” XENO bat, as players affectionately describe the loud and unique noise when a XENO crushes the ball. Now it’s with the major announcement that the sport’s winningest coach has joined the Louisville Slugger family.

Sue Enquist, 11-time National Champion at UCLA and member of multiple Halls of Fame, is joining Louisville Slugger TPS Fastpitch Softball as a consultant. Enquist, who is also a motivational speaker and clinician, will collaborate with the Louisville Slugger TPS research and development staff on innovation, design and testing of bats, gloves, batting gloves, protective equipment and accessories.

“Sue Enquist is one of the most highly respected people in the game of softball,” said Louisville Slugger president Bill Clark. “We’ve admired Sue and had a desire to work with her for a long time. We’re thrilled to have access to the knowledge and experience Sue brings to our Louisville Slugger TPS family.”

Enquist is equally excited to be part of the historic family-owned brand.
“Louisville Slugger is an American icon and has always been a great supporter of women and girls who play softball,” Enquist said, “I am honored to have a role in this great, historic, innovative and forward-thinking company.”

Caroline Howe, a former Division I player who heads up the Louisville Slugger TPS fastpitch program, says it’s been easy to see why Enquist was a successful coach.
“Sue is an amazing motivator. She’s passionate about our game and pushes for excellence in everything she does,” Howe said. “Our TPS staff and I are eager to continue our new collaboration with Sue as we grow Louisville Slugger TPS fastpitch.”

Among Enquist’s many lifetime achievements, she is the first person in NCAA history to win a national championship as a player and a coach. She was UCLA’s first All-American as a player where she had a .401 career batting average.

In her storied 27 years as a coach at UCLA, Enquist had a career record of 887-175-1, for a remarkable .835 winning percentage. She coached 65 All-Americans and 12 Olympians. Enquist is a World Champion and a USA National Team coach and player. As a USA National Team coach, she helped prepare the Olympic Team for the inaugural 1996 gold medal run in the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

She is a member of the UCLA Hall of Fame, Women’s Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame. She has been named National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

Enquist is also an author, maker of more than 25 leading instructional videos, and former professional surfer. She lives in California where she continues to surf daily.

Sue Enquist Biography

UCLA’S first All-American player, career .401 batting average

UCLA softball coach, 27 years (retired)

11-time National Champion player & coach at UCLA

First person in NCAA history to win a National Championship as a player and a coach

887-175-1 record (.835 winning percentage), NCAA Division I career record

Was winningest coach among active softball coaches during her career

Coached 65 All-Americans and 12 Olympians

USA National Team: USA World Champion & Pan-American Champion

Member USA National Team Staff for’96 Gold Medal Olympic Team

17 of 21 years in the NCAA Championship Finals

UCLA Hall of Fame

Women’s Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame

National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame

1,314 combined wins as a player and a coach

Professional surfer

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http://www.USAfastpitch.com A complete listing of every USA player to have played in the Olympics.
http://www.SoftballCoaches.com A complete listing of every coach to win a D1 Fastpitch Softball Championship.
http://www.SoftballJunk.com Proud sponsor of the fastpitch TV Show website.
http://www.USSSAntx.com The official website for North Texas USSSA Fastpitch.

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NDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After 32 years as a print publication, the National High School Sports Record Book has officially moved online and can be accessed on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Web site at www.nfhs.org/recordbook.

The Record Book contains all-time records for boys and girls in 16 high school sports. Visitors to the site can select from the menu of sports, and will have the option to search for specific records across all sports in the Record Book.
In addition, new entries will be posted in the Record Book on an ongoing basis once the record performances are verified. Previously, records were updated annually with the printing of the book.

“The National High School Sports Record Book is a one-of-a-kind publication and has become a tremendous resource for many individuals across the country,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “At this point in time, given the advances in technology, we felt that we could reach thousands and thousands of individuals by moving this valuable publication online. Also, the option of daily updates makes this publication even more useful.”

National interscholastic records are maintained by the NFHS through a detailed system of verifying, recording and preserving the accomplishments of high school student-athletes. The approval of high school records rests with the NFHS member associations in the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

The first edition of the National High School Sports Record Book was published in 1978 with 176 pages in a 5¼ x 8½ format. By the final printing of the 5¼ x 8½ format in 2004, the book had grown to 448 pages. The 8½ x 11 format was adopted in 2005, and the final edition in 2010 was 248 pages.

In addition to the searchable aspect of the online publication, links will be posted soon that will take viewers to photos, videos and features of selected team and individual performances.

For more information on the new online version of the National High School Sports Record Book, contact John Gillis, editor, at jgillis@nfhs.org, or Chris Boone, assistant editor at cboone@nfhs.org.

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http://www.USAfastpitch.com A complete listing of every USA player to have played in the Olympics.
http://www.SoftballCoaches.com A complete listing of every coach to win a D1 Fastpitch Softball Championship.
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http://www.USSSAntx.com The official website for North Texas USSSA Fastpitch.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending national champion Oregon Tech has claimed the top spot in the 2012 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Owls, who defeated California Baptist 1-0 on May 25 to capture the 2011 National Championship, received 17 of 20 first-place votes and earned 555 points. Oregon Tech, who went 42-13 during the 2011 season, jumps up 17 spots from last season’s final poll.

The Owls are led by reigning NAIA Coach of the Year Greg Stewart. He enters his eighth season at the helm for Oregon Tech with a record of 226-107-2. Stewart will lean on top junior pitcher Taylor Schmidt, who went 17-4 with a 2.02 ERA, and sophomore infielder Shauna Collins, who led the team with a .358 batting average.

Cal State San Marcos climbs two spots to No. 2 with 535 points and one first-place nod on the strength of a 47-11 record and fourth-place National Championship. No. 3 Oklahoma City creeps up six spots with 511 points and two first-place votes after concluding last season at No. 9 in the polls. No. 4 Central Baptist (Ark.) and No.5 Brenau (Ga.) complete the top five with 493 and 488 points, respectively. Cal State San Marcos and Central Baptist are the only holdovers from last season’s final top five.

No. 13 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) makes the biggest jump of teams that landed outside of last season’s final poll. The Lady Senators return three-time NAIA All-America outfielder Brandi Richards and lose just two starters from a team that went 34-20. Similarly, Union (Tenn.) went from unranked to No. 17. The Lady Bulldogs bring back their top two pitchers in Brooke Thomas and Keaton Kirk after finishing last season as TranSouth Athletic Conference Tournament and regular-season runner-up.

In total, 20 squads retained Top-25 rankings from the previous poll with No. 6 Belhaven (Miss.), No. 7 Lubbock Christian (Texas) and No. 14 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) remaining in the exact same positions. New to the poll are Auburn Montgomery, Union (Tenn.), No. 20 Central Methodist (Mo.), No. 23 Corban (Ore.) and No. 25 Oklahoma Christian.

Thirteen conferences/independent/unaffiliated groupings are represented in the poll. The Southern States Athletic Conference boasts the most ranked clubs with six: Brenau, Belhaven, No. 9 Shorter (Ga.), Auburn Montgomery, No. 16 William Carey (Miss.) and No. 22 Mobile (Ala.). The Sooner Athletic Conference claims three teams: Oklahoma City, Lubbock Christian and Oklahoma Christian. Five conferences are represented by two members.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences /independent /unaffiliated groupings. The first regular-season poll will be released on March 19, 2012. For more information about NAIA softball, click here.

Notes (all information dating back to 2000): Oregon Tech’s highest-ever previous ranking was 10th, occurring on March 19, 2002 … Oregon Tech joins former NAIA member California Baptist, Lubbock Christian (Texas), Mobile (Ala.), Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma City, former NAIA member Simon Fraser (B.C.) and Thomas (Ga.) as the only schools to appear at No. 1 … California Baptist leads the way with 46 all-time No. 1 appearances, followed by Oklahoma City with 20, Simon Fraser with 18, Thomas with 13, Mobile with five, Lubbock Christian with three and Oklahoma Baptist with two … No. 2 Cal State San Marcos has been ranked in 22-straight polls as it ties its highest-ever ranking this week … No. 3 Oklahoma City has appeared in 71-straight polls, falling no lower than 18th during that stretch … No. 20 Central Methodist (Mo.) checks into the Top 25 for the first time since being ranked No. 24 in the 2009 preseason poll … No. 24 Corban (Ore.) is making its first-ever appearance in the rankings … No. 25 Oklahoma Christian last appeared in the Top 25 on Feb. 3, 2004.

For the complete poll, click here.

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http://www.USAfastpitch.com A complete listing of every USA player to have played in the Olympics.
http://www.SoftballCoaches.com A complete listing of every coach to win a D1 Fastpitch Softball Championship.
http://www.SoftballJunk.com Proud sponsor of the fastpitch TV Show website.
http://www.USSSAntx.com The official website for North Texas USSSA Fastpitch.

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://www.GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Four-time Olympic medalist in swimming, Title IX advocate and current senior director of Advocacy for the Women’s Sports Foundation Nancy Hogshead-Makar will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2011 NFCA Convention at Bally’s in Las Vegas on Nov. 30, the Association announced on Tuesday.

Hogshead-Makar is one of the foremost champions of gender equity in education, including sports participation, sexual harassment, employment, pregnancy, and legal enforcement under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Her book, co-authored with Andrew Zimbalist, “Equal Play, Title IX and Social Change,” has received acclaim since its release by Temple University Press. She was the lead author of “Pregnant and Parenting Student-Athletes; Resources and Model Policies,” published by the NCAA. In 2009, she brought a successful legal challenge against the Florida High School Athletic Association whose cuts to competitive seasons discriminated against female athletes. In the settlement, the competitive seasons were restored for all high school athletes throughout Florida.

Hogshead-Makar has a 25-year history with the Women’s Sports Foundation as a volunteer, starting as a college intern, becoming the third president from 1992-1994, it’s legal advisor from 2003-2010 and serving currently as its senior director of advocacy.

Hogshead-Makar has testified in Congress numerous times on the topic of gender equity in athletics, written numerous scholarly and lay articles, and has been a frequent guest on national news programs on the topic, including “60 Minutes” on CBS, Fox News, CNN, ESPN, NPR and network morning news programming. She serves as an expert witness in Title IX cases and has written amicus briefs representing athletic organizations in precedent-setting litigation. Since 2003, she has been the co-chair of American Bar Association Committee on the Rights of Women. She was elected to the editorial board of the Journal of Intercollegiate Sport in 2009. In 2007, Sports Illustrated named her as one of the most influential people in the 35-year history of Title IX.

Hogshead-Makar has received significant awards recognizing her commitment to athletics, including: a receipt of an honorary doctorate from Springfield College, induction into the Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame and the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, membership in the Hall of Fame for the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, and receipt of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators’ Honor Award. In 2011, she was presented with the National Organization for Women’s Courage Award. Hogshead-Makar is a tenured Professor of Law at the Florida Coastal School of Law, where she currently teaches sports law courses. She earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and is an honors graduate of Duke University.

Hogshead-Makar capped eight years as a world-class swimmer at the 1984 Olympics, where she won three gold medals and one silver medal. Through high school and college dual meets, she was undefeated. Other major awards include the AAU Nathan Mallison Award, given to Florida’s outstanding amateur athlete, and the prestigious Kiphuth Award, given to the best all-around swimmer nationally. Makar-Hogshead has been inducted into 11 halls of fame for her swimming accomplishments, including the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 2000, Sports Illustrated ranked her as Florida’s 13th greatest athlete overall of the 20th Century.

Hogshead-Makar will address the convention as part of the general session on Wednesday, November 30 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. For move information on this year’s convention, go to http://nfca.org/convention/.

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http://www.USAfastpitch.com A complete listing of every USA player to have played in the Olympics.
http://www.SoftballCoaches.com A complete listing of every coach to win a D1 Fastpitch Softball Championship.
http://www.SoftballJunk.com Proud sponsor of the fastpitch TV Show website.
http://www.USSSAntx.com The official website for North Texas USSSA Fastpitch.

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Dear NPF Supporters and Fans,

As the Commissioner of National Pro Fastpitch, I wanted to take some time to re-cap the year of 2011 and especially to say “thank you” to each one of you for your visible efforts in supporting the professional level of fastpitch softball. 2011 was a year of firsts in special events, and another year of exciting talent and action when it came to the competition.

NPF action in 2011 began with a bang as we hosted the NPF College Draft for the first time ever, at a professional sports venue. The Draft was presented by Miken and held at the Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic. There were 5 rounds of 4 selections each for a total of 20 draft selections. Once again, the #1 Draft choice hailed from the University of Alabama, as the Diamonds selected pitcher, Kelsi Dunne. (Charlotte Morgan of UA was chosen #1 by the USSSA Florida Pride in 2010.)

On February 17th, NPF announced the establishment of the NPF Board of Advisors. A who’s who in sports and softball dotted the 10 positions. The Board ranges from tennis legend and women’s sports advocate, Billie Jean King to former Chicago Bandit and Olympic Gold Medalist, Jennie Finch. John Kruk, Sue Enquist, Mike Candrea, Jane Sage Cowles, Denise Michaels, Beth Mowins and Cindy Bristow all accepted positions along with the NPF active player representative, Jessica Mendoza. The Board of Advisors met periodically throughout the season and have provided a reliable resource for the League, both as a group and individually.

On April 20th, NPF launched a grass roots fund raising campaign – Twenty for 20. The idea of the campaign was to ask regular everyday people, who had perhaps had their lives touched in some way by the sport of softball, to donate $20 to the cause of securing the sport at the professional level. Donations in 2011 were committed to contribute to the television broadcast of the Championship Series. The campaign in its initial run, raised over $16,000, which helped greatly in the airing of the Championship Series on ESPN in August. The single largest contributor was fan Sherry Lister, who gave an amount that coordinated with the numbers of her favorite players, Danielle Lawrie (#15), Cat Osterman (#8), and Megan Willis (#5). Lister was not alone in her generosity however, as hundreds of people punched the $20 donation tab in honor of grandparents, parents, coaches, players, umpires, brothers, sisters, teammates, friends, championship teams, and many more. The Twenty for 20 Campaign is set to re-launch in 2012.

One of the NPF’s major supplier categories opened up in 2011 for the first time since the existence of NPF – Team uniforms. After notifying every major uniform manufacturer and offering them the opportunity to “dress the pro’s”, it came as a bit of a surprise that the only company that stepped forward with enthusiasm was a little known (in fastpitch) direct-sell company named Boombah. There’s a saying about being thankful for unanswered prayers and it couldn’t apply more than in this situation. Boombah saw an opportunity to put their brand on the very best fastpitch players in the game and rose to the occasion. Our League has never looked better than in 2011! Anyone and everyone that watched the play – watched the players, and noticed the class, quality, and fit of their uniforms. Players also gave rave reviews regarding the fit, comfort, style, and of course – the look! We are so happy to have Bombah as our uniform supplier and look forward to the future in helping this company grow their business.

The NPF is fortunate to have a great group of manufacturers that supply product to the Teams and athletes. The product includes shoes, socks, uniforms, headwear, bats gloves, balls, bags, software, training aids, equipment cleaner, and protective gear. Those manufacturers include Adidas, Academa, Baden, Boombah, Combat, Diamond, Easton, Espro Clean, EvoShield, Louisville Slugger, Miken, Mizuno, Nike, RevFire, Right View Pro, Ringor, Rip-It, Schutt, The Game, Under Armour, Wilson, Worth, and 3n2, and are listed in the “About NPF”/ “NPF Partners” section of our website.

As a League, it is our goal to be a good partner to the folks that support us. We want to insure that being involved with the League, its Teams and players is a positive situation that truly affects the bottom line of our partners. In 2011 NPF attempted (and I believe accomplished), to over-deliver exposure to partners by:

• Creating a Scavenger Hunt (directing consumers to each partner website monthly);

• Broadening our traffic on streaming video of live action as well as live stats (Over 200,000 page views to NPF Live Stats alone, in 2011);

• Opening a world of exposure through 3 nationally televised games on ESPN2;

• Offering commercial inventory to accompany those television broadcasts at rock bottom prices;

• Drastically increasing website (19 million hits from 9/2010 to 9/2011 – an increase of 4 million from the previous year), Twitter, and Facebook (703,543 views to FB during Championship Series Week alone) traffic;

• Once again placing a group of All-Star players on Tour through 3 additional months showing off equipment, shoes, and apparel to college and pro softball fans and consumers across the nation on the 2011 Back to School Tour.

We look forward to bigger relationships and more accomplishments in our partnerships in 2012.

The regular season once again saw fantastic fastpitch competition in 2011. A total of 87 games were played with most being streamed live through our Team and League websites along with 2 games streamed on ESPN3. The USSSA Florida Pride captured the regular season Title by dominating league play with an impressive 30-9 record. The NPF Diamonds played in 8 separate venues (in addition to the NPF opposition venues), against their League competition, with 6 of those locations being minor league baseball stadiums in the United States and Canada. Crowds were enthusiastic to see their favorite players from all 4 Teams compete in their home venues as well as the additional locations.

The 2011 Season started and finished on the sports broadcast leader, ESPN. On June 11th ESPN2 covered the Opening Weekend match-up of the 2010 defending Champion USSSA Florida Pride, against the always-a-contender, Chicago Bandits. Fittingly, the 2 teams faced off at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL in front of 4000+ fans. Fast forward to the Championship Series in Sulphur, LA in August – the finals – the culmination of the 2011 season- and it was the same two teams dueling it out for the title. Three months after the first match-up though, the Pride was sporting their first ever Regular Season Ringor Cup Title and attempting to defend their Championship from 2010. The Bandits would play the spoilers, as the MVP Monica Abbott would take charge with a mission in the circle, and rookie Megan Wiggins would show true grit in willing their team to take the Cowles Cup home to Chicago. The Championship game aired live on ESPN2 on Sunday August 21 at 2:00 EST and re-aired on Monday August 22nd at 10:00 pm EST. Over 500,000 households tuned in for the televised 2011 NPF Championship Series.

The 2011 season marked a couple of notable milestones not just for NPF, but for professional softball and for women’s professional sports. 2011 marked the 10th Anniversary of the Akron Racers. Akron has long been a city that has consistently shown support for women’s professional fastpitch. Akron President and GM, Joey Arrietta, had the idea to bring pro fastpitch to Akron even before 2011, but once given the nod by the WPSL has never looked back. Racer fans have avidly followed their team and players and have seen quality teams take the field for 10 years of incredible pro softball in their city.

In another NPF market, Mayor Bradley Stephens made history in Rosemont, IL as he cut the ribbon, (along with Chicago Bandits owner, Bill Sokolis, GM Aaron Moore, Jennie Finch, and Rachel Folden), on a brand new $7 million stadium located just a few miles from O’Hare airport in Rosemont, IL. The stadium is a first – being built solely for a women’s professional sports team – and is appropriately addressed at 27 Jennie Finch Way. We are looking forward to many years of fastpitch memories being made inside that wonderful stadium and our hat goes off to Mayor Stephens for his commitment in supporting women’s professional sports.

Following an exciting season, the League again launched a Back to School Tour to extend play to the fall months. Following the overwhelming success of 2010, it made perfect sense to repeat the BTS Tour in 2011. With the unconditional support of USSSA again, along with the cooperation of Major League Baseball and the commitment of 20 college and university programs, the NPF hit the road beginning September 30th. From Memphis TN to Oxford MS, Conway AR, Daytona FL, Columbia SC, Tuscaloosa AL, Hattiesburg MS, Baton Rouge LA, Athens GA, Raleigh NC, Seattle WA, Corvallis OR, Portland OR, Eugene OR, Norman OK, and finally wrapping up in San Diego, CA, Team NPF had a blast playing 19 college teams including some of the nations very best programs. Team NPF also made additional stops and appearances including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, and 6 player clinics at various locations, to share their expertise and inspiration with young people. In addition, NPF’s game against the Crimson Tide of Alabama helped raise nearly $5,000 that will go toward relief efforts for an elementary school in Tuscaloosa that was devastated by last spring’s tornado.

In Seattle, Team NPF squared off against the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series Champion Washington Huskies at the home of the Seattle Mariners, Safeco Field. Over 2000 fans watched a great game that saw the return of Washington Alumni (and members of the 2009 Championship Team at UW), Danielle Lawrie and Ashley Charters and a great 1-0 ballgame. The game at Safeco was the first women’s professional softball game to ever be played in a Major League Baseball venue.

As we reflect on the past year, there are many positive accomplishments to think about – so many wonderful memories to enjoy. Overall, it was a year of firsts and of accomplishment for the NPF, its Teams, and players. But the challenge of growing this sport in the professional arena and of establishing it, remains. A huge debt of gratitude should go out from all softball fans and NPF supporters to the combined group of Don DeDonatis, John and Amy Scott, Bill Sokolis, and Craig Stout for their generosity, dedication, and commitment in developing the NPF. Without these individuals, professional softball would not exist.

And without our current group of dedicated and committed players, professional fastpitch softball would be absent its heartbeat. It is the passion of these women and the purity of competition they deliver, that endears the sport to so many. They are a group that embrace teamwork whether it means winning a softball game or fighting to secure a professional team sport in an environment that is dominated by men.

The challenge is still in front of us. It remains necessary for NPF to secure corporate partnership and hand in hand, more television coverage. These athletes are the 1 percentile of elite level accomplishment in their sport. They play, they entertain, and they are grateful for their opportunities. Fastpitch softball is a sport that America can relate to, is entertained by, and can appreciate and enjoy. I remain optimistic and hopeful for the future of this wonderful sport, for the sake of today’s players, as well as tomorrow’s dreamers.

Finally, I want to thank NPF fans for a great year! Whether you cheered for the Bandits, Diamonds, Pride or Racers, you followed the game’s top players, and supported pro fastpitch. When we launched Twenty for 20, so many of you willingly and generously contributed and you wrote dedications that were heartwarming and inspiring. On behalf of the players, owners, and staff, I thank you for traveling the road with us – for dreaming of the future while cheering for the present. Please help us continue to spread the word of supporting women’s sports at the professional level, and we hope to see you at an NPF ballpark or event real soon.

It takes a lot of different aspects working together to secure something as big as a professional sports league. As you can see from this re-cap, we are fortunate to enjoy so many positives, and so many positive people. I look forward to broadening our circle in 2012 and in making more progress for the future of professional softball.

Sincerely,

Cheri Kempf

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http://www.100SoftballDrills.com 100 great softball drills by 100 great coaches.
http://www.SoftballShots.com A great new website for viewing softball photos from Gary’s adventures.
http://www.USAfastpitch.com A complete listing of every USA player to have played in the Olympics.
http://www.SoftballCoaches.com A complete listing of every coach to win a D1 Fastpitch Softball Championship.
http://www.SoftballJunk.com Proud sponsor of the fastpitch TV Show website.
http://www.USSSAntx.com The official website for North Texas USSSA Fastpitch.

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://www.GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

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