2018 National Pro Fastpitch season explained

2018 NPF Season
Color:blue
Color Text:white
League:National Pro Fastpitch
Sport:softball
No Of Teams:5
Draft:2018 NPF Draft
Draft Link:2018 NPF Draft
Top Pick:Paige Lowary P
Oklahoma
Picked By:Chicago Bandits
Season:Regular Season
Season Champs:USSSA Pride
League Champ2 Name:Offensive Player of the Year
League Champs2:Brenna Moss
Season Champ2 Name:Player of the Year
Season Champs2:Brenna Moss
Season Champ3 Name:Pitcher of the Year
Season Champs3:Jolene Henderson
Season Champ4 Name:Gold Glove Award
Season Champs4:Jade Rhodes
Finals:Cowles Cup
Finals Champ:USSSA Pride
Finals Runner-Up:Chicago Bandits
Seasonslist:NPF Seasons
Seasonslistnames:NPF
Prevseason Year:2017
Nextseason Year:2019

The 2018 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 15th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's 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.

Milestones and events

On October 12, 2017, it was reported the Texas Charge would be dissolving, effective immediately.[1] The NPF did not make an announcement regarding the Charge, but all Charge players under contract were added to the league's transactions page as free agents.[2]

In an arrangement similar to the Beijing Eagles', NPF announced in December 2017 that Softball Australia would be operating a 2018 expansion team, the Aussie Spirit.[3]

On January 28, 2018, the Scrap Yard Dawgs announced via press release they would no longer be affiliated with the NPF. They indicated they would continue as an independent team.[4] On the same day, Ohio.com reported that the Akron Racers would be replaced by a Chinese team, similar to the Beijing Eagles.[5]

Rule changes

Teams, cities and stadiums

TeamCityStadiumCoaches
Aussie SpiritTravelling TeamHead Coach: TBA
Assistants: TBA
Beijing Shougang EaglesTravelling TeamHead Coach: Teresa Wilson
Assistants: Breanne Lewis, Thomas Hazelhurst
Chicago BanditsRosemont, Illinois (Chicago Area)Ballpark at RosemontHead Coach: Stacey Nuveman Deniz
Assistant: TBA
Cleveland CometsTravelling TeamHead Coach: TBA
Assistants: TBA
USSSA PrideViera, FloridaHead Coach: Lonni Alameda
Assistants: Travis Wilson, Craig Snider

Player acquisition

College draft

The 2018 NPF College Draft will be the 13th annual collegiate draft for NPF.

Notable transactions

League standings

TeamGPWLPct.GB
USSSA Pride47425.894-
Chicago Bandits473710.7875
Aussie Spirit481632.33326.5
Beijing Shougang Eagles461333.28328.5
Cleveland Comets481038.20832.5

Results table

2018 NPF Records
width=80TeamSpiritEaglesBandits CometsPride
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-00-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Legend
 Protest/Halted Game
 Postponement
BoldWinning team
DateTimeVisitorHome VenueScoreWinLossSavePlayer of the GameAttendance
DateTimeVisitorHome VenueScoreWinLossSavePlayer of the GameAttendance

NPF Championship

Championship Game

TeamTop BatterStats.
USSSA PrideChelsea Goodacre & Hallie Wilson1-1 RBI 2B
Chicago BanditsBrenna Moss3-4
TeamPitcherIP H R ER BB SO
USSSA PrideJessica Burroughs (W)4.1 4 0 0 0 1
USSSA PrideDelanie Gourley0.2 0 0 0 0 1
USSSA PrideJolene Henderson2.0 1 0 0 1 2
Chicago BanditsAleshia Ocasio (L)3.0 2 2 0 1 1
Chicago BanditsRachele Fico1.1 3 1 1 1 0
Chicago BanditsAlly Carda0.1 1 1 0 0 1
Chicago BanditsDanielle O'Toole1.0 0 0 0 1 1
Chicago BanditsShelby Turnier0.1 0 0 0 0 1

Annual awards

AwardPlayerTeam
Player of the Year AwardBrenna MossChicago Bandits
Pitcher of the Year Jolene HendersonUSSSA Pride
Gold Glove Presented by RawlingsJade RhodesCleveland Comets
Offensive Player of the YearBrenna MossChicago Bandits
Rookie of the Year Jessie ScrogginsChicago Bandits
Stolen Bases Award[9] Brenna MossChicago Bandits
Home Run Award[10] Emily CarosoneChicago Bandits
Lauren ChamberlainUSSSA Pride
Megan WigginsUSSSA Pride
Jennie Finch Award [11] Nadia TaylorChicago Bandits
Regular Season Championship Cup[12] USSSA Florida Pride
Coaching Staff of the YearMike Stith, Cody Dent, Andrea DuranUSSSA Florida Pride
Umpire of the YearBill Gomoluch

All-NPF Team

2018 All-NPF Team
PositionNameTeam
CatcherKristyn SandbergChicago Bandits
First baseJade RhodesCleveland Comets
Second baseEmily CarosoneChicago Bandits
Third baseBianka BellUSSSA Pride
ShortstopShelby PendleyUSSSA Pride
OutfieldBrenna MossChicago Bandits
OutfieldSammy MarshallChicago Bandits
OutfieldMegan WigginsUSSSA Pride
Designated playerLauren ChamberlainUSSSA Pride
At LargeHallie WilsonUSSSA Pride
At LargeJessie ScrogginsChicago Bandits
At LargeVictoria DraperBeijing Shougang Eagles
At LargeNadia TaylorChicago Bandits
At LargeSierra RomeroUSSSA Pride
PitcherJolene HendersonUSSSA Pride
PitcherShelby TurnierTexas Charge
PitcherKeilani RickettsUSSSA Pride
PitcherJessica BurroughsUSSSA Pride

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NPF'S TEXAS CHARGE DISSOLVED; WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN 2018 SEASON. Justin's World of Softball. 29 January 2018. 14 October 2017.
  2. Web site: TRANSACTIONS. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419172217/http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/transactions/. usurped. April 19, 2016. ProFastpitch,com. 29 January 2018. 12 October 2017.
  3. Web site: National Pro Fastpitch Adds Aussie Spirit in 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180102085255/http://profastpitch.com/news/news/index.html?article_id=2978. usurped. January 2, 2018. ProFastpitch.com. 29 January 2018. 28 December 2017.
  4. Web site: Chez Sievers. Scrap Yard Dawgs Announce They Are Leaving NPF. FloSoftball.com. 29 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Michael Beaven. Professional softball: Future of Akron Racers in doubt, no pro games to be played at Firestone Stadium in 2018. Ohio.com. 30 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  6. Web site: BANDITS TO FIND NEW HEAD COACH FOR 2018. ChicagoBandits,com. 22 September 2017. 14 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Bandits Name Stacey Nuveman-Deniz as Head Coach. Justin's World of Softball. 22 September 2017. 21 September 2017.
  8. Web site: Shelby Pendley Game Log 2018 Championships . Stats.805stats.com . 2020-07-01 . 2020-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200702065715/https://stats.805stats.com/MyStats/League/Player/SKOUSA001-LEAGUE4/SKOUSA001-PERSON1FW . dead .
  9. The Stolen Bases Award is given to the player with the most stolen bases
  10. The Home Run Award goes to the player(s) who hit the most home runs
  11. 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.
  12. The Regular Season Championship Cup goes to the team with the best regular season record