I found something interesting on the National Pro Fastpitch’s website tonight.. I’ll let you read what I read and will comment after.
From http://www.profastpitch.com/news/index.html?article_id=1296
2010 NPF SCHEDULE RELEASED
01/14/2010 2:40 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2010Nashville – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League Commissioner Cheri Kempf announced today the schedule for the 2010 season for the League’s four affiliate teams.
Four Teams will compete in the 2010 Season, one less with the loss of the Philadelphia Force. The Rockford Thunder also discontinued play, however the roster was passed to the latest NPF Franchise, the Tennessee Diamonds. Each team in the League will play a 50-game regular season schedule with all teams playing each other a minimum of 15 games.
The 2010 season will begin on Wednesday, June 9th with the Akron Racers traveling to NPF’s newest expansion Team, the Tennessee Diamonds. The Chicago Bandits, 2009 regular season Champion, will travel to Lubbock, TX to play the Florida Pride during opening week. The regular season will finish on August 22nd prior to the Championships in Sulphur, LA on August 26th-29th.
“There is plenty of NPF action this summer with 100 games slated for 2010 Season. Once again we expect to see the best competition in fastpitch softball between the Game’s greatest Players of the World,” stated Commissioner Kempf.
The National Pro Fastpitch League streamed over 80 games on MLB.com in 2009. For 2010 we will again be streaming our games live. A full schedule will be released in the upcoming weeks.
The regular season standings will crown a regular-season champion. The four teams will earn the right to play in the NPF Championship Series. The Series will be played in Sulphur Louisiana and will be held August 26-29 at McMurry Park in Sulphur. The event will be hosted by, and with the cooperation of, the Sulphur Parks and Recreation Department and the support of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Additional information on each team’s schedule can be found by navigating to their individual websites from http://www.profastpitch.com.
Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of National Pro Fastpitch in the category of women’s professional fastpitch softball. The partnership, which began in the fall of 2002, is part of Commissioner Selig’s Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help Major League Baseball and the 30 Major League Clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.
About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The League, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).2010 NPF SCHEDULE
With the loss of the Philadelphia Force… WITH THE LOSS OF THE PHILADELPHIA FORCE?!
Just 2 weeks ago I spoke with the owner of the team who assured me there would be a team fielded in Allentown in 2010. I was planning on buying a season ticket.
Looking at the Facebook page of the Force I found this statement:
The Force is planning on playing in 2010! We are currently in a dispute with the NPF and hope for a resolution soon. Stay tuned for details.
Really, does anyone know what is going on with this team? This is cautiously reminding me of the Lehigh Valley Outlawz who bailed and stuck it to season ticket holders who sought a refund.
What could have happened? I suppose you have to do something really bad to get bumped out of the league. Did they pay their bills, their player salaries, their league dues? Were financial reports up to ethical standards? Has the team been up front with local and league officials? The NPF website lists team ownership requirements.What did the Force do to deserve having the league (who seems to have a history of struggling to keep teams alive) give them the boot?
This could be the National Pro Fastpitch league.. but we might be dealing with amateur ownership.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 