2007 National Pro Fastpitch season

2007 NPF Season blue white National Pro Fastpitch softball May 29, 2007 – August 18, 2007 6 2007 NPF Draft 2007 NPF Draft Lindsay SchutzlerTennessee Chicago Bandits Regular Season Washington Glory Majestic Cup (Best record) Cowles Cup Washington Glory Rockford Thunder Monica AbbottWashington Glory NPF Seasons NPF 2006 2008 The 2007 National Pro Fastpitch season was the fourth 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 Lisle, Illinois Benedictine University Sports ComplexDirections http://chicagobandits.com/stadium/directions/ ChicagoBandits.com 24 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20071130225253/http://chicagobandits.com/stadium/directions/ 30 November 2007 New England Riptide Lowell, Massachusetts Martin Softball Fieldhttp://neriptide.com/stadium/ Stadium New England Riptide 24 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20070821090545/http://neriptide.com/stadium/ 21 August 2007 Philadelphia Force Allentown, Pennsylvania ECTB StadiumStadium http://www.philadelphiaforce.com/stadium/ PhiladelphiaForce.com 24 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20070825155111/http://www.philadelphiaforce.com/stadium/ 25 August 2007 Rockford Thunder Rockford, Illinois SportsCore OneROCKFORD THUNDER http://thunderprofastpitch.com/stadium/ ThunderProFastpitch.com 24 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20070620084217/http://thunderprofastpitch.com/stadium/ 20 June 2007 Washington Glory Fairfax, Virginia Softball Complex at George Mason UniversityTEAMS http://profastpitch.com/teams/?team_id=870 profastpitch.com 24 May 2015 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20071105024252/http://profastpitch.com/teams/?team_id=870 5 November 2007 USA 350 none National Pro Fastpitch Teams National Pro Fastpitch teams USA 41.073056 -81.517778 Red pog.svg Akron right Akron Racers USA 41.990833 -87.873889 Orange pog.svg Chicago left Chicago Bandits USA 42.413333 -89.009167 Black pog.svg Rockford right Rockford Thunder USA 40.601667 -75.477222 Green pog.svg Philadelphia right Philadelphia Force USA 42.639444 -71.314722 Yellow pog.svg New England left New England Riptide USA 38.951667 -77.448056 Blue pog.svg Washington right Washington Glory Milestones and events A number of changes to the NPF roster of teams happened in the offseason: The Texas Thunder were sold to new ownership based in Rockford, Illinois. They relocated there for the 2007 season and renamed themselves the Rockford Thunder.Texas Thunder to Relocate to Rockford http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3367941 OurSportsCentral.com 24 May 2015 24 August 2006 In January 2007, the Connecticut Brakettes announced they would no longer participate in NPF.BRAKETTES ANNOUNCE 2007 CHANGES http://brakettes.com/pro_2006/news/01_11_07.htm Brakettes.com 24 May 2015 11 January 2007 In February, an expansion team named the Washington Glory was added to NPF, and the Glory inherited the contracts of players from the Brakettes.Washington, DC team to join National Pro Fastpitch http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3423643 OurSportsCentral.com 24 May 2015 6 February 2007 Arizona Heat suspended play for the 2007 season.Greg Hansen Opinion by Greg Hansen : Heat suspends play for 2007 http://tucson.com/sports/opinion-by-greg-hansen-heat-suspends-play-for/article_2cfceb40-0304-5228-9da7-15bf2e5f4269.html Arizona Daily Star 24 May 2015 11 February 2007 Despite rumors to the contrary, the Heat never rejoined NPF. NPF hired Cheri Kempf to be commissioner. Kempf's background includes pitching on the 1992 gold medal-winning United States national team in the World Cup in Beijing, China, producing instructional books and videos on softball, and announcing professional and college softball telecasts.Kempf Named NPF Commissioner https://nfca.org/index.php/front-page-news/2585-kempf-named-npf-commissioner National Fastpitch Coaches Association 25 May 2015 16 February 2007 In March, the Akron Racers hired Shonda Stanton, the head softball coach at Marshall University to be field manager.Marshall's Shonda Stanton Named Field Manager for National Pro Fastpitch's Akron Racers http://www.herdzone.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/031907aad.html HerdZone.com 25 May 2015 19 March 2007 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052409/http://www.herdzone.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/031907aad.html dead Player acquisition College draft 2007 NPF Draft The 2007 NPF Senior Draft was held February 14, 2007. Lindsay Schutzler of Tennessee was selected first by the Chicago Bandits.National Pro Fastpitch Announces 2007 College Draft Selections http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=729 ProFastpitch.com 26 May 2015 14 February 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905150835/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=729 5 September 2015 usurped dmy-all Notable transactions Cat Osterman was drafted first in the 2006 NPF Draft by the Connecticut Brakettes. She did not sign with them, becoming a free agent on September 30, 2006. In December 2006, she signed a deal to join the Rockford Thunder.Osterman signs with the Rockford Thunder http://www.texassports.com/news/2006/12/21/122106aaa_997.aspx TexasSports.com 27 May 2015 21 December 2006 League standings Source 2007 http://dev.infinitydesign.net/dev7/profastpitch.com/statistics/2007/ profastpitch.com 23 May 2015 19 August 2007 TeamGPWLPct.GB Washington Glory 44 34 10 .773 - Akron Racers 43 26 17 .605 7.5 New England Riptide 44 26 18 .591 8 Rockford Thunder 44 24 20 .545 10 Philadelphia Force 44 24 20 .545 10 Chicago Bandits 44 23 21.523 11 The Michigan Ice played a partial schedule in 2007, with hopes of receiving investor support in 2008 to become a full-time NPF member. The Ice never became a full-time member. League games against Team China, Denso Japan professional softball team, the Venezuela national team and the Stratford Brakettes were also scheduled. The results counted in the NPF's team records.2007 NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH SCHEDULE RELEASED http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=724 profastpitch.com 25 May 2015 9 February 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905143405/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=724 5 September 2015 usurped dmy-all NPF Championship right The 2007 NPF Championship Series was held at Sunset Point Park in Kimberly, Wisconsin August 24-6. The top four teams qualified and were seeded based on the final standings. The series matched the teams up in a double-elimination bracket.Marty Gitlin 2007 Playoffs Right Around the Corner http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=915 profastpitch.com 25 May 2015 18 August 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905134933/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=915 5 September 2015 usurped dmy-all August 25, 2007FIRST DAY OF CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=924 profastpitch.com 25 May 2015 24 August 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905134653/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=924 5 September 2015 usurped dmy-all August 25, 2007 August 26, 2007 2 Akron Racers 0 3 New England Riptide 3 1 Washington Glory 4 4 Rockford Thunder 0 L1 Akron Racers 3 L2 Rockford Thunder 6 W1 New England Riptide 1 W2 Washington Glory 2 W3 Rockford Thunder 5 L4 New England Riptide 0 W4 Washington Glory 3 W5 Rockford Thunder 1 2007 NPF Championship Series - Game 1 #2 seed vs. #3 seed Game Date Score Location 1 August 25 Akron Racers 0, New England Riptide 3Riptide started off on right foot http://www.lowellsun.com/sports/ci_6725278 Lowell Sun 25 May 2015 26 August 2007 Kimberly, Wisconsin Riptide advance; Racers to losers bracket 2007 NPF Championship Series - Game 2#1 seed vs. #4 seed Game Date Score Location 2 August 25 Washington Glory 4, Rockford Thunder 0Glory Claim First Playoff Victory of NPF Playoffs Behind No Hitter From Monica Abbott http://www.pointedmagazine.com/glory-claim-first-playoff-victory-of-npf-playoffs-behind-no-hitter-from-monica-abbott/ Pointed Magazine 25 May 2015 25 August 2007Kimberly, Wisconsin Glory advance; Thunder to losers bracket 2007 NPF Championship Series - Game 3Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser Game Date Score Location 3 August 25 Akron Racers 3, Rockford Thunder 6 (10 innings)National Pro Fastpitch games http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070826/APC02/708260634/1892/APCsports Appleton Post Crescent 25 May 2015 26 August 2007 26 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526220130/http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070826%2FAPC02%2F708260634%2F1892%2FAPCsports deadKimberly, Wisconsin Rockford Thunder eliminate Akron Racers 2007 NPF Championship Series - Game 4Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner Game Date Score Location 4 August 25 Washington Glory 2, New England Riptide 1RIPTIDE FALLS SHORT TO GLORY, 2-1 http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=929 Profastpitch.com 26 May 2015 25 August 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905134308/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=929 5 September 2015 usurped dmy-allKimberly, Wisconsin Glory to final; Riptide to losers bracket 2007 NPF Championship Series - Game 5Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser Game Date Score Location 5 August 26 Rockford Thunder 5, New England Riptide 0Thunder Into Finals Behind Osterman No-Hitter http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=930 Profastpitch.com 26 May 2015 26 August 2007 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20150905151204/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=930 5 September 2015 Kimberly, Wisconsin Thunder to final; Riptide eliminated 2007 NPF Championship Series - Game 6Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner Game Date Score Location 6 August 24 Washington Glory 3, Rockford Thunder 1Glory Win Championship Game Over Thunder 3-1Abbott Named Series MVP http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=925 Profastpitch.com 26 May 2015 26 August 2007 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162704/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=925 2 April 2015 Kimberly, Wisconsin Washington Glory win NPF Championship 2007 NPF Championship Series MVP PlayerClubStats.Monica AbbottWashington Glory 2-0 0.00 ERA NH SVhttp://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?datearchive=2007 Articles from 2007 Profastpitch.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150905062347/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?datearchive=2007 2020-07-03 usurped 2015-09-05 League leaders Batting leaders Pitching leaders Annual awards Source:2007 Awards Announced http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3531252 OurSportsCentral.com 26 May 2015 24 August 2007 Majestic Cup (Best regular season record)Washington Glory AwardPlayerTeamPlayer of the Year Award Amber JacksonWashington GloryPitcher of the YearDesiree SerranoWashington GloryRookie of the Year Kristina ThorsonPhiladelphia ForceDefensive Player of the YearJackie PasquerellaNew England RiptideOffensive Player of the YearVeronica WootsonAkron RacersManager of the Year Carie Dever-Boaz Washington Glory 2007 All-NPF TeamForce Foursome on All-NPF Team, Thorson Top Rookie http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3527240 OurSportsCentral.com 26 May 2015 17 August 2007PositionNameTeam PitcherKristina ThorsonPhiladelphia Force PitcherDesiree SerranoWashington Glory PitcherSarah PaulyWashington Glory PitcherEileen CanneyNew England Riptide CatcherMackenzie VandergeestRockford Thunder 1st BaseKellie WilkersonPhiladelphia Force 2nd BaseVeronica WootsonAkron Racers 3rd BaseNorrelle DicksonAkron RacersShortstopAmber JacksonWashington Glory OutfieldKristen ZaleskiRockford Thunder OutfieldSharonda McDonaldPhiladelphia Force OutfieldShanel ScottNew England Riptide At-LargeOli KeohohouWashington Glory At-LargeNicole ThompsonWashington Glory At-LargeChelsea SpencerPhiladelphia Force At-LargeJamie ClarkChicago Bandits At-LargeKristen ButlerAkron Racers At-LargeSerena SettlemierRockford Thunder 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:2007 in women's softball Category:2007 in American women's sports Category:Softball in the United States