(Denver, CO)- NPF is excited to announce the 2005 schedule that will include a 48-game regular season schedule for each of the six NPF teams. The season will launch the first part of 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.
NPF is excited to be able to include the Australia, Canada, China, Russia and Venezuelan National teams into the schedule. “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.”
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.
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.
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, Pepsi, Outback Steakhouse, TGI Fridays, Marriott Hotel, Motion DNA, Fisher Nuts, AMI Graphics, Radio Disney, Softball Today Magazine, Marcus Theatres, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Hilton Hotel, Tanel 360, Velocity Sports, Dominick’s Finer Foods (Safeway) Thilman Filippini, See’s Candies, Innovative Sports, Athletique Inc., TCF Bank, United Community Bank, Canandaigua Wine Company, National Baseball Softball Academy, Swingtown, American Hole'n One, Jewel-Osco, Athletic and Therapeutic Institute, Midwest Orthopedics, Wolf-Ritz Camera, Tea Pod, Ed Graham & Associates, Rich Melmon-Lettuce Entertain U, Foresight Consulting, Fuji Steakhouse, Brookfield Zoo and La Finesse Salon.
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).
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2005 NPF Regular Season Schedule
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Spring Training Begins
Thursday, May 26
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat….....................7:30 pm PST
Friday, May 27
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat ........................7:30 pm PST
Saturday, May 28
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat...........................7:30 pm PST
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Patriot Gators* (exhibition)…...7:00 pm EST
Sunday, May 29
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat............................7:30 pm PST
Thursday, June 2
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..............................7:00 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Arizona Heat................................7:30 pm PST
Australia @ Chicago Bandits....................................7:00 pm CST
Texas Thunder vs. Texas All-Stars (exhibition)……......7:00 pm CST
Friday, June 3
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..................................7:00 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Arizona Heat....................................7:30 pm PST
Australia @ Chicago Bandits......................................7:00 pm CST
Texas Thunder vs. Texas All-Stars (exhibition)….....….7:00 pm CST
Saturday, June 4
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..................................5:00 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Arizona Heat......................................7:30 pm PST
Australia @ Chicago Bandits........................................7:00 pm CST
Texas Thunder @ Houston Astros (promotional event).... 3 pm CST
Sunday, June 5
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...................................1:00 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Arizona Heat..........................................7:30 pm PST
Australia @ Chicago Bandits...........................................12:00pm CST
Texas Thunder vs. Texas All-stars (exhibition)…............…..1:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ Stratford Brakettes (DH)..…....…............TBA
Wednesday, June 8
New England Riptide @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...........................7:00pm EST
Thursday, June 9
Arizona Heat @ Texas Thunder...........................................7:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...........................7:00 pm EST
Venezuela @ Chicago Bandits........…………….............…....7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers ……………...............…..7:05 pm EST
Friday, June 10
Arizona Heat @ Texas Thunder...........................................7:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..........................7:00 pm EST
Venezuela @ Chicago Bandits..…..…………......................7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers ………..............………..7:05 pm EST
Saturday, June 11
Arizona Heat @ Texas Thunder.....................................7:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJ Juggernaut**................ 7:00 pm EST
Venezuela @ ChicagoBandits……..…………...……....7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers ……………....…..1:05 pm EST
Sunday, June 12
Arizona Heat @ Texas Thunder....................................1:00 pm CST
Venezuela @ Chicago Bandits.…..……………........…...12:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers ……………..…..1:05 pm EST
Thursday, June 16
Russia @ Texas Thunder...........................................7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ New England Riptide...................7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Arizona Heat..........................................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...…………7:00 pm EST
Peoria Outlaws @ Akron Racers...…………………..7:05 pm EST
China @ Chicago Bandits…………………………….7:00 pm CST
Friday, June 17
Russia @ Texas Thunder...........................................7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ New England Riptide....................7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Arizona Heat........................................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...…………7:00 pm EST
Peoria Outlaws @ Akron Racers...…………………..7:05 pm EST
China @ Chicago Bandits…………………………….7:00 pm CST
Saturday, June 18
Russia @ Texas Thunder...........................................7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ New England Riptide......................7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Arizona Heat...........................................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...…………5:00 pm EST
Peoria Outlaws @ Akron Racers...…………………..1:05 pm EST
China @ Chicago Bandits…………………………….7:00 pm CST
Sunday, June 19
Russia @ Texas Thunder.............................................1:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ New England Riptide....................5:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Arizona Heat..............................................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...…………1:00 pm EST
Peoria Outlaws @ Akron Racers...…………………..1:05 pm EST
China @ Chicago Bandits..………………………….12:00 pm CST
Thursday, June 23
Venezuela @ Akron Racers............................................7:05 pm EST
Texas Thunder @ New England Riptide............................7:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Arizona Heat......................................7:30 pm PST
China @ NY/NJ Juggernaut***……….......…………………..7:00 pm EST
Friday, June 24
Venezuela @ Akron Racers...............................................7:05 pm EST
Texas Thunder @ New England Riptide...............................7:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Arizona Heat.................................7:30pm PST
China @ NY/NJ Juggernaut…………………………..7:00 pm EST
Saturday, June 25
Venezuela @ Akron Racers.................................................1:05 pm EST
Texas Thunder @ New England Riptide................................7:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Arizona Heat .........................................7:30 pm PST
China @ NY/NJ Juggernaut……….……………….............…...5:00 pm EST
Sunday, June 26
Venezuela @ Akron Racers...........................................1:05 pm EST
Texas Thunder @ New England Riptide...........................5:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Arizona Heat....................................7:30 pm PST
China @ NY/NJ Juggernaut………………….........………..1:00 pm EST
Monday, June 27
Texas Thunder @ Stratford Brakettes (DH)……….………….TBA
Tuesday, June 28
Texas Thunder @ Stratford Brakettes (DH)……….………….TBA
Wednesday, June 29
Venezuela @ New England Riptide.................................7:05 pm EST
Thursday, June 30
Texas Thunder @ NY/NJ Juggernaut...................7:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers..................7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ New England Riptide....……………….7:05 pm EST
Stratford Brakettes @ Chicago Bandits....…………..7:00 pm CST
Friday, July 1
Texas Thunder @ NY/NJ Juggernaut.....................7:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers......................7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ New England Riptide...……………….7:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat...........................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ Chicago Bandits……………..7:00 pm CST
Saturday, July 2
Texas Thunder @ NY/NJ Juggernaut......................5:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers....................1:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ New England Riptide...……………….7:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat............................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ Chicago Bandits……………..6:00 pm CST
Sunday, July 3
Texas Thunder @ NY/NJ Juggernaut.......................1:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Akron Racers.......................1:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat...........................7:30 pm PST
Stratford Brakettes @ Chicago Bandits..…………..12:00 pm CST
Monday, July 4- Fireworks Night
Phoenix Flames @ Arizona Heat........................7:30 pm PST
Wednesday, July 6
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide..............7:05 pm CST
Thursday, July 7
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide………..7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Texas Thunder..……………………...7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat………………...7:30 pm PST
Friday, July 8
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide………..7:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Akron Racers...…………………7:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Texas Thunder..……………………...7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat………………...7:30 pm PST
Saturday, July 9
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide………..7:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Akron Racers (DH)……1:05 & 3:05pm EST
Venezuela @ Texas Thunder..……………………...7:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat………………...7:30 pm PST
Sunday, July 10
Chicago Bandits @ Akron Racers...…………………1:05 pm EST
Venezuela @ Texas Thunder………………………...1:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat………………...7:30 pm PST
Monday, July 11
New England Riptide @ Stratford Brakettes (DH)……............….…TBA
Wednesday, July 13
Venezuela @Ny/NJ Juggernaut................................7:00 pm EST
Thursday, July 14
Arizona Heat @ Akron Racers………………………..7:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Texas Thunder.........................7:00 pm CST
Canada @ Chicago Bandits…………………………..7:00 pm CST
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut*..…………………...7:00 pm EST
Friday, July 15
Arizona Heat @ Akron Racers………………………..7:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Texas Thunder........................7:00 pm CST
Canada @ Chicago Bandits…………………………..7:00 pm CST
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..…………………...7:00 pm EST
Stratford Brakettes @ New England Riptide………..7:05 pm EST
Saturday, July 16
Arizona Heat @ Akron Racers………………………..1:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Texas Thunder..........................7:00 pm CST
Canada @ Chicago Bandits…………………………..7:00 pm CST
Stratford Brakettes @ New England Riptide………..1:05 pm EST
Stratford Brakettes @ New England Riptide………..7:05 pm EST
Sunday, July 17
Arizona Heat @ Akron Racers………………………..1:05 pm EST
Phoenix Flames @ Texas Thunder..........................1:00 pm CST
Canada @ Chicago Bandits.………………………..12:00 pm CST
Venezuela @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..…………………...1:00 pm EST
Stratford Brakettes @ New England Riptide………..5:05 pm EST
Thursday, July 21
Canada National @ Texas Thunder...........................................7:00 pm CST
Canada Elite @ Akron Racers...........................................7:05 pm EST
St. Louis Saints @ Chicago Bandits............................7:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJJuggernaut.......…………7:00 pm EST
Friday, July 22
Canada National @ Texas Thunder..............................7:00 pm CST
Canada Elite @ Akron Racers.....................................7:05 pm EST
St. Louis Saints @ Chicago Bandits............................7:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJJuggernaut…........…..…7:00 pm EST
Saturday, July 23
Canada National@ Texas Thunder..................................1:00 pm CST
Canada Elite @ Akron Racers......................................1:05 pm EST
St. Louis Saints @ Chicago Bandits..............................7:00 pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJJuggernaut…........………5:00 pm EST
Sunday, July 24
Canada National @ Texas Thunder...............................1:00 pm CST
Canada Elite @ Akron Racers.................................... 1:05 pm EST
St. Louis Saints @ Chicago Bandits............................12:00pm CST
New England Riptide @ NY/NJJuggernaut…….......……1:00 pm EST
Wednesday, July 27
Akron Racers @ New England Riptide........................ 7:05 pm EST
Chicago Bandits @ Stratford Brakettes (DH).............................TBA
Thursday, July 28
Akron Racers @ New England Riptide........................ 7:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Texas Thunder................. 7:00 pm CST
Chicago Bandits @ NY/NJ Juggernaut.........................7:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat........………………..7:30 pm PST
Friday, July 29
Akron Racers @ New England Riptide........................ 7:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Texas Thunder................. 7:00 pm CST
Chicago Bandits @ NY/NJ Juggernaut.........................7:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat..………...…………..7:30 pm PST
Saturday, July 30
Akron Racers @ New England Riptide........................ 7:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Texas Thunder................ 7:00 pm CST
Chicago Bandits @ NY/NJ Juggernaut....................... 5:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat..…….....…………..7:30 pm PST
Sunday, July 31
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Texas Thunder..................1:00 pm CST
Chicago Bandits @ NY/NJ Juggernaut..........................1:00 pm EST
California Sunbirds @ Arizona Heat..…………......……..7:30 pm PST
Monday, August 1
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Stratford Brakettes (DH)...........................TBA
Wednesday, August 3
Long Island Angels @ New England Riptide...................7:05 pm EST
Thursday, August 4
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Chicago Bandits...........................7:00 pm CST
Long Island Angels @ New England Riptide...................7:05 pm EST
Illinois Cougars @ Akron Racers..................................7:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Arizona Heat…...…...……...7:30 pm PST
Friday, August 5
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Chicago Bandits...........................7:00 pm CST
Long Island Angels @ New England Riptide....................7:05 pm EST
Illinois Cougars @ Akron Racers....................................7:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Arizona Heat…………..........7:30 pm PST
California Sunbirds @ Texas Thunder……………..........….7:00 pm CST
Saturday, August 6
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Chicago Bandits.............................7:00 pm CST
Long Island Angels @ New England Riptide.....................7:05 pm EST
Illinois Cougars @ Akron Racers.....................................1:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Arizona Heat…........………...7:30 pm PST
California Sunbirds @ Texas Thunder……..........………….1:00 pm CST
California Sunbirds @ Texas Thunder……..........………….7:00 pm CST
Sunday, August 7
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Chicago Bandits......................…...12:00pm CST
Illinois Cougars @ Akron Racers......................................1:05 pm EST
SoCal Schutt Hurricanes @ Arizona Heat….........………...7:30 pm PST
California Sunbirds @ Texas Thunder……….............….….1:00 pm CST
Thursday, August 11
Texas Thunder @ Arizona Heat.........................................7:30 pm PST
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Akron Racers..................................7:05 pm EST
New England Riptide @ Chicago Bandits...........................7:00 pm CST
Friday, August 12
Texas Thunder @ Arizona Heat.........................................7:30 pm PST
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Akron Racers...................................7:05 pm EST
New England Riptide @ Chicago Bandits..........................7:00 pm CST
Saturday, August 13
Texas Thunder @ Arizona Heat..........................................7:30 pm PST
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Akron Racers..................................1:05 pm EST
New England Riptide @ Chicago Bandits..........................7:00 pm CST
Sunday, August 14
Texas Thunder @ Arizona Heat........................................7:30 pm PST
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ Akron Racers..................................1:05 pm EST
New England Riptide @ Chicago Bandits..........................12:00pm CST
Wednesday, August, 17
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide........................7:05 pm EST
Thursday, August 18
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide........................7:05 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Texas Thunder.......................................7:00 pm CST
Arizona Heat @ Chicago Bandits .....................................7:00 pm CST
Friday, August 19
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide........................7:05 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Texas Thunder.......................................7:00 pm CST
Arizona Heat @ Chicago Bandits .....................................7:00 pm CST
Saturday, August 20
NY/NJ Juggernaut @ New England Riptide........................7:05 pm EST
Akron Racers @ Texas Thunder.......................................7:00 pm CST
Arizona Heat @ Chicago Bandits .....................................7:00 pm CST
Sunday, August 21
Akron Racers @ Texas Thunder.......................................1:00 pm CST
Arizona Heat @ Chicago Bandits......................................12:00pm CST
NPF Postseason
Saturday, August 27
NPF Playoffs (Top 4 finishers)…………………………….……TBA
Sunday, August 28
NPF Championship………………..……………………………..TBA
NY/NJ alternate home field locations:
*Pates Park, Allentown, PA
**Tufter Field, Middletown, NY
***Municipal Fields, Montville, NJ
All games and times are subject to change.
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