Faces of the NPF: Chelsea Spencer
The Championship Trendsetter By Rita Chinyere
The old adage goes, third time is a charm. While most chalk the end result up to luck especially when championships are concerned; in the case of National Pro Fastpitch veteran Chelsea Spencer, determination and hard work certainly factored in. The stellar shortstop spent time with two prior franchises before hoisting the coveted Cowles Cup this summer with the Rockford Thunder. As a fifth-year veteran, Spencer played for the New York Juggernaut and had an extensive stint with the Philadelphia Force before landing on the lineup of the 2009 NPF Champion, Rockford Thunder. The journey has been long and at times challenging, but ultimately rewarding for a player all too familiar with championship caliber softball. A determined and dedicated athlete, Spencer holds herself to a high standard, doing so on the premise that the NPF and its fans deserve nothing less. A trendsetter, Spencer’s priority is to pave the way for others as a living example that dreams are achievable.
The San Leandro, California native found success in the sport at a relatively young age playing with the ASA contender West Bay Nuggets. Spencer also played competitively in high school at Arroyo where she guided her team to back-to-back Hayward Area Athletic League titles in her junior and senior years. A four-time All-Conference selection in softball and two-time honoree in basketball, Spencer’s success at the collegiate level was inevitable as her physical prowess and determination to excel were already driving her to the next destination in her athletic career. In the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, surrounded by the vibrant communities and eclectic cultures of Berkeley and nearby San Francisco; Spencer opted to attend one of the finest academic institutions on the West Coast, choosing the University of California-Berkeley.
Spencer joined the Bears and was granted the opportunity to play for legendary coach Diane Ninemire. The coach, entering her 23rd season at the helm of Cal softball was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on December 11, 2009. Boasting a record of 932-457 and adding a NCAA National Championship to her resume in 2002, Ninemire reflected upon her involvement in the sport of fastpitch softball at the ceremonial dinner. At the podium standing before hundreds of college coaches around the nation, Ninemire invited her Cal players in attendance to stand in recognition for their hard work and contributions to her coaching success. Amongst the group to receive applause, Chelsea Spencer stood as a symbol of the marquee players who helped establish Cal’s prominence as a national contender in the sport.
Virtually playing in her backyard, Spencer got to work immediately, making history in her first year with the Cal program. In 2002, Cal claimed the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship at the Women’s College World Series, defeating the University of Arizona to capture not only the first national championship for the softball program, but also the first for any women’s program in Cal’s storied athletic history. An incredible feat in itself, the accomplishment was sweetened only by the convincing fashion of victory, beating Arizona--six-time NCAA champion at the time, by a walloping 6-0 margin. Spencer was a member of a group of women who helped develop a softball program, guiding it to prominence and building it into a national contender in her four-year career.
Spencer and the Bears reached the WCWS in each of her four years, appearing in the title game three consecutive seasons, spanning 2002-04. Spencer won a National Title in 2002 and followed that up with runner-up finishes against UCLA in 2003 and 2004. As a senior in 2005, Spencer reached the WCWS but saw her college career come to a close before returning to a title game for the fourth time at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats in an extra innings heartbreaker. With four trips to the WCWS, as an All-American, All-PAC-10 and All-Pacific Region selection, it’s safe to say, Spencer’s collegiate career was a success. Still her resolve for greatness pushed her forward.
Upon completion of her eligibility at the college level, Spencer found her next career challenge in the NPF. A fourth-round draft pick, the rookie signed with the NY Juggernaut and found her niche, getting her feet wet immediately. Spencer played a multitude of positions, seeing time in 36 games in her first campaign. A three-time All-NPF selection, Spencer moved on to carve out a three-year stretch with the Philadelphia Force before her trade to Rockford, establishing herself as one of the nation’s most prominent shortstops.
Looking to expand her horizons within professional softball, Spencer transitioned to the 2009 Rockford Thunder with ease. And expand they did as Spencer and the Thunder prevailed over unbelievable odds, including the weather, the lack of home field advantage and playing three games in one day. As the underdog and number three seed in the tournament, the Rockford Thunder surmounted beyond the challenges to win the Cowles Cup. It began by eliminating the host team--Akron, with a deciding 7-2 win to advance to the Championship round against the USSSA Pride. Spencer and the Thunder rallied around one another to make history once more as they overcame a one game deficit, winning two consecutive games to defeat the Pride. The team went on to claim the series, earning the Thunder its first championship and Cowles Cup in the franchise’s history. Spencer recalls, “I live by the motto that ‘it’s not how you start but how you finish’ and I’m fortunate enough to have played in three NCAA championship games so I’m familiar with that sort of pressure.”
Finish they did. The thrill associated with winning a championship was that also special to Spencer for another reason. Spencer’s luxury of having her family and friends at nearly every game at Berkeley no longer held true for her on the professional level. But this year was slightly different. Spencer’s championship experience was made that much memorable by the fact that both her parents were in attendance, “I’m glad my parents got to watch me help my team win a championship. We’ve been through some rough times this summer and I’d like to dedicate the win to my Dad’s best friend, Bear.”
Like many players in the NPF, Spencer spends her offseason giving back to softball’s youth as the head coach at Chabot Community College. It’s a role she regards with great honor and respect. Spencer states, “I’m passionate about my job and my family. The game of softball has given me so much and I’m extremely grateful. As a community driven individual, I think it’s important for me to give back to the educational system and help build bright futures and students in the game of softball.” Nonetheless, it is a challenging role. Most players come from the inner city and Bay Area, and face unique challenges that most incoming freshman or student-athletes don’t typically deal with. All the more reason Spencer remains committed. She states, “It’s important to let these kids know there’s more out there, there’s an alternate path. They deserve second chances and that’s what my coaching staff and I are dedicated to giving. I’m extremely humbled by the fact that as a coach I can show them there’s a different way, and that what I do can impact others.”
Berkeley, perhaps most known for its students’ affiliation with activism and Sather Tower, popularly referred to as “The Campanile”, best sums up Chelsea’s outlook on life and the NPF as breathtakingly open. “I believe in the NPF, I love the fact that I still have a career in softball. A lot of women don’t have this opportunity so I truly appreciate the fact that I still get to take the field in the summer,” says Spencer. As a role model for softball players across the nation, Spencer takes great pride in the brand the NPF is establishing. She adds, “The NPF is the only league for me, it’s paving the way for the future of young female softball players, giving them the ability to fulfill their dreams of playing professionally. The competition is challenging, the lineups are ridiculous, from 1-9 there’s never a break in whoever you’re facing and that’s what makes it rewarding.”
Chelsea Spencer cannot pinpoint a particular favorite moment in the NPF. However, she is extremely appreciative of playing alongside Olympic Medalist Natasha Watley. The adoration of Watley began in college when Spencer played against UCLA—a member of the PAC-10 Conference in which Cal participates. She described Watley as one of the most fascinating players she’s ever faced and complements her as being one of the most humble players in the game, “I can’t remember what game it was but in between pitches, she was on second and I just told her, ‘you’re my idol’. I was moved by how humble and appreciative she was.” A few years later both women were reunited by the NPF as teammates on the NY Juggernaut. Spencer states, “I’m grateful the NPF gave me the opportunity to play next to the one person I looked up to as a college athlete. I got to play next to my idol, which isn’t something many people can say. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life!”
While life and career goals tend to shift from time to time, Spencer’s outlook and vision are steadfast in one facet, giving back to the sport, which has afforded her so much and granted her so many opportunities. “I want to coach softball. The division or level doesn’t matter. I want to live a life in which I have the opportunity to change the lives of young adults and get them on the right path.” It begins with one hardworking athlete who develops into a successful collegiate player then seasoned professional. That player, inspired like those who came before her follows in their footsteps, selecting a coaching career that will reignite the cycle again. From year to year, the rotation shifts as new role models and idols emerge; young players enter the NPF to meet them. As long as a championship trendsetter like Chelsea Spencer and players like her are afforded the opportunity to play softball professionally, they’ll not only make the most of the experience but continue to give back in appreciation, simply for the love of the game.
Chelsea Spencer. A champion and a trendsetter. A mentor and a player.
