CHICAGO BANDITS TO HOST USA SOFTBALL

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CHICAGO BANDITS TO HOST USA SOFTBALL TRAINING STOP IN JUNE 2019

ROSEMONT, IL (November 30, 2018)– The Chicago Bandits, in coordination with USA Softball, announced Wednesday afternoon an agreement to host the Women’s National Team for a one-week training stop from June 10-17, 2019, at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.

The Bandits, members of National Pro Fastpitch, will provide USA Softball with full access and use of the facilities at Parkway Bank Sports Complex, including all amenities at its ballpark and dome.

“We are thrilled to welcome USA Softball to our facilities in Rosemont,” Bandits general manager Toni Calmeyn said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to host the Women’s National Team and look forward to learning from USA Softball’s hard-working collection of athletes and staff.”

In addition to its most recent first-place finish at the 2018 Japan Cup, USA Softball’s Women’s National Team also claimed the top spots at the USA Softball International Cup and Women’s Softball World Championship and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Bandits were represented on a large scale for Team USA at the Japan Cup. The Women’s National Team roster for the event featured a number of connections to the Bandits 2018 roster, including pitcher/infielder Ally Carda, infielder Courtney Gano, pitcher Danielle O’Toole and infielder Delaney Spaulding.

Chicago Bandits team personnel will assist USA Softball in performing functions throughout the training stop and will help facilitate requests made by the Women’s National Team.
“The Village of Rosemont has provided a great facility and environment for members of our Women’s National Team to train,” USA Softball executive director Craig Cress said. “The amenities and facilities that Parkway Bank Sports Complex offers for our athletes, coaches and staff will greatly assist our program as they train for the 2019 international season. In addition to the training opportunities, we look forward to exhibition games against teams within the NPF that will help prepare our team for an intense international schedule.”

The Women’s National Team will be provided a designated area where USA Softball may sell merchandise during the duration of the training stop.

USA Softball is expected to provide the Bandits organization in the coming weeks with the identity of the NPF league teams it would like to play exhibition games against during the training stop, as well as a proposed schedule of game dates and times. Broadcast rights belong in full to USA Softball.

Additional details, including ticket information, will be released at a later date.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success.  The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Aussie Spirit, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets, and USSSA Florida Pride. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.

Softball Canada Joins National Pro Fastpitch

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Softball Canada Joins National Pro Fastpitch

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 30, 2018)–National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), in conjunction with Softball Canada, Rent One Park, and presenting sponsor, visitSI, announced the addition of the Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois to the league today.

The Wild becomes the sixth affiliate NPF team set to compete in the 2019 season.

“Obviously, this is a tremendous addition to the league for a number of reasons,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “To add an international team of the quality of Canada, currently ranked third in the world, and to add the operational excellence of the administration at Rent One Park, is a home run for all of us.”

Softball Canada CEO, Hugh Mitchener remarked, “We are delighted to be announcing our entry into the NPF in 2019.  Commissioner Kempf has been incredibly helpful in setting up our partnership with the Miners organization and we can’t wait to get going next year.”

“With the growth and interest in girls’ and women’s softball over the last decade, this is an incredible opportunity for fans to see world-class, best-of-the-best talent right here at Rent One Park,” Miners COO Mike Pinto said. “These women, including former and future Olympians, could be incredible role models for young girls in our area to see what can be achieved with dreams and hard work.”

Softball Canada recently finished third at the 2018 Women’s Softball World Championship in August, and is currently ranked third in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). They will play a 50-game schedule in National Pro Fastpitch overall, facing off with some of the best players in the world, including current and former Olympians.

National Pro Fastpitch will be entering their 16th season in 2019. Teams currently hail from three continents, with players representing the national teams of six different countries. They include the best of the best softball players in the world, including current and former members of Team USA, Olympians, Women’s College World Series Champions and MVP’s, NCAA record holders, various conference players of the year and many All-Americans.

“We are thrilled that Southern Illinois was chosen as the host region for Team Canada,” Shannon Johnson, CEO of visitSI, said. “visitSI is extremely honored to be the presenting sponsor of the Wild. This gives us an opportunity to showcase our region on an international front. We are also excited about the potential economic impact this could have, both during the season and in the future, as members of the various NPF teams experience beautiful Southern Illinois.”

Fans can follow the Wild on Facebook at Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois, as well as on Twitter and Instagram at CanadianWildSI as they prepare for the 2019 season.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success.  The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Aussie Spirit, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets, and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2018 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.

New transfer rule eliminates permission-to-contact process

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New Transfer Rule Eliminates Permission-to-contact Process in Division I College Sports

DI Council hopes change brings transparency and opens conversation between students and coaches

By Michelle Brutlag Hosick, NCAA

June 13, 2018- Beginning in October, Division I student-athletes will have the ability to transfer to a different school and receive a scholarship without asking their current school for permission.

The Division I Council adopted a proposal this week that creates a new “notification-of-transfer” model. This new system allows a student to inform his or her current school of a desire to transfer, then requires that school to enter the student’s name into a national transfer database within two business days. Once the student-athlete’s name is in the database, other coaches are free to contact that individual.

“The membership showed today that it supports this significant change in transfer rules,” said Justin Sell, chair of the Division I Transfer Working Group and athletics director at South Dakota State. “I’m proud of the effort the Transfer Working Group put forth to make this happen for student-athletes, coaches and schools.”

The previous transfer rule, which required student-athletes to get permission from their current school to contact another school before they can receive a scholarship after transfer, was intended to discourage coaches from recruiting student-athletes from other Division I schools. The rule change ends the controversial practice in which some coaches or administrators would prevent students from having contact with specific schools. Conferences, however, still can make rules that are more restrictive than the national rule.

Additionally, the proposal adds tampering with a current student-athlete at another school to the list of potential Level 2 violations, considered a significant breach of conduct.

Nicholas Clark, a recent graduate of and former football player at Coastal Carolina who represents the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on the Council, said the rule change promotes fairness and the well-being of college athletes.

“This creates a safe place for student-athletes to have a conversation with their coaches and makes the whole process more transparent,” Clark said. “This will clean the process up and give more influence and flexibility to the student-athlete.”

The Transfer Working Group first introduced the proposal in fall 2017, aiming to detach a student-athlete’s pursuit of transferring to a different school from the process of receiving a scholarship at the new college or university. The new rule was developed based on a series of principles the Division I Board of Directors developed for the working group, including any rule changes should support the academic success of student-athletes, be based on data and create the least restrictive environment possible for student-athletes.

Another financial aid element, autonomy legislation that governs when a school can reduce or cancel aid, may be adjusted next week by the autonomy conferences. Currently, a student’s notification of intent to transfer at the end of a term is not one of the listed reasons a school can use to cancel aid. The autonomy conferences will consider, by an electronic vote, two different proposals to allow schools to cancel the aid.

The rule change takes effect Oct. 15.

The Transfer Working Group will continue working on other transfer issues, including rules surrounding postgraduate transfers, and still is exploring the possibility of uniform transfer rules.

Courtesy of NCAA

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Women’s National Team set for training camp at Scrap Yard Sports Complex; Live streaming and ticket information available for weekend exhibition games

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Women’s National Team set for training camp at Scrap Yard Sports Complex; Live streaming and ticket information available for weekend exhibition games

June 12, 2018, 12:03 a.m. (ET)
OKLAHOMA CITY — Members of the Red, White and Blue have arrived in Houston, Texas as the 2018 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) will hold a training camp at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex from June 11-17, 2018. Both the World Championship roster and the Japan All-Star Series roster will take part in a series of workouts and practice sessions before participating in exhibition games at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex.

Click here to learn more about the USA Softball Women’s National Team Houston Training Camp

“Last year we began our journey through the qualifying process to get to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” said World Championship Head Coach Ken Eriksen. “Today is another destination in this Journey to Japan. We must set our immediate sights on qualifying for the Olympic Games by being very successful at the 2018 (WBSC) World Championship. The training this week and throughout the summer will include competitions against some very worthy opponents. The Scrap Yard Softball Organization has graciously provided an opportunity for us to not only train but to have some competition that will ready the U.S. program for the rest of the summer. I think it’s also important to recognize the willingness of programs, collegiate and professional, that have allowed their star players the opportunity to represent the United States internationally this summer. If we can put in a great next 50 days of hard work and focus, I believe we will defend our 2016 World Championship.”

“It’s exciting to work with this group of athletes,” said Japan All-Star Series Head Coach Laura Berg. “This week will be important for us to get some games under our belt and build team chemistry before we leave for Japan.”

In preparation for international competitions this summer, both USA Softball WNT rosters will play exhibition contests against Scrap Yard Fast Pitch with all games live streamed on the USASoftball.com platform for fans to access and watch for free throughout the June 15-17 weekend.  Fans will also have the opportunity to attend exhibition games in person, with general admission tickets available for $5 per day.  Military, first responders, youth athletes in their player uniform and children under six years old will receive free admission.

Immediately after training camp, players on the Japan All-Star Series roster will head to Tokyo for a three-game series against the Japan National Team before joining the World Championship roster in Irvine, Calif. to compete against many of the top-ranked teams in the world at the USA Softball International Cup July 9-15.

The Scrap Yard Sports Complex is situated on 82 acres just north of Houston, Texas and includes 10 all-turf fields, 14 indoor batting cages/pitching lanes and a 15,000 square foot indoor training facility.

 

About USA Softball

USA Softball is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is designated as the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 69 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 150,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2 million.  USA Softball is dedicated to providing people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels by offering recreational, league, tournament and competitive play for fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch.  USA Softball annually conducts thousands of tournaments throughout the country including over 100 National Championships.  The USA Softball umpire program is among the nation’s largest and are widely known as the best trained umpires in the game. As the NGB for the sport of softball, USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships and other international and domestic events. For more information on USA Softball, including its founding and history as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), please visit, www.USASoftball.com.

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WCWS Most Outstanding Player Signs Contract with the Pride

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WCWS Most Outstanding Player Signs Contract with NPF USSSA Pride

VIERA, FL (June 12, 2018) – Jessie Warren has signed a two-year contract with the USSSA Pride for the 2018 season.

Warren, selected as the 7th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NPF Draft, joins the team after a phenomenal collegiate career at Florida State University.

“We are very fortunate to land one of the best overall players in the game,” remarked the Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis. “Jessie is a pure, natural and dangerous hitter and her defensive skills, as proven in the FSU Women’s College World Series Championship Win, are second to none.”

Warren was a four-year starter for FSU at third base. During her college career, she was named an All-American twice, 2017 and 2018 ACC Player of Year, the 2018 WCWS Most Outstanding Player along with multiple other ACC and regional honors and helped lead her team to the first ever WCWS National Championship in FSU program history.

In her senior season, Warren led the team on and off the field, posting a .404 batting average, with 21 home runs, a .836 slugging percentage, 70 RBIs and 153 total bases. During FSU’s historic postseason run at the WCWS the country was able to see Warren’s fight and love for the game.

General Manager DeDonatis said Jessie Warren is a gamer and that she can do it all. He stated that he can’t wait to watch her continue her softball career in a Pride uniform.

Warren becomes the third player from FSU to become a member of the Pride, joining Jessica Burroughs (2017) and Alex Powers (2017).

Keep up with your favorite NPF team on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and at profastpitch.com!

About USSSA
USSSA is headquartered in Viera, Florida. USSSA is the world’s largest multi-sport athletic organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 4 million participants, competing in 14 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information about USSSA, visit www.usssa.com and follow USSSA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay up to date on USSSA Pride and NPF news by following  the Pride on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visiting www.usssapride.com.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004 provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success. The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Aussie Spirit, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets and USSSA

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Early Recruiting: A big threat to softball

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Early Recruiting: A big threat to softball

Coaches, student-athletes, parents and administrators explain why they want the NCAA to pass legislation to end early recruiting in softball. (from NFCA.org)

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Bandits Sign Fico to Bolster Pitching Staff

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National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits Sign Fico to Bolster Pitching Staff

ROSEMONT, Ill. (March 15, 2018) — The Chicago Bandits have come to terms with right-handed pitcher Rachele Fico on a one-year contract, team officials announced Thursday.

Fico, entering her sixth season at the professional level, spent her first five years with the Akron Racers. The LSU product has logged 316.2 career innings in the circle, amassing 26 wins and six saves.

“Rachele is a talented pitcher with a history of success in the NPF,” Bandits general manager Toni Calmeyn said. “We’re looking forward to her continued success in Chicago.”

During her final season with the Racers, Fico made 17 appearances, including 10 starts, and recorded a career-best 3.22 ERA. She tossed three complete games and struck out a team-high 53 batters over the course of the campaign.

Fico also added relief efforts in both of Akron’s games against the Scrap Yard Dawgs in the 2017 NPF Championship Series, tossing three innings and fanning three.

Initially drafted with the first overall selection in the 2013 Draft, Fico was a two-time NFCA All-American during her time at LSU. The two-time USA Softball Player of the Year finalist made a career-high 23 appearances during her rookie season. She built off her impressive first season by winning 11 games as a second-year pro.

A native of Oxford, Connecticut, Fico also serves as an assistant softball coach at Georgia.

In a corresponding move, the Bandits released right-handed pitcher Sierra Hyland.

The four-time Cowles Cup champion Chicago Bandits will be back at The Ballpark at Rosemont for the 2018 season. For more information about the Chicago Bandits or to reserve your season tickets, please visit chicagobandits.com or call the box office at 877-722-6348.

About Chicago Bandits

Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Entering their 14th season as a franchise, the Bandits have provided the Chicago area with high-level softball talent and entertainment en route to capturing six regular season titles and four Cowles Cup championships, the most recent coming during the 2016 campaign. Located in Rosemont, the Bandits play at The Ballpark at Rosemont, one of the premier softball facilities in the nation. The Ballpark at Rosemont is the only stadium in the country built exclusively for a women’s professional softball team. The Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch softball players to further their careers at the professional level and has included legendary figures such as Jennie Finch, Tammy Williams and Stacy May-Johnson.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004 provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success. The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Aussie Spirit, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2018 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.

26th Annual Ronald McDonald Tournament- 2018

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26th Annual Ronald McDonald Tournament- 2018

For over 25 years, the softball community has looked forward to the Ronald McDonald tournament in Houston, Texas as an opportunity to get college coach exposure and give back to charity. This is one of Triple Crown’s finest fall events, long ago becoming a mandatory stop for college coaches from all levels looking to recruit quality athletes.

In addition, this event benefits the Ronald McDonald House (Houston), an organization that helps families with seriously ill children stay close together during difficult times by providing a “home away from home” while their child receives the treatment they need. In 2017, we donated $26,000 and plan to top this amount in 2018. The event assists the charity by donating $100.00 per team, along with 10% of vendor revenue and T-shirt sales.
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The 2018 Ronald McDonald format for 14U, 16U and 18U consists of six showcase games played on standout facilities in greater Houston. All showcase games begin on Saturday, October 20th. There will also be practice games offered Friday, where teams will have the option of 1-2 games for $100 each (umpires included). There will also be three Power Pool groups per 16U and 18U at the Scrap Yard. These will be chosen by TCS National Club Rankings.

The following weekend will host the 10u and 12u teams in Woodlands, Texas. The 4-game guarantee begins Saturday, October 27th.
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For more details and to register, visit https://www.tcronaldmcdonald.com/.

 

Hurricane Harvey Softball Families Needing Help

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Hurricane Harvey Softball Families Needing Help

There is an immediate need of help for families in South Texas and the surrounding areas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. A lot of families have lost everything, including some of our softball families. Help support our softball community with a donation. We have included additional info on the organizations affected, with links if you would like to donate or help. Thank you.

 

Impact Gold Organization has begun a concerted effort to help our Impact Gold family in Houston and surrounding areas through their time of need in dealing with the flooding of Hurricane Harvey.

We would ask our friends in the softball community to help in anyway possible. If you would like to donate any items (blankets, towels, toiletries, clothing items, socks, Target GC, HEB GC, Walmart GC or Food GC please send them to:

Impact Gold Organization
11601 Shadow Creek Parkway #528
Pearland, TX 77584

Anything you can send for this cause will be greatly appreciated. Our organization will work to get anything sent to those affected.

Thank you for any help you are able to offer, and thank you for the continued thoughts and well-wishes for our families and the city of Houston.

#HoustonStrong
#IGStrong
#hoUSton

Here is the link to donate to our relief fund: (all funds go directly to families)
https://www.paypal.me/IGBetheImpact

Jazz Jackson Vesely
Program Director, Impact Gold Organization
jazz@impactgold.com

The HTX Firecrackers have 4 families that were flooded out of their homes from Hurricane Harvey.

Please help in getting these families back to normal as soon as possible. They are still assessing the damage and I have asked for a list of what they need in the next few days/weeks to get back on track.

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated! #fchtx #Firecrackers #playwithhonor #texasstrong

The American Red Cross is working around the clock along the Gulf Coast to help the thousands of people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

Donate Red Cross

2017 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Championship Series Tickets on Sale

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2017 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Championship Series Tickets on Sale

Nashville, TN (June 23, 2017) –Tickets for the 2017 NPF Championship Series presented by Marucci are on sale now through the NPF website at http://championship.profastpitch.com. The Series will be held at Tiger Park on the campus of Louisiana State University (LSU). Dates for the 2017 NPF Championship Series are August 17-20.

Ticket purchase options range from single session General Admission to Series Pass with Hospitality. Pricing ranges from $7.50 single session general admission daily pass to $210 four-day premium level hospitality pass. Discounts are available for senior citizens, active duty military and students. Group discounts are also available for groups or teams of 10+. Children under age 3 are admitted free of charge.

In addition to the group discounts, corporate ticket and hospitality packages are available as well as charitable ticket giving options.

All competition tickets are available online and will also be available at the Tiger Park ticket office beginning August 15th. Tickets for competition may be purchased on the day of the event.

An add-on feature for the Championship Series is the annual NPF Awards Banquet and Reception presented by Visit Baton Rouge. Fans of the NPF get to mix and mingle with their favorite players. The Championship Banquet includes a catered meal along with the league awards presentation. The individual price for the banquet is $60 with an added pre-banquet reception option of $15. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance of the event.

The Championship Series ticket packages are listed below:

NPF AWARDS BANQUET presented by Visit Baton Rouge

Banquet Only — $60.00

VIP Reception and Banquet — $75.00

***Must be purchased in advance.


NPF Championship Series Presented by Marucci

PREMIUM LEVEL TICKETS – Reserved Chair Back Seating (Sections 103,104,105)

Championship 4-Day Package (Thurs – Sun) — $90

Championship Weekend Package (Fri – Sun)—$69

Daily Tickets—(Thurs – Fri) – $25.00

Daily Tickets –  (Sun – Mon) – $12.50

 

RESERVED SEATING TICKETS – Reserved Bleacher Back Seating (Sections 102,106)

Championship 4-Day Package (Thurs – Sun)—$74

Championship Weekend Package (Fri – Sun)—$57

Daily Tickets—$25 per day (Thurs – Fri) – $21.00
Daily Tickets – $12.50 per day (Sun – Mon) – $10.50

 

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS – Bleacher Seating (Sections 101,107) & Tiger Park Terrace

Championship 4-Day Package (Thurs – Sun) — $50
Championship Weekend Package (Fri – Sun)—$37.50
Daily Tickets—(Thurs – Fri) – $15.00
Daily Tickets – (Sun – Mon) – $7.50

 

Hospitality Package (per day) – $30.00 per day per person

The Championship Series competition schedule is as follows:


Thursday – August 17 – Session 1 – Best 2 of 3

5:00 pm CT – Semifinal Game #1

8:00 pm CT – Semifinal Game #2


Friday – August 18 – Session 2

5:00 pm CT – Semifinal Game #3

8:00 pm CT- Semifinal Game #4

 

Saturday – August 19 – Session 3

10:00 am CT Semifinal Game #5 – If Necessary

1:00 pm CT Semifinal Game #6 – If Necessary

 

Saturday – August 19 – Session 4 – Best 2 of 3

7:00 pm CT – NPF Championship Series – Final Series – Game #1 – Best 2 of 3

 

Sunday – August 20 – Session 5

1:00 pm CT – NPF Championship Series – Final Series – Game #2

 

Sunday – August 20 – Session 6

4:00 pm CT – NPF Championship Series – Final Series – Game #3– If Necessary

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success.  The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Akron Racers, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Scrap Yard Dawgs, Texas Charge and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2017 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.