This weeks start a new “Win Some Stuff Softball Contest” Make sure and watch for your opportunity to win a Frenzy 4.0 Fastpitch Bat from MizunoUSA.com.

Click to receive new episodes of the Fastpitch TV Show by email

Fastpitch TV is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up. http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet. http://Markwort.com “Sporting Goods for your sporting life”

Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.

Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchTV Follow The Fastpitch TV Show on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of the Fastpitch TV Show on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future episodes sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like the show consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus. fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

CHARLOTTE, NC – January 24, 2012 – The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League announced today that a new professional women’s fastpitch team, the Carolina Diamonds, has been franchised and will begin play in 2012. The team is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The League is certainly happy to be making this announcement,” said Cheri Kempf, Commissioner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. “We believe the Carolinas region is a very good area for expansion in the women’s professional fastpitch market for a number of reasons. Primarily, there is an audience there that understands and appreciates the game and has shown their support in the past. We are looking forward to returning the top level of competition the sport has to offer to current and future fastpitch fans in the Carolinas area.”

The Carolina Diamonds will be a woman owned and operated company. Owner, Amelia Nemeth and husband Alan Demaske will be involved with the day to day operations of the new Carolina NPF franchise.
“I am thrilled to be bringing professional softball to the Carolinas,” Nemeth said. “The excitement we hope to generate in the Carolinas is something both avid fans and the casual softball or baseball fans have been looking for. These ladies are fabulous athletes playing at the pinnacle of the game. It’s an honor to associate with the NPF, and have the opportunity to support women’s athletics.”

“As we were researching the possibility of ownership, we experienced the excitement of an NPF game last season. The athletes are superb on the field and inspiring to young girls both on and off the field. Our family is eager to share our NPF experience with families in the Carolinas.” stated Demaske. “There is a very large following in this area and we certainly hope to bring a winning program to the fans.”

The Carolina Diamonds will kick off their franchise as the NPF season opens in June of 2012. The team is slated to play its Home schedule at various venues throughout the Carolinas during its inaugural year of competition. With the franchise agreement, the Carolina Diamonds also obtain rights to the NPF Diamonds player roster. The NPF Diamonds and the Tennessee Diamonds were a league operated team in 2010 and 2011. That inherited Diamonds roster includes former UNC All American and ACC Player and Pitcher of the Year, Danielle Spaulding, and former UNC catcher with ACC honors, and North Carolina native, Brittany McKinney. The new team is currently working on contract renewals with NPF Diamonds players and should release player information soon.

North Carolina has played host to professional fastpitch before with the former Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) League and the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) locating teams in both Durham (Durham Dragons) and Gastonia, North Carolina through the seasons of 1997, 1998, and 1999.

“It is really exciting to have an NPF team back in the state of North Carolina! As a coach and a fan of fastpitch softball, I have watched many games when it was the WPF/WPSL and there was a team in Durham and Gastonia. The sport of fastpitch softball has grown in the state of North Carolina and I know there will be a great fan base. What a great opportunity for young developing players and families to come out and enjoy one of the best games there is,” commented Donna Papa, head coach of the UNC Tarheels softball team. “As a bonus, fans will be able to come out and see two players with North Carolina roots competing for the Diamonds, in pitcher Dani Spaulding and catcher Brittany McKinney. Both competed here at UNC and distinguished themselves within the conference and nationally.”

The Carolina Diamonds will replace the NPF Diamonds as the fourth member of National Pro Fastpitch. The League will not operate a team in 2012. “Although the total number of teams will not increase, the strength of the League will grow with four solid franchises in place, commented Kempf. “We are definitely moving in a positive direction.”

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. More information about the athletes who will play for the Carolina Diamonds and the team’s 2012 schedule will be announced in the coming days. For more information, visit the team’s Facebook fan page at Carolina Diamonds (professional women’s sports team) or follow them on Twitter at “npfcarolinas”.

Click To Receive Future Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch TV Website is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.

http://markwort.com Sporting goods for your sporting life.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

STARKVILLE, Miss. – You can celebrate in your own community or join with thousands in Washington, D.C., to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 1. The theme of this year’s event is “Title IX at 40: In it for the Long Run.”

Started in 1987 to honor Olympic volleyball star Flo Hyman, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has grown into a nationwide celebration to honor the participation, success and accomplishments of girls and women athletes. The Washington D.C. celebration is organized by five national organizations for girls and women — Girls’ Incorporated, Girl Scouts of the USA, National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women’s Law Center and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

This year’s event will include athlete representatives Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, Donna de Varona, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Lillian Greene-Chamberlain and Grete Eliassen who will lobby leaders into supporting important legislation regarding girls and women in sports.

Despite the remarkable strides made in the 39 years since Title IX was enacted, high school girls still receive 1.3 million fewer participation opportunities than do boys, and evidence suggests that the money spent on girls’ sports programs lags significantly behind the money spent on boys’ programs.

Click To Receive Future Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch TV Website is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.

http://markwort.com Sporting goods for your sporting life.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Arizona State Sun Devils will began the 2012 exactly where they left off last year, as the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation, according to the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Preseason Poll that was released by the Association on Tuesday.

The defending national champion Sun Devils (60-6) claimed all 30 first-place votes in the poll to top the rankings for the sixth straight edition dating back to last season. Florida (56-13) and Alabama (53-11) also remained unchanged in the preseason poll, finishing the rankings in second and third, respectively. Rounding out the top five was California (45-13) who moved up one spot from the final poll last year to fourth, while Oklahoma (43-19) shot up two spots to fifth.

The only school to drop out of the poll from 2011 to 2012 was DePaul (41-15). Despite leading the receiving votes column, the Blue Demons swapped spots with Big East rival Louisville (38-20), who joined the fray at No. 25.

The Pac-12 conference led the way in the poll with seven teams, while the Big XII and the SEC each had six teams. Other conferences placing teams in the rankings were the Big Ten and Conference USA with two schools each, while the Big East and the Sun Belt each had one representative.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 30 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.

For the complete poll, click here.

Click To Receive Future Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch TV Website is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.

http://markwort.com Sporting goods for your sporting life.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Twelve athletes have been named to the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. An additional five athletes will be named to the squad, which will compete at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Championship, following a 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team and USA Softball Women’s Elite National Team Selection Camp in June.

The 12 athletes who were named to the roster by the USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) are Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif./Cal senior), Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif./Arizona State, 2009), Lauren Gibson (Pasadena, Md./Tennessee, junior), Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga./Alabama, 2009), Molly Johnson (Tucson, Ariz./Kentucky, 2010), Stacy May-Johnson (Reno, Nev./Iowa, 2006), Jenae Leles (Sacramento, Calif./Arizona, 2009), Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla./Florida, senior), Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif./Oklahoma, junior), Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Michigan, 2011), Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga./Missouri, 2011) and Chelsea Thomas (Pleasantville, Iowa/Missouri, junior). All athletes who have been named to the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team helped Team USA to the Gold Medal at the 2011 World Cup of Softball in July in Oklahoma City and the 2011 Pan American Games in October in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Athletes who have accepted an invitation to try-out for one of the five remaining spots on the team and the 2012 USA Softball Women’s Elite National Team are Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Oklahoma, freshman), Whitney Canion (Aledo, Texas/Baylor, junior), Raven Chavanne (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Tennessee, junior), Dallas Escobedo (Glendale, Ariz./Arizona State, sophomore), Kenzie Fowler (Tucson, Ariz./Arizona, junior), Taylor Hoagland (Flower Mound, Texas/Texas, junior), Meagan May (Spring, Texas/Texas A&M, junior), Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif./UCLA, 2010), Christi Orgeron (New Orleans, La./La.-Lafayette, senior), Ellen Renfroe (Jackson, Tenn./Tennessee, sophomore) and Jessica Shults (Valencia, Calif./Oklahoma, junior). With the exception of Renfroe, all athletes have played USA Softball previously on a Women’s National Team, Women’s Futures National Team or Junior Women’s National Team.

Throughout the spring, additional athletes will be invited to the June Selection Camp, where the five remaining members of the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team and the 17-athlete roster for the 2012 USA Softball Women’s Elite National Team will be decided. Following the Selection Camp, members of both teams will play each other in exhibition games before beginning competition.

The Women’s National Team will compete at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada, and the World Championship in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The Women’s Elite National Team will compete at the World University Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. Additional events may be added to the team schedules at a later date.

-Courtesy of ASA/USA Softball

Click To Receive Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.

http://markwort.com Sporting goods for your sporting life.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

This weeks start a new “Win Some Stuff Softball Contest” Make sure and watch for your opportunity to win a Frenzy 4.0 Fastpitch Bat from MizunoUSA.com.

Click to receive new episodes of the Fastpitch TV Show by email

Fastpitch TV is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up. http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet. http://Markwort.com “Sporting Goods for your sporting life”

Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.

Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchTV Follow The Fastpitch TV Show on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of the Fastpitch TV Show on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future episodes sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like the show consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus. fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Fourteen coaches were honored at the 2011 Convention In Las Vegas for having achieved the prestigious rank of Four-Star Master Coach, an honor bestowed to those that have completed all eight National Fastpitch Coaches Colleges courses.

These fourteen join 82 other coaches who have also reached the milestone since the program began in 2002. The first class of Four-Star Master Coaches was recognized at the 2005 Convention and included 22 members.

Since it’s founding in 2002, the NFCC has been one of the cornerstones of the NFCA’s pledge to help continually educate softball coaches of all levels. Along with earning the title of Four-Star Master Coach, completion of the eight-course curriculum can also count towards a master’s degree in coaching from Texas Woman’s University.

Having now completed all eight courses, this year’s crop of graduates was not shy in telling how the NFCC curriculum has made them a better coach.

“Perhaps the greatest benefit for me, has been the confidence to push the envelope (suicide squeeze, angle down, secondary first and thirds) in game situations,” said Cheqamegon High School (Wis.) head coach Ken Dischler. “The on-the-field sessions with college players have been especially beneficial in this regard — seeing how many times these techniques are successful, often when the defense knows what is about to happen.”

San Diego State assistant coach Stacy Nuveman-Deniz agrees that one of the best ways to expand your coaching repertoire is to attend NFCC courses.

“I have a whole new arsenal of drills and motivational tools to help my team now and in the future. Probably the best part of the NFCC program is the ability to interact with the best and most accomplished coaches in the game and to share ideas with fellow students.”

Madge Makowske, head coach at St. Catherine (Minn.), agrees with Nuveman that NFCC courses are an excellent way to expand your knowledge base.

“I thought it would be great to continue to add knowledge to the coaching toolbox and to hear from highly successful college coaches. I was able to challenge my philosophy and implement new ideas.”

One of the biggest assets of NFCC courses is the ability to interact with the instructors, who are some the brightest minds in the world of softball. Leslie Huntington, head coach of the 2008 Division III National Champions, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, says that the interaction is one of the best parts of the courses.

“I felt the courses provided a unique opportunity for the participants to share and engage in open conversation with the instructors and other participants, rather than just being “talked to” by the instructors.”

While the NFCC courses can teach you what to do on the field, they can also provide help in off-field situations.

“I coach travel ball and they helped me grow in every aspect of the game of softball, “ said Bill Beckham of Wizard of Magic. “From how to evaluate the fields before the game even starts, through specific offensive and defensive skills, all the way to how to react when we won the USSSA national championship.”

While each course is geared towards a specific topic, the classes themselves can be fluid based on the needs of those attending.

“The coaching courses are very versatile in that they allow the class to move into whatever topic the coaches really want to dive into,” said Yasmin Mossadeghi, head coach at Southwestern (Calif.). “If there are topics that the class really wants to talk about then more time is spent on those topics.”

Mike Delaney, head coach at Village Christian HS (Calif.), says that not only are NFCC courses a useful tool, but one of the best values on the market for coaches.

“As a coach, you are always looking for a way to get better, the NFCC program was the best use of resources that I have spent. Each course makes you re-think the way you run practices, teach and communicate with your team. To learn from some of the best minds in the game was truly a blessing for me.”

This year’s slate of NFCC courses will wrap-up at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City with Course 408: World Series Coaching & Game Observation on May 31 – June 2. John Tschida and NFCA Hall of Famers Gayle Blevins and Dianne Baker will lead participants in breaking down the on-field action and talking with WCWS participant coaches after their games.

NFCC Four-Star Master Coaches – Class of 2011
Bill Beckham – Wizards of Fastpitch
Lindsay Bramhall – Thomas More
Mike Delaney – Village Christian HS (CA)
Ken Dischler – Chequamegon HS (WI)
Blythe Golden – Gulf Coast State
Leslie Huntington – Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Greg Lamanna – Seton Hall
Madge Makowske – St. Catherine (MN)
John Maloney – Long Island Anthem
Yasmin Mossadeghi – Southwestern (CA)
Stacey Nuveman – San Diego State
Joanna Payette – Stetson
Sherry Tetreault – Eisenhower HS (OK)
Steve Tetreault

Click To Receive Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

Nashville, TN – National Pro Fastpitch announced today the establishment of the NPF Official Developmental Partnership Program. The Program is designed to join the professional ranks of owners, players, and staff with the amateur ranks of youth participants, their coaches and parents.

The NPF Official Developmental Partnership Program is broken into three distinct groups: Park Partner, Performance Partner, and Playing Partner. ODP’s are linked with NPF through a benefits and privileges package that includes preferential camp and clinic booking, preferential guest speaker scheduling, discounted tickets to NPF games and special events, opportunity to become an Official Retailer of NPF gear, equipment and apparel discounts, and more.

The Park Partnership enables a recreation, city, or privately owned park to enroll all of its membership teams in the program for the price of one ODP fee. Performance Partnership enables training schools, clubs, and groups along with private coaches, teachers, and organizations to enroll all students for the price of a single ODP fee. And the Playing Partnership is designed to allow teams and leagues that may not fall under a single park or facility to enroll team or league members into the ODP program for the one simple fee. The cost for becoming an Official Developmental Partner of the NPF is $250 annually per park, facility, etc.

“We constantly try to find ways to link the accomplished and impressive women athletes of the NPF with the impressionable young players that dream of being in their shoes one day,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “This program will broaden the awareness of the League by exposing tomorrow’s players to today’s athletes.”

Participants can become an NPF Official Developmental Partner by going to the NPF website at www.profastpitch.com, clicking on the “Youth Programs” tab, and filling out the information. More information is also available on the website.

Click To Receive Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Stacy May-Johnson has been named the 2011 USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year while Greg Connell was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. Cheyenne Cordes has also been selected as the Athlete of the Year from the Junior Women’s National team program.

Rookie infielder May-Johnson (Reno, Nev./Iowa assistant coach), who saw time at shortstop and third base, came out of retirement in 2011 to make her first USA Softball Women’s National Team at 27-years-old. She started 27 of 28 games the United States played at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada, the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City and the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. While the red, white and blue finished second in Canada, where May-Johnson earned the Defensive Most Valuable Player award, the team won a fifth straight World Cup title and seventh consecutive Pan American Games gold medal.

“When you play on a really good team like the USA Softball Women’s National Team, it is easier to play well,” May-Johnson said. “It’s easier to play defense when you are behind a good pitcher who strikes everyone out. It’s easy to hit well when the people before you are on base and when the batters behind you are dangerous. Sometimes when you’re on a really good team, you win these neat awards like the USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year, but I know this award is not all for me. It’s the people around me that I have to thank for helping me perform at this level.”

At the plate, May-Johnson went 33-for-79 for .418 overall, ranking her first on the team in hits and at-bats while placing her third among national team members in batting average. She had four doubles, a triple and a team-high six home runs for a .722 slugging percentage. May-Johnson had a team-high 26 runs scored and a team-high 30 RBI, nine more than her nearest teammate.

Connell (Moultrie, Ga.), a rookie on the Men’s Slow Pitch National team, played in five of the team’s games at the McQuade Sr. Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament in Bismarck, N.D., the Team Cincinnati exhibitions in Cincinnati and exhibitions in Oklahoma City and also played Border Battle III against Canada in Oklahoma City. For the season, he was 29-for-34 (.853) with 25 runs scored and 27 RBI. He also hit 10 home runs in 2011.

“It is a great honor to be named the USA Softball Male Athlete of the Year. When you play softball, you work hard all year but you never expect to receive an award like this,” Connell said. “I was excited just getting selected to be one of the 15-men to play for the USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National team this year. To be chosen over the other 14 players, the best of the best in our sport, as the Athlete of the Year is just an honor. I’m very excited and am thankful for this opportunity.”

His best performance came in the team’s opening game of the season against the Gene Were All-Stars, a squad of top players from the Dakotas, at the McQuade tournament. He led the offensive effort going 4-for-4 with five RBI on two doubles and two home runs. In the second game of the tournament, Connell continued his hot streak in going a perfect 6-for-6. During the exhibition games in Cincinnati, he went 8-for-10 with seven runs scored and six RBI.

When the team came to Oklahoma City in July to prepare for Border Battle III, the only internationally televised men’s slow pitch game, Connell once again was an outstanding performer, going 9-for-11 with seven runs scored and 11 RBI in the exhibition action. He was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI in Team USA’s 25-3 Border Battle victory over the Canadian National Team.

Cordes (Fairfield, Calif./Cal freshman) helped lead the United States to the Gold Medal at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship, Dec. 6-17, in Cape Town, South Africa. She was the only member of the team to start in all 11 games in Cape Town and one of two athletes to play in all 11 games. While seeing time at shortstop and primarily at third base, she also led Team USA in hits (15), extra base hits (seven), RBI (12) and stolen bases (three).

“It is such a tremendous honor to be named the Athlete of the Year for the USA Softball Junior Women’s National team,” Cordes said. “Words cannot describe how it feels to receive this award. It was a wonderful opportunity to wear USA across my chest the past two years and win two gold medals with such an awesome group of girls, who I love playing with. To be named the athlete of the year, it is a complete surprise. Everyone on the team is amazing, they’re so good, and everyone did their part to help us win the ISF Junior Women’s World Championship. I’m really honored. Thank you to USA Softball for this award and the experience of playing for my country.”

At the plate, Cordes went 15-for-26 (.577) with one of her hits, a fifth inning double, breaking open Japan’s no hitter on Dec. 16. She had a team-high 12 RBI, only six less RBI then all of Team USA’s opponents combined, and 10 runs scored, third most on the team. Cordes hit three doubles, a team-high two triples and a team-high two home runs. Both home runs, a solo blast and a three-run bomb, came in the second inning of Team USA’s Dec. 14 game against Puerto Rico. Her tournament slugging percentage of 1.077 was the highest on the team. She was walked five times, third most on the team, and struck out only one time in the entire tournament. On the base paths, she was 3-for-4, also making her the team leader in stolen bases.

Cordes was also a member of the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team. In 2010, the team qualified for the Junior Women’s World Championship by winning III Pan American Championships (18-Under) in Bogota, Colombia.

Click To Receive Fastpitch News By Email

——————————————————————————————————————————-

The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by:

http://EliteFastpitch.com one of the largest, and most successful pitching schools in the USA, training Windmill Pitchers from eight and up.

http://SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment, and the original fastpitch softball store on the Internet.


Feel free to email comments to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or use our call in line 209-Softbal.


Fastpitch TV Resources:

Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter.

Facebook.com/FastpitchTV Become a fan of Fastpitch TV on Facebook.

App.Fastpitch.TV Find our iPhone, and iPad apps on iTunes.

Sub.Fastpitch.TV Have future news stories sent to you by Email.

Currents.Fastpitch.TV Follow us on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with the free Google Currents App.

Donate.Fastpitch.TV If you like what we are doing here consider helping by donating.

Gplus.Fastpitch.TV Find us on Google Plus.

fastpitch.tv/forum/ Join in on the conversation at our forum.

YouTube.com/Fastpitch.TV You can subscribe to our show on You Tube.

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, so long as you give credit to Gary Leland, of Fastpitch.TV and link to http://Fastpitch.TV

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to Gary@Fastpitch.TV, or visit his personal website site at http://GaryLeland.com for more information on Gary.

Please visit our sponsor