2010 National Pro Fastpitch season explained

2010 NPF Season
Color:blue
Color Text:white
League:National Pro Fastpitch
Sport:softball
Duration:June 9, 2010 – August 22, 2010
No Of Teams:4
Draft:2010 NPF Draft
Draft Link:2010 NPF Draft
Top Pick:Charlotte Morgan
Alabama
Picked By:USSSA Pride
Season:Regular Season
Season Champs:Chicago Bandits
Season Champ Name:Ringor Cup
(Best record)
Finals:Cowles Cup
Finals Champ:USSSA Pride
Finals Runner-Up:Chicago Bandits
Finals Mvp:Natasha Watley
USSSA Pride
Seasonslist:NPF Seasons
Seasonslistnames:NPF
Prevseason Year:2009
Nextseason Year:2011

The 2010 National Pro Fastpitch season was the seventh season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

Teams, cities and stadiums

TeamCityStadium
Akron RacersAkron, OhioFirestone Stadium
Chicago BanditsElgin, Illinois (Chicago Area)Judson University
Tennessee DiamondsNashville, TennesseeDraper Diamond (Lipscomb University)[1]
USSSA Florida PrideKissimmee, Florida

Milestones and events

NPF announced the Rockford Thunder would not be playing in 2010 because ownership "failed to maintain NPF Team requirements to field a Team for the 2010 Season." It was also announced that the league was adding a new team named the Tennessee Diamonds which would begin play in 2010 in Blount County, Tenn. and have first rights to players on the Thunder's roster.[2]

Later it was revealed that the Diamonds would be moving operational headquarters from Alcoa, TN to Nashville, TN. The Alcoa owners did not fund the team or comply with other contractual commitments made to NPF. The team was operated by NPF in Nashville for 2010.[3]

NPF revealed that the Philadelphia Force would not participate in the league when the 2010 schedule was released without the Force.[4]

Player acquisition

College draft

The 2010 NPF Senior Draft was held February 10, 2010, at Heritage Key Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. The NPF Draft was broadcast on MLB.com. USSSA Pride selected Charlotte Morgan of Alabama as the first overall pick.

Notable transactions

The USSSA Florida Pride traded Monica Abbott and Shannon Doepking to the Tennessee Diamonds for Diamonds' pitcher Cat Osterman and Megan Willis.[5]

Jennie Finch announced she would retire at the end of the season.[6]

League standings

Source [7]

TeamGPWLPct.GB
Chicago Bandits503020.600-
USSSA Pride482820.5831
Akron Racers492425.4905.5
Tennessee Diamonds491633.32713.5

NPF Championship

The 2010 NPF Championship Series was held at McMurry Park in Sulphur, Louisiana August 26–29. All four teams qualified and were seeded based on the final standings. The first seed played the fourth seed on a best-of-three series, and the second seed played the third seed in another best-of-three series. The winners played each other in a best-of-three series that determined the champion.[8]

2010 NPF Semifinals
Chicago Bandits defeat Tennessee Diamonds 2-0
Game Date Score Series
Location
1August 26Chicago Bandits 2, Tennessee Diamonds 0[9] 1-0Sulphur, Louisiana
2August 27 Chicago Bandits 4, Tennessee Diamonds 1[10] 2-0Sulphur, Louisiana
2010 NPF Semifinals
USSSA Pride defeat Akron Racers 2–1
Game Date Score Series
Location
1August 26USSSA Pride 3, Akron Racers 21-0Sulphur, Louisiana
2August 27USSSA Pride 2, Akron Racers 31-1Sulphur, Louisiana
3August 28 USSSA Pride 6, Akron Racers 1[11] 2-1Sulphur, Louisiana
2010 NPF Championship Series
USSSA Pride defeat Chicago Bandits 2-1
Game Date Score Series
Location
1August 28 Chicago Bandits 1, USSSA Pride 2[12] 0-1Sulphur, Louisiana
2August 29 Chicago Bandits 7, USSSA Pride 2[13] 1-1Sulphur, Louisiana
3August 29 Chicago Bandits 2, USSSA Pride 7[14] 1-2Sulphur, Louisiana

Championship Game

TeamTop BatterStats.
USSSA PrideLauren Lappin2-3 2RBIs 2B
Chicago BanditsSamantha Findlay2-3 2RBIs 2HRs
TeamPitcherIP H R ER BB SO
USSSA PrideCat Osterman (W)7.0 2 2 2 3 7
Chicago BanditsKristina Thorson (L)1.1 3 3 3 2 1
Chicago BanditsNikki Nemitz1.2 7 3 3 0 1
Chicago BanditsJessica Sallinger3.0 2 1 1 2 2

Annual awards

Source:[17]

AwardPlayerTeam
Player of the Year Award Stacy MayChicago Bandits
Pitcher of the YearLisa NorrisAkron Racers
Rookie of the Year Nikki NemitzChicago Bandits
Defensive Player of the YearLisa ModglinAkron Racers
Offensive Player of the YearRachel FoldenChicago Bandits
Home Run Award (tie) Rachel FoldenChicago Bandits
Stacy MayChicago Bandits
Diamond Spike Award[18] Lisa ModglinAkron Racers
Coaching Staff of the Year Chicago Bandits -- Mickey Dean, Mike Stuerwald, Maggie Johnson
Jennie Finch Award[19] Jennie FinchChicago Bandits

Award notes

2010 All-NPF Team
PositionNameTeam
PitcherSarah PaulyUSSSA Pride
PitcherMonica AbbottTennessee Diamonds
Pitcher Lisa NorrisAkron Racers
Pitcher Jennie FinchChicago Bandits
CatcherRachel FoldenChicago Bandits
1st BaseSamantha FindlayChicago Bandits
2nd BaseChelsea MesaTennessee Diamonds
3rd BaseStacy MayChicago Bandits
ShortstopChelsea SpencerTennessee Diamonds
OutfieldLisa ModglinAkron Racers
OutfieldEmily FriedmanChicago Bandits
OutfieldKelly KretschmanUSSSA Pride
At-LargeMegan GibsonTennessee Diamonds
At-LargeTonya CallahanUSSSA Pride
At-LargeJackie PasquerellaAkron Racers
At-LargeJessica ValisAkron Racers
At-LargeNatasha WatleyUSSSA Pride
At-LargeMegan WillisUSSSA Pride

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mark Wheeler. Pro softball team settles on home field, looks to settle in quickly. The City Paper. 16 May 2015. 1 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151028041941/http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/pro-softball-team-settles-home-field-looks-settle-quickly. 28 October 2015. dead.
  2. Web site: Rayburn. New NPF Franchise. Spy Softball. 13 May 2015. 5 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120824130902/http://www.spysoftball.com/new-npf-franchise. 24 August 2012. dead.
  3. Web site: Rayburn. 5-20-10 Funding Causes NPF Diamonds to Move. Spy Softball. 13 May 2015. 20 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150705193144/http://www.spysoftball.com/5-20-10-funding-causes-npf-diamonds-to-move. 5 July 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: 2010 NPF SCHEDULE RELEASED. https://web.archive.org/web/20101005134721/http://profastpitch.com/news/index.html?article_id=1296. usurped. October 5, 2010. www.profastpitch.com. 13 May 2015. 14 January 2010.
  5. Web site: USSSA Florida Pride Makes Preseason Move. Diamond Sports. 13 May 2015. 6 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221184106/http://www.diamond-sports.com/Webpages/News/PR-10-04-20%20MW.html. 21 February 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Finch set to retire next month at age 29. Espn.com. 17 May 2015.
  7. Web site: Summer 2010 - Standings. pointstreak.com. 16 May 2015. 22 August 2010.
  8. Web site: 2010 NPF Championship Site Announced. profastpitch.com. 16 May 2015. 2 November 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20101205095627/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=1282. 5 December 2010. usurped. dmy-all.
  9. Web site: Adam Gierhart. 8-26-10 NPF Championship Games Thursday. Spy Softball. 17 May 2015. 26 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064322/http://www.spysoftball.com/8-26-10-npf-championship-games-thursday. 4 March 2016. dead.
  10. Web site: Adam Gierhart. 8-27-10 NPF Championship Friday. Spy Softball. 17 May 2015. 27 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105946/http://www.spysoftball.com/8-27-10-npf-championship-friday. 4 March 2016. dead.
  11. Web site: Pride end Akron Racers' softball season. Canton Repository. 17 May 2015. 29 August 2015.
  12. Web site: Osterman closes out Bandits in game one. OurSportsCentral.com. 17 May 2015. 28 August 2010.
  13. Web site: Nicole Pauly Pushes Bandits Over Pride, Forcing Game Three. OurSportsCentral.com. 17 May 2015. 29 August 2015.
  14. Web site: Bandits fall in title game. Chicago Daily Herald. 17 May 2015. 30 August 2015.
  15. Web site: NPF All-TIME AWARD WINNERS. AkronRacers.org. 17 May 2015.
  16. Web site: Natasha Watley Game Log 2010 Playoffs . https://web.archive.org/web/20200702023217/https://stats.805stats.com/MyStats/League/Player/SKOUSA001-LEAGUE4/SKOUSA001-PERSON1BE . 2020-07-02 . Stats.805stats.com . 2020-07-01.
  17. Web site: May, Bandits Earn 12 Awards at NPF Awards Luncheon. OurSportsCentral.com. 17 May 2015. 26 August 2010.
  18. The Diamond Spike Award is given to the player with the most stolen bases
  19. The Jennie Finch award is given to the player who best exemplifies the character and qualities of its famous namesake, and who is considered to positively impact the game both on and off the field.