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2005 National Pro Fastpitch season

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2005 NPF Season
LeagueNational Pro Fastpitch
Sportsoftball
DurationJune 2, 2005 - August 21, 2005
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)ESPN
2005 NPF Draft
Top draft pickAmy Harre
Southern Illinois
Picked byChicago Bandits
Regular Season
Regular Season ChampionsChicago Bandits
Cowles Cup
ChampionsAkron Racers
  Runners-upChicago Bandits
NPF seasons
← 2004
2006 →

The 2005 National Pro Fastpitch season was the second season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

Teams, cities and stadiums

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Team City Stadium
Akron Racers Akron, Ohio Firestone Stadium
Arizona Heat Tucson, Arizona Hi Corbett Field[1]
Chicago Bandits Lisle, Illinois Benedictine University Sports Complex[2]
New England Riptide Lowell, Massachusetts Martin Softball Field[3]
New York Juggernaut Hempstead, New York Hofstra University Softball Stadium[4]
Texas Thunder League City, Texas Wrigley Field at Big City Dreams Sports Park[5]
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National Pro Fastpitch teams

Milestones and events

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The expansion Chicago Bandits joined the league for the 2005 season.

The New York Juggernaut announced a new owner, John Schmitz of Long Island, NY. The team also introduced 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Julie Smith as their general manager and head coach.[6]

The Arizona Heat named Stacy Iveson as their 2005 field manager.[7]

NPF's telecast included ESPN2 broadcasting the NPF All-Star Game and the NPF Championship Game. Comcast Sports Net Chicago showed select Chicago Bandits games and Telecare televised certain Juggernaut games.[8]

Player acquisition

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College draft

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Further information: 2005 NPF Draft

The 2005 NPF Senior Draft was held February 7, 2005.[9] Amy Harre of Southern Illinois was selected first by the Chicago Bandits.[10]

Notable transactions

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Various Olympians joined NPF after winning the gold medal in Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics:

League standings

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Source

Team GP W L Pct. GB
Chicago Bandits 48 41 7 .854 -
Akron Racers 46 36 10 .783 4
Texas Thunder 47 35 12 .745 5.5
New York Juggernaut 45 31 14 .689 8.5
Arizona Heat 46 30 16 .652 10
New England Riptide 48 25 23 .521 16

The 2005 schedule included a 48-game regular season schedule for each NPF teams.

The California Sunbirds played a partial schedule. The Sunbirds hoped to return to NPF full-time, but never did. Games were on the schedule against international teams: Australia, Canada, China, Russia and Venezuela.

Potential expansion teams also appeared on the schedule. These were Stratford Brakettes, Phoenix Flames, SoCal Schutt Hurricanes, Peoria Outlaws, Illinois Cougars, St. Louis Saints and the Long Island Angels. Of these candidates, only the Brakettes ever became a full-time NPF member, for only one season in 2006.

All games against international teams and expansion candidates counted in the standings for the primary NPF teams.[14]

NPF Championship

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The 2005 NPF Championship Series was held at Benedictine University Sports Complex in Lisle, Illinois August 27 and 28. The top four teams qualified and were seeded based on the final standings. The series matched the teams up in a double-elimination bracket. The series matched the teams up in a single-elimination bracket.

NPF Semifinals (Aug. 27) NPF Championship (Aug 28)
      
Chicago Bandits 6
New York Juggernaut 3
Chicago Bandits 4
Akron Racers 5
Akron Racers 1
Texas Thunder 0
2006 NPF Championship Series - Game 1
Game Date Score Location
1 August 27 Chicago Bandits 6, New England Riptide 3[15] Lisle, Illinois
2006 NPF Championship Series - Game 2
Game Date Score Location
2 August 27 Akron Racers 1, Texas Thunder 0[16] Lisle, Illinois
2006 NPF Championship Series - Game 3
Game Date Score Location
3 August 28 Akron Racers 5, Chicago Bandits 4 (8 innings)[17] Lisle, Illinois
Akron Racers win NPF Championship

Championship Game

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Team Top Batter Stats.
Akron Racers Oli Keohohou 1-4 RBI 2B
Chicago Bandits Selena Collins 1-2 RBI 2B BB
Team Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Akron Racers Brandee McArthur 1.1 3 4 3 3 0 4 10
Akron Racers Jamie Southern 2.0 1 0 0 2 1 5 10
Akron Racers Radara McHugh (W) 4.2 2 0 0 2 7 16 18
Chicago Bandits Lauren Bay-Regula 4.2 6 3 1 2 5 21 23
Chicago Bandits Jennie Finch (L) 3.1 4 2 1 1 2 15 16
2005 NPF Championship Series MVP
Player Club

NPF All-Star Game

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The 2005 NPF All-Star Game was held August 28. The East All-Star team included players from New York Juggernaut, the New England Riptide, and the Akron Racers. The West All-Star team included players from Chicago Bandits, the Arizona Heat, and the Texas Thunder. The East won by a score of 2-1, and Iyhia McMichael of Akron Racers was chosen Most Valuable Player.[18]

2005 NPF ALL-STAR ROSTER - WEST TEAM[19]
Player NPF Team Position
Pitchers
Lauren Bay Chicago Bandits P
Lindsay Chouinard Chicago Bandits P
Jennie Finch Chicago Bandits P
Amanda Freed Texas Thunder P / 1B
Christa Williams Texas Thunder P
Catchers
Selena Collins Chicago Bandits C
Stacey Nuveman Arizona Heat C
Infield
Clare Burnum Texas Thunder 3B
Jaime Clark Chicago Bandits SS / UT
Vicky Galindo Chicago Bandits 3B
Lovieanne Jung Arizona Heat SS / 2B
Tairia Mims-Flowers Arizona Heat UT
Outfield
Jessica Mendoza Arizona Heat OF
Kim Nesloney Texas Thunder OF
Anne Steffan Chicago Bandits OF / 2B
Kristen Zaleski Texas Thunder OF
2005 NPF ALL-STAR ROSTER - EAST TEAM[20]
Player NPF Team Position
Pitchers
Jodie Cox New York Juggernaut P / UT
Danielle Henderson New England Riptide P
Peaches James New York Juggernaut P / UT
Brandee McArthur Akron Racers P
Jamie Southern Akron Racers P / UT
Catchers
Ashley Courtney New England Riptide C / OF
Ryan Realmuto New York Juggernaut C
Jenny Topping Akron Racers C
Infield
Lyndsey Angus New England Riptide UT
Crystl Bustos Akron Racers 3B
Kristin Johnson Akron Racers SS
Carri Leto New York Juggernaut 2B
Natasha Watley New York Juggernaut SS
Kellie Wilkerson New England Riptide 1B /OF
Sarah Anderson New England Riptide 1B
Outfield
Iyhlia McMichael Akron Racers OF
Trena Peel New York Juggernaut OF
Nicole Trimboli Akron Racers 1B /OF

Annual awards

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Source:[21]

Regular Season Champions
Chicago Bandits
Award Player Team
Player of the Year Award Kristen Zaleski Texas Thunder
Co-Pitchers of the Year Jennie Finch Chicago Bandits
Lauren Bay Chicago Bandits
Homerun Derby Champion Stacey Nuveman Arizona Heat
Defensive Player of the Year Lisa Iancin New England Riptide
Offensive Player of the Year Crystl Bustos Akron Racers
Co-Managers of the Year Chicago Bandits -- Eugene Lenti and Mickey Dean

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Arizona Heat Home Field Receives a Make-Over". OurSportsCentral.com. 5 April 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Expansion Team Picks Up Olympic Players". ProFastpitch.com. 14 October 2004. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Stadium". New England Riptide. Archived from the original on 1 July 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  4. ^ "NY Juggernaut and Texas Thunder Announce New Home Stadiums for 2005 Season". ProFastpitch.com. 18 May 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Wrigley Field new home for Texas Thunder". OurSportsCentral.com. 20 May 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  6. ^ "NY/NJ JUGGERNAUT AND NPF ANNOUNCE SECOND SEASON OF LEAGUE PLAY". ProFastpitch.com. 24 January 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Iveson Set to Manage Heat in 2005". OurSportsCentral.com. 21 April 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  8. ^ "NPF ANNOUNCES 2005 TV SCHEDULE". ProFastpitch.com. 8 June 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  9. ^ "NPF ANNOUNCES 2005 COLLEGE SENIOR SELECTIONS". ProFastpitch.com. 7 February 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  10. ^ Lou Antoine (8 February 2005). "By Lou Antoine". SISalukis.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  11. ^ "NY/NJ JUGGERNAUT ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF NATASHA WATLEY". ProFastpitch.com. 16 February 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Arizona Heat Sign Their Third Gold Medalist". OurSportsCentral.com. 13 May 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Olympians Bustos, Kretschman and Topping to Play for Racers in 2005". Profastpitch.com. 10 March 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  14. ^ "NPF ANNOUNCES 2005 SCHEDULE". ProFastpitch.com. 23 March 2005. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Bandits Advance to Championship Game". ProFastpitch.com. 27 August 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  16. ^ Bob Hurst (28 August 2005). "Thunder ousted in semifinal". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  17. ^ "RACERS WIN 2005 NPF CHAMPIONSHIP". Profastpitch.com. 30 August 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  18. ^ "East beats West". Profastpitch.com. 30 August 2005. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  19. ^ "2005 NPF ALL-STAR ROSTER - WEST TEAM" (PDF). ProFastpitch.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  20. ^ "2005 NPF ALL-STAR ROSTER - EAST TEAM" (PDF). ProFastpitch.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  21. ^ "2005 NPF Awards" (PDF). profastpitch.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
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