WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from NPF. (Edited) March 30, 2005: On the day when the White Plains High School softball teams play a pair of exhibition games at WPHS, National Pro Fastpitch, ball's third  major league the media don't cover, don't talk about, and ignored last season,  announced its 2005 schedule.  The league, featuring the champion NY-NJ Juggernaut will play a 48-game regular season schedule for each of the six NPF teams, including games that count against international champions from Canada, China, Venezuela, Russia, and Australia. Juggernaut Tickets are now on sale for their 2005  32-game home season featuring visits from the Chicago Bandits and Jennie Finch, the Venezuela and China national teams, their archrivals the New England Riptide and the Akron Racers with Krystal Bustos.

BALL BEYOND MEN! Johnny Vorperian, White Plains "Mr. Baseball," interviews NY-NY Juggernaut star Carri "Lightening Leto," secondbaser of the NY-NJ Juggernaut (center) and 1996 USA Olympic Champion and General Manager of the Juggernaut, Julie Smith on Beyond the Game at the WPPA-TV, White Plains Public Access Television Studio. The Juggernauts were in town to discuss the Juggernaut 2005 season last week. They open the season in Long Island on June 2 where they will be playing at a larger facility under brand-new lights with free parking. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the Juggernaut office at 212.907.6561 or gameday at the Ticket Office. General Manager Smith has put together a strong rotation and have UCLA and 2004 USA Olympic sparkplug, Natasha  "Whackin" Wately batting leadoff with Lightening in the number two slot. The program will "cable" closer to the start of the season. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Ms. Leto in her Business Suit, 2004 Season. Photo, Couresy NY-NJ Juggernaut.

Whackin' Wately is coming to town. Ms. Smith figures to have America's flashiest fastpitch legend hitting leadoff at the Naut's new home. Photo, Courtesy NY-NJ Juggernaut.

The first riser of the season will launch the first week in June and run through August 21, 2005 with the exception of the Arizona Heat kicking off their season Memorial Day weekend. Regular season play will be followed by the Playoffs and Championships August 27–28, 2005. The six NPF teams include the Akron Racers, Arizona Heat, Chicago Bandits, New England Riptide, NY/NJ Juggernaut, and Texas Thunder. The California Sunbirds will also play a limited schedule in 2005 with plans to fully participate in the league again in 2006.

International Teams Hook Up with NPF -- Da Best Play in Da NPF

NPF is excited to be able to include the Australia, Canada, China, Russia and Venezuelan National teams into the schedule.  The New York-New Jerseyy Juggernaut open the season June 2 with the Venezuala ball club.

“Bringing in international teams to play NPF teams is the league’s way of promoting both NPF credibility and continuing the development of U.S. Olympic and international players simultaneously,” stated NPF President, Bill Conroy. “It is our hope that the league will build attendance and media coverage through the international team drawing power.”

Brakettes Lead Prestigious Clubs into NPF in 2006

NPF has also opened the pool of opponents to include potential teams and owners in 2006 and beyond. The nationally recognized Stratford Brakettes already announced their plans to join NPF in 2006. Additional teams include the Phoenix Flames, SoCal Schutt Hurricanes, Peoria Outlaws, Illinois Cougars, St. Louis Saints and the Long Island Angels.

 “Due to the overwhelming demand for potential owners it made good sense to look at the teams’ viability in the league as well as allow them the opportunity to experience what it’s like to participate and compete at this level,” stated Conroy.

To make the competition even more interesting, all games against the international teams and potential expansion teams will count in the league standings and only the top four NPF teams will go on to compete in the Playoffs.

NPF enters into its third year as the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of professional women’s fastpitch softball. The new alliance with ASA/USA Softball and the International Softball Federation (ISF) has helped tremendously with bringing the international teams into the fold.

ESPN Discovers NPF

Be sure to tune into ESPN this summer, the Worldwide Leader in Sports, as they will air a select number of NPF games in 2005, as well as, Comcast who signed an agreement to televise eight NPF games.

“This type of national exposure is exactly what the league and players need to continue to create awareness of this awesome sport and its female athletes,” stated Conroy. Agreements for radio broadcasts and webcasting are in the works.

Sponsor Lineup Grows for the League the Media Does Not See.

National and local NPF sponsors include Majestic Athletic, Schutt® Sports, JUGS, Adams USA, Inc., Mizuno, Anderson Bat Company, Louisville Slugger, Akadema, Gatorade, My Sports Warehouse, Softball Junk. Com, Infinity Pro Sports, Motion DNA, Fisher Nuts, AMI Graphics, Radio Disney, Softball Today Magazine, Marcus Theatres, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tanel 360, Velocity Sports, Dominick’s Finer Foods (Safeway) Thilman Filippini, See’s Candies, Innovative Sports, Athletique Inc., TFC Bank, United Community Bank, Canandaigua Wine Company, National Baseball Softball Academy, Swing Town, American Hole-In-One and Jewel-Osco.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. 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 Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).


To view the NPF Composite Schedule Click Here