2004 National Pro Fastpitch season

2004 NPF Season blue white National Pro Fastpitch softball June 1, 2004 - August 18, 2004 6 2004 NPF Draft 2004 NPF Draft Iyhia McMichaelMississippi State Akron Racers Regular Season Texas Thunder Regular Season Champions Cowles Cup NY/NJ Juggernaut New England Riptide Amanda ScottNY/NJ Juggernaut NPF Seasons NPF 2003 2005 The 2004 National Pro Fastpitch season was the first 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 Stadium2004 NPF Team Profiles http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=80 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 26 May 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905203300/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=80 5 September 2015 dead dmy-all Arizona Heat Tucson, Arizona Hi Corbett FieldArizona Heat http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/?team_id=729 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040807224254/http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/?team_id=729 7 August 2004 California Sunbirds Sacramento, California United Sports ComplexesCalifornia Sunbirds http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=726 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040814214002/http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=726 14 August 2004 New England Riptide Lowell, Massachusetts Martin Softball FieldNew England Riptide http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=580 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040814214321/http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=580 14 August 2004 NY/NJ Juggernaut Upper Montclair, New Jersey Montclair State University Softball FieldNew York/New Jersey Juggernaut http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=725 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040814214111/http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=725 14 August 2004 Texas Thunder Houston, Texas University of Houston Cougars Softball StadiumTexas Thunder http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=578 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040814213445/http://www.profastpitch.com/teams/index.php?team_id=578 14 August 2004 USA 350 none National Pro Fastpitch Teams National Pro Fastpitch teams USA 41.073056 -81.517778 Red pog.svg Akron left Akron Racers USA 32.221667 -110.926389 Blue pog.svg Arizona right Arizona Heat USA 38.555556 -121.468889 Orange pog.svg Sunbirds right California Sunbirds USA 40.842576 -74.201302 Purple pog.svg NY/NJ right NY/NJ Juggernaut USA 29.762778 -95.383056 Black pog.svg Thunder right Texas Thunder USA 42.639444 -71.314722 Yellow pog.svg New England left New England Riptide Milestones and events The 2004 season was the culmination of years of work to relaunch the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) as a new league. In November 2002 the new name for WPSL - National Pro Fastpitch - was announced, along with a 2003 tour and league play beginning in 2004.NEW NAME ANNOUNCED FOR WPSL http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=2 ProFastpitch.com 7 June 2015 1 November 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905184104/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=2 5 September 2015 dead dmy-all NPF initially announced a league roster of teams in Akron, Ohio (Akron Racers), Denver, Colo.(Colorado Altitude),NPF Announces Colorado Franchise http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=22 Profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 1 July 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626101538/http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=22 26 June 2015 dead dmy-all Houston and San Antonio, Texas (Texas Thunder and San Antonio Armadillos), Sacramento, Calif. (California Sunbirds), Tucson, Ariz. (Arizona Heat),National Pro Fastpitch Announces New Tucson Affiliate http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=39 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 5 July 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626124955/http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=39 26 June 2015 dead dmy-all Lowell, Mass. (New England Riptide), and Parsippany, NJ (NY/NJ Juggernaut).NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH (NPF) HOLDS NATIONAL TRYOUT IN TEXAS http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=57 ProFastpitch.com 7 June 2015 11 December 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626121429/http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=57 26 June 2015 dead dmy-all The Racers were the only NPF team that also played in the WPSL. NPF conducted its first player drafts with these eight teams. In March 2004, NPF released its inaugural schedule for 2004 and did not include the Armadillos and the Altitude. Reports allowed for the possibility of both teams joining the league in 2005 or later, but it never came to be.National Pro Fastpitch Introduces Six Teams; Inaugural Season League Play Launches in Early June http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=63 ProFastpitch.com 25 June 2015 21 March 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626100517/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=63 2015-06-26 dead NPF officially launched its first season on June 1, 2004, with three games: the Akron Racers at the Texas Thunder, the Arizona Heat visiting the California Sunbirds, and the New England Riptide at the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut.PROFESSIONAL FASTPITCH BACK IN ACTION FOR 2004 http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=84 Profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 1 June 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905121944/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=84 5 September 2015 dead dmy-all Player acquisition College draft 2004 NPF Draft NPF held tryouts and its first drafts at the 2003 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Convention, at the Del Lago Resort, in Montgomery, Texas December 3–6, 2003. On December 6 at the 2004 NPF Draft, the eight NPF teams selected players in a four-round Elite Draft and a six-round College Senior Draft. San Antonio selected Michigan State first baseman, and Indiana assistant coach Stacey Phillips with the first overall selection in the Elite Draft. In the College Senior Draft Iyhia McMichael of Mississippi State was selected first by the Akron Racers.NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH (NPF) HOLDS NATIONAL TRYOUT IN TEXAS http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=57 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 7 December 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626121429/http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=57 26 June 2015 dead dmy-allNPF Holds Draft for 2004 http://www.profastpitch.com/news/?id=4227 ProFastpitch.com 7 June 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20031220070340/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/?id=4227 20 December 2003 After the decision was made to launch the 2004 season without the Colorado Altitude and San Antonio Armadillos, a Supplemental Draft was held to allocate players whose rights were held by Colorado and San Antonio.NPF HOLDS SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=67 ProFastpitch.com 7 June 2015 1 April 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905202957/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=67 5 September 2015 dead dmy-all Notable transactions The Juggernaut signed Michele Smith, a two-time Olympic gold medal pitcher (1996 and 2000), and five-time Japan Pro League MVP. The Racers brought on board Danielle Henderson, a member of the 2000 gold medal Olympic team. League standings Source:2004 http://dev.infinitydesign.net/dev7/profastpitch.com/statistics/2004/ ProFastpitch.com 7 June 2015 TeamGPWLPct.GB Texas Thunder 58 41 17 .707 - Akron Racers 60 39 21 .650 3 NY/NJ Juggernaut 60 39 21 .650 3 New England Riptide 60 25 35 .417 17 Arizona Heat 60 19 41 .317 23 California Sunbirds 58 15 43.259 26 NPF Championship right The 2004 NPF Championship Series was held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio August 25–9. The top four teams qualified and were seeded based on the final standings. The Racers won the tiebreaker over the Riptide based on winning the head-to-head season series 8–4. All series were planned to be best-of-three games, but that changed when rain cancelled the game 1 of the final on August 28. A single winner-take-all game was played on August 29.National Pro Fastpitch Championship Game at Firestone Stadium Reformatted http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3080517 OurSportsCentral.com 9 June 2015 29 August 2004 NPF Semifinals (Best of 3) NPF Championship (Single game) 30px 160px 1 Texas Thunder 1 4 New England Riptide 2 2 Akron Racers 1 3 NY/NJ Juggernaut 2 4 New England Riptide 1 3 NY/NJ Juggernaut 10 2004 NPF SemifinalsNY/NJ Juggernaut defeat Akron Racers 2–1 Game Date Score Series(NYNJ–AK) Location 1 August 25 NY/NJ Juggernaut 2, Akron Racers 0Nauts Win Game One http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3079067 OurSportsCentral.com 9 June 2015 25 August 2004 1–0 Akron, Ohio 2 August 26 NY/NJ Juggernaut 1, Akron Racers 3Akron Races by Nauts 3-1 to Tie Up Series at One Apiece http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3079490 OurSportsCentral.com 9 June 2015 26 August 2004 1–1 Akron, Ohio 3 August 26 NY/NJ Juggernaut 2, Akron Racers 1The Scotts Lead the Juggernaut into the Finals http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3079988 OurSportsCentral.com 9 June 2015 27 August 2004 2–1 Akron, Ohio 2004 NPF SemifinalsNew England Riptide defeat Texas Thunder 2–1 Game Date Score Series(TEX–NE) Location 1 August 25 Texas Thunder 4, New England Riptide 1Thunder capture playoff opener http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Around-Sports-1973534.php Houston Chronicle 9 June 2015 26 August 2004 1–0 Akron, Ohio 2 August 26 Texas Thunder 1, New England Riptide 3Grand slam beats Thunder in playoff http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Around-Sports-1986115.php Houston Chronicle 9 June 2015 27 August 2004 1–1 Akron, Ohio 3 August 27 Texas Thunder 0, New England Riptide3RIPTIDE STEALS THUNDER FROM TEXAS New England to Play Juggernaut in Championship http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=219 ProFastpitch.com 9 June 2015 27 August 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905125557/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=219 5 September 2015 dead dmy-all 1-2 Akron, Ohio 2004 NPF Championship GameDate Score Location August 29 NY/NJ Juggernaut 10, New England Riptide 1Juggernaut claims inaugural Cowles Cup http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3080590 OurSportsCentral.com 9 June 2015Akron, Ohio Championship Game Team Top Batter Stats. NY/NJ Juggernaut Kellie Wilkerson 2-3 4RBIs HR 2B BB New England Riptide Ashley Moore 1-4 RBI K Team Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NY/NJ Juggernaut Amanda Scott (W) 5.0 4 1 1 3 4 20 23 NY/NJ Juggernaut Gina Oaks 1.0 2 0 0 1 0 5 6 NY/NJ Juggernaut Kaci Clark 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 New England Riptide Leigh Ann Ellis (L) 0.2 2 3 3 2 1 4 6 New England Riptide Jocelyn Forest 2.2 4 4 4 3 0 12 15 New England Riptide Megan Matthews 3.2 5 3 2 1 2 16 17 2004 NPF Championship Series MVP PlayerClubStats.Amanda ScottNY/NJ Juggernaut 3-0 21Ks 0.73 ERA SH (19.0 IP)http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?datearchive=2004-08-01 August 2004 Web.archive.org https://web.archive.org/web/20150905061811/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?datearchive=2004-08-01 2020-07-03 dead 2015-09-05 Annual awards Source:NPF Hands Out Regular Season Awards http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3080253 OurSportsCentral.com 11 June 2015 28 August 2004 Regular season championsTexas Thunder AwardPlayerTeamPlayer of the Year Iyhia McMichaelAkron RacersNPF Batting ChampionIyhia McMichaelAkron RacersPitcher of the YearChrista WilliamsTexas ThunderDefensive Player of the YearLindsay GardnerTexas ThunderManager of the Year Wayne DaigleTexas Thunder NPF All-Star Teams right The 2004 NPF All-Star Series was held July 13 and 14 at Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK. The East All-Star team included players from NY/NJ Juggernaut, the New England Riptide, and the Akron Racers and was managed by the Racers' Judy Martino. The West All-Star team included players from California Sunbirds, the Arizona Heat, and the Texas Thunder and was managed by the Thunder's Wayne Daigle.28 players to represent league in NPF All-Star Series http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3057780 OurSportsCentral.com 11 June 2015 6 July 20042004 NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH ALL-STAR ROSTERS http://profastpitch.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/STATISTICS%20FOLDER/TEAM%20NPF%20ARCHIVES/2004%20All%20Star%20Rosters.pdf profastpitch.com 11 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150613144252/http://profastpitch.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/STATISTICS%20FOLDER/TEAM%20NPF%20ARCHIVES/2004%20All%20Star%20Rosters.pdf 13 June 2015 dead The USA Olympic softball team played a doubleheader against each NPF All-Star Team on July 13. The Olympians swept the games beating the East 5–0, and edging the West 5–3 in 9 innings.NPF All-Stars Put on Good Display But Fall Short http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3061202 OurSportsCentral.com 11 June 2015 14 July 2004 The West All-Stars beat the East by a score of 1–0 on July 14. Nancy Evans was named the Most Valuable Player.Bolding s Sacrifice Fly Sends the West to a 1-0 Win; Nancy Evans named the game's most valuable player http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3061437 OurSportsCentral.com 11 June 2015 14 July 2004 2004 NPF ALL-STAR ROSTER - WEST TEAMPlayerNPF TeamPositionWendy Allen"All-Star replacement"Arizona Heat1BErica BeachArizona HeatPCheryl BoldingArizona HeatOFClare BurnumTexas Thunder3BErin EvansTexas ThunderOFNancy EvansArizona Heat3BJaime FoutchCalifornia Sunbirds3BLindsay GardnerTexas Thunder2BPeaches JamesTexas ThunderPJulie MarshallCalifornia SunbirdsCLisha RibelliaArizona HeatIFRyan RealmutoTexas ThunderCBrandy Thurman"All-Star replacement" Brandy Thurman replaced Wendy Allen on the All-Star roster when Allen was unable to attend the gameCalifornia's Thurman Added to All-Star RosterReplaces Heat Infielder Wendy Allen http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=177 profastpitch.com 13 June 2015 11 July 2004 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150626102103/http://profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=177 26 June 2015 California SunbirdsIFChrista WilliamsTexas ThunderPKristen ZaleskiTexas ThunderOF 2004 NPF ALL-STAR ROSTER - EAST TEAMPlayerNPF TeamPositionLindsey Collins-MillerNY/NJ JuggernautCLeigh Ann EllisNew England RiptidePJocelyn ForestNew England RiptidePLyndsey KleinNY/NJ JuggernautSSCarri LetoNY/NJ Juggernaut2BIyhia McMichaelAkron RacersOFGina OaksNY/NJ JuggernautOFJaclyn PasquerellaNY/NJ Juggernaut3BTrena PeelAkron RacersOFJen PooreAkron RacersCAmanda ScottNY/NJ JuggernautPBrandi StuartAkron Racers2BKellie WilkersonNY/NJ Juggernaut1BNicole TrimboliAkron Racers1B All-Star Game note See also Sports List of professional sports leagues List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada References External links National Pro Fastpitch Category:2004 in women's softball Category:2004 in American women's sports Category:Softball in the United States