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 Racers Akron, Ohio Firestone Stadium Chicago Bandits Elgin, Illinois (Chicago Area) Judson University Tennessee Diamonds Nashville, Tennessee Draper Diamond (Lipscomb University) USSSA Florida Pride Kissimmee, Florida Osceola County Stadium and Champion Stadium
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.
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.
NPF revealed that the Philadelphia Force would not participate in the league when the 2010 schedule was released without the Force.
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.
Jennie Finch announced she would retire at the end of the season.
League standings Source TeamGPWLPct.GB Chicago Bandits 50 30 20 .600 - USSSA Pride 48 28 20 .583 1 Akron Racers 49 24 25 .490 5.5 Tennessee Diamonds 49 16 33 .327 13.5
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.
2010 NPF SemifinalsChicago Bandits defeat Tennessee Diamonds 2–0 Game Date Score Series Location 1 August 26 Chicago Bandits 2, Tennessee Diamonds 0 1-0 Sulphur, Louisiana2 August 27 Chicago Bandits 4, Tennessee Diamonds 12-0 Sulphur, Louisiana
2010 NPF SemifinalsUSSSA Pride defeat Akron Racers 2–1 Game Date Score Series Location 1 August 26 USSSA Pride 3, Akron Racers 2 1-0 Sulphur, Louisiana2 August 27 USSSA Pride 2, Akron Racers 3 1-1 Sulphur, Louisiana3 August 28 USSSA Pride 6, Akron Racers 12-1 Sulphur, Louisiana
2010 NPF Championship Series USSSA Pride defeat Chicago Bandits 2–1 Game Date Score Series Location1 August 28 Chicago Bandits 1, USSSA Pride 2 0-1 Sulphur, Louisiana2 August 29 Chicago Bandits 7, USSSA Pride 2 1-1 Sulphur, Louisiana3 August 29 Chicago Bandits 2, USSSA Pride 7 1-2 Sulphur, Louisiana
Championship Game
Team Top Batter Stats. USSSA Pride Lauren Lappin 2-3 2RBIs 2B Chicago Bandits Samantha Findlay 2-3 2RBIs 2HRs
Team Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO USSSA Pride Cat Osterman (W) 7.0 2 2 2 3 7 Chicago Bandits Kristina Thorson (L) 1.1 3 3 3 2 1 Chicago Bandits Nikki Nemitz 1.2 7 3 3 0 1 Chicago Bandits Jessica Sallinger 3.0 2 1 1 2 2
2010 NPF Championship Series MVP PlayerClubStats.Natasha WatleyUSSSA Pride .428 (9/21) 3RBIs 2B SB
Annual awards Source: Ringor Cup (Best regular season record)Chicago Bandits
AwardPlayerTeamPlayer of the Year Award Stacy MayChicago BanditsPitcher of the YearLisa NorrisAkron RacersRookie of the Year Nikki NemitzChicago BanditsDefensive Player of the YearLisa ModglinAkron RacersOffensive Player of the YearRachel FoldenChicago BanditsHome Run Award (tie) Rachel FoldenChicago BanditsStacy MayChicago BanditsDiamond Spike AwardThe Diamond Spike Award is given to the player with the most stolen basesLisa ModglinAkron RacersCoaching Staff of the Year Chicago Bandits -- Mickey Dean, Mike Stuerwald, Maggie JohnsonJennie 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. Jennie FinchChicago Bandits
Award notes
2010 All-NPF TeamPositionNameTeam PitcherSarah PaulyUSSSA Pride Pitcher Monica AbbottTennessee Diamonds Pitcher Lisa NorrisAkron Racers Pitcher Jennie FinchChicago Bandits CatcherRachel FoldenChicago Bandits 1st Base Samantha FindlayChicago Bandits 2nd BaseChelsea MesaTennessee Diamonds 3rd BaseStacy MayChicago BanditsShortstopChelsea 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
List of professional sports leagues List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
References
External links