The 2011 National Pro Fastpitch season was the eighth 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.
Teams, cities and stadiums TeamCityStadium Akron Racers Akron, Ohio Firestone Stadium Chicago Bandits Rosemont, Illinois (Chicago Area) Ballpark at Rosemont NPF Diamonds Nashville, Tennessee Various USSSA Florida Pride Kissimmee, Florida Osceola County Stadium and Champion Stadium
Milestones and events The Tennessee Diamonds were rebranded as the NPF Diamonds for the 2011 season. The Diamonds were a "traveling team," playing each of their five 'home stands' at five different venues, from Calgary, Alberta to Lexington, North Carolina.
Akron Racers named as their coach Jake Schumann, who was also with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball coach.
NPF Diamonds signed Tim Kiernan as head coach. Kiernan had previously coached professional softball with WPSL's Virginia Roadsters in 1999, NPF Tour Teams in 2001 and 2003, and the Sacramento Sunbirds in 2004.
The Chicago Bandits moved into their new stadium Ballpark at Rosemont. It is the first ballpark specifically built for a women's professional softball team, and its address, 27 Jennie Finch Way, pays tribute to one of their most famous players.
Player acquisition College draft
The 2011 NPF Senior Draft was held March 16, 2011, in Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The NPF Draft was broadcast on MLB.com. NPF Diamonds selected pitcher Kelsi Dunne of Alabama as the first overall pick.
Notable transactions
League standings Source TeamGPWLPct.GB USSSA Pride 39 30 9 .769 - Akron Racers 39 22 17 .564 8 Chicago Bandits 40 20 20 .500 10.5 NPF Diamonds 38 6 32 .158 23.5
NPF Championship
The 2011 NPF Championship Series was held at McMurry Park in Sulphur, Louisiana August 18–21. All four teams qualify 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.
The games were broadcast on ESPN2, with color analysis by former NPF player and two-time Olympian Jennie Finch and three-time Olympian Leah O'Brien-Amico. Bernie Guenther called the play-by-play.
2011 NPF SemifinalsChicago Bandits defeat Akron Racers 2-0 Game Date Score Series Location 1 August 18 Chicago Bandits 8, Akron Racers 1 1-0 Sulphur, Louisiana2 August 19 Chicago Bandits 7, Akron Racers 42-0 Sulphur, Louisiana
2011 NPF SemifinalsUSSSA Pride defeat NPF Diamonds 2–0 Game Date Score Series Location 1 August 18 and 19 USSSA Pride 8, NPF Diamonds 7 1-0 Sulphur, Louisiana2 August 19 USSSA Pride 7, NPF Diamonds 0 2-0 Sulphur, Louisiana
2011 NPF Championship SeriesChicago Bandits defeat USSSA Pride 2-0 Game Date Score Series Location1 August 20 Chicago Bandits 4, USSSA Pride 3, (8 innings) 1-0 Sulphur, Louisiana2 August 21 Chicago Bandits 10, USSSA Pride 3 2-0 Sulphur, Louisiana
Championship Game
Team Top Batter Stats. Chicago Bandits Nikki Nemitz 2-4 3RBIs 2B USSSA Pride Natasha Watley 2-4 2RBIs
Team Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Chicago Bandits Monica Abbott (W) 7.0 5 3 3 3 5 USSSA Pride Jordan Taylor (L) 0.1 3 5 4 1 0 USSSA Pride Sarah Pauly 2.2 4 3 3 1 0 USSSA Pride Danielle Lawrie 3.0 0 2 0 0 0
2011 NPF Championship Series MVP PlayerClubStats.Monica AbbottChicago Bandits 3-0 30Ks 2.17 ERA SV 0.79 WHIP (16Hs+7BBs/29.0 IP)
Annual awards Source:
Ringor Cup (Best regular season record)USSSA Pride
AwardPlayerTeamPlayer of the Year Award Jessica MendozaUSSSA PridePitcher of the Year (tie)Monica AbbottChicago BanditsCat OstermanUSSSA PrideRookie of the Year Alisa GolerChicago BanditsDefensive Player of the YearBianca MejiaNPF DiamondsOffensive Player of the YearNatasha WatleyUSSSA PrideHome Run Award Alisa GolerChicago BanditsDiamond Spike AwardThe Diamond Spike Award is given to the player with the most stolen bases Natasha WatleyUSSSA PrideCoaching Staff of the Year USSSA Pride -- Tim Walton (HEAD COACH) and Beth Torina (ASSISTANT COACH)Jennie Finch AwardThe 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. Jessica MendozaUSSSA Pride
Award notes
2011 All-NPF TeamPositionNameTeam PitcherMonica AbbottChicago Bandits Pitcher Cat OstermanUSSSA Pride Pitcher Kristina ThorsonAkron Racers Pitcher Danielle LawrieUSSSA Pride CatcherSamantha MarderAkron Racers 1st Base Nicole TrimboliAkron Racers 2nd BaseAshley ChartersUSSSA Pride 3rd BaseAndrea DuranUSSSA PrideShortstopNatasha WatleyUSSSA Pride OutfieldMegan WigginsChicago Bandits OutfieldJessica MendozaUSSSA Pride OutfieldAlyssa HaberUSSSA Pride At-LargeDanielle ZymkowitzChicago Bandits At-LargeShannon DoepkingChicago Bandits At-LargeBrittany McKinneyNPF Diamonds At-LargeCharlotte MorganUSSSA Pride At-LargeBianca MejiaNPF Diamonds
See also
List of professional sports leagues List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
References
External links