2010 National Pro Fastpitch season

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.

2010 NPF Season
LeagueNational Pro Fastpitch
Sportsoftball
DurationJune 9, 2010 – August 22, 2010
Number of teams4
2010 NPF Draft
Top draft pickCharlotte Morgan
Alabama
Picked byUSSSA Pride
Regular Season
Ringor Cup
(Best record)
Chicago Bandits
Cowles Cup
ChampionsUSSSA Pride
  Runners-upChicago Bandits
Finals MVPNatasha Watley
USSSA Pride
NPF seasons
← 2009
2011 →

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, FloridaOsceola 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.[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]

NPF Semifinals (Best-of-3)NPF Championship (Best-of-3)
      
1Chicago Bandits2
4Tennessee Diamonds0
1Chicago Bandits1
2USSSA Pride2
2USSSA Pride2
3Akron Racers1
2010 NPF Semifinals
Chicago Bandits defeat Tennessee Diamonds 2-0
GameDateScoreSeries
(CHI-TEN)
Location
1August 26Chicago Bandits 2, Tennessee Diamonds 0[9]1-0Sulphur, Louisiana
2August 27Chicago Bandits 4, Tennessee Diamonds 1[10]2-0Sulphur, Louisiana
2010 NPF Semifinals
USSSA Pride defeat Akron Racers 2–1
GameDateScoreSeries
(USSA-AKR)
Location
1August 26USSSA Pride 3, Akron Racers 2[9]1-0Sulphur, Louisiana
2August 27USSSA Pride 2, Akron Racers 3[10]1-1Sulphur, Louisiana
3August 28USSSA Pride 6, Akron Racers 1[11]2-1Sulphur, Louisiana
2010 NPF Championship Series
USSSA Pride defeat Chicago Bandits 2-1
GameDateScoreSeries
(CHI-USSSA)
Location
1August 28Chicago Bandits 1, USSSA Pride 2[12]0-1Sulphur, Louisiana
2August 29Chicago Bandits 7, USSSA Pride 2[13]1-1Sulphur, Louisiana
3August 29Chicago 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
TeamPitcherIPHRERBBSO
USSSA PrideCat Osterman (W)7.022237
Chicago BanditsKristina Thorson (L)1.133321
Chicago BanditsNikki Nemitz1.273301
Chicago BanditsJessica Sallinger3.021122
2010 NPF Championship Series MVP
PlayerClubStats.
Natasha Watley[15]USSSA Pride.428 (9/21) 3RBIs 2B SB[16]

Annual awards

Source:[17]

Ringor Cup
(Best regular season record)
Chicago Bandits
AwardPlayerTeam
Player of the Year AwardStacy MayChicago Bandits
Pitcher of the YearLisa NorrisAkron Racers
Rookie of the YearNikki 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[note 1]Lisa ModglinAkron Racers
Coaching Staff of the YearChicago Bandits -- Mickey Dean, Mike Stuerwald, Maggie Johnson
Jennie Finch Award[note 2]Jennie FinchChicago Bandits

Award notes

2010 All-NPF Team
PositionNameTeam
PitcherSarah PaulyUSSSA Pride
PitcherMonica AbbottTennessee Diamonds
PitcherLisa NorrisAkron Racers
PitcherJennie 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

References