1997 Women's Pro Fastpitch season

Last updated
1997 WPF Season
Women's Pro Fastpitch logo.png
League Women's Professional Fastpitch
Sport softball
DurationMay 30, 1997 - August 1997
Number of teams6
TV partner(s) ESPN2
1997 WPF Draft
WPF Championship
Champions Orlando Wahoos
  Runners-up Virginia Roadsters
Finals MVP Debbie Doom
Orlando Wahoos
WPF seasons
1998  →

The 1997 Women's Pro Fastpitch season was the first season of women's professional softball for Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF). The season began on May 30, 1997 [1] and finished in a championship series between the two highest finishers.

Contents

Teams, cities and stadiums

TeamCityStadium
Carolina Diamonds Charlotte, North Carolina Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium at D.L. Phillips Softball Complex [2] [3]
Durham Dragons Durham, North Carolina Durham Athletic Park [4]
Georgia Pride Lithonia, Georgia Southeast Athletic Complex [3]
Orlando Wahoos Winter Park, Florida Alfond Stadium at Rollins College [5]
Tampa Bay FireStix Tampa, Florida Red McEwen Field [6]
Virginia Roadsters Hampton, Virginia War Memorial Stadium [7]

Milestones and Events

Launching the WPF

The WPF was the second attempt at an American professional women's fastpitch softball league. The previous league, the International Women's Professional Softball Association, lasted from 1976-1979.

In January 1989, former Utah State pitcher Jane Cowles, approached her parents, Sage and John, owners of Cowles Media Company, with a plan for a professional women's fastpitch league. They believed there was potential in the idea, and began a period of research. They raised funds to establish the National Fastpitch Association (NFA) in 1991 in Boulder, Colorado.

In June 1993, the NFA held an exhibition series of two teams of former collegiate fastpitch players around the country. After evaluating the success of the exhibitions, the NFA focused research on possible markets, investors and sponsors. NFA's moved their offices to Minneapolis/St. Paul where Jay Cowles, Jane's brother, become CEO.

On January 19, 1994, Jay Cowles officially announced the formation of the National Fastpitch Association. Plans to begin league play in 1996 with an exhibition tour scheduled for the summer of 1995 was announced.

Making the game's national debut on August 11, 1994, the Decatur Pride and the California Commotion faced off at Borg Warner Stadium in Decatur, Illinois, later broadcast by ESPN2. By late fall of 1994, planning for an exhibition Tour was underway, and NFA changed its name to Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). In February 1995, Mitzi Swentzell, former Executive Vice President of the Denver Nuggets, assumed the position of President and CEO. [8]

From June 15 to July 13, the 1995 WPF Tour featured two All-Star teams, called the Blaze and the Storm, [9] that played in 16 cities and eight states.

WPF held its first draft at its Minneapolis offices on October 31, 1995. Swentzell announced that the league would play its first season in the summer of 1997. WPF offices moved to Denver, and another draft, consisting of 1997 college seniors, was held March 20.

After more than eight years of planning, the WPF played its first games May 30, 1997. Opening games were played in Durham and Orlando. The Virginia Roadsters claimed the first win in league history, defeating the Durham Dragons 2-1 in a broadcast on ESPN2. Games that season were also shown on the Sunshine Network, Fox Sports South and WPEN-LP. [8]

Teams played a 72-game schedule, with the winners of each half meeting in a championship series. Each team had a salary cap of $74,000 for their 15-player rosters. AT&T Wireless was the main sponsor, promising $4 million over three seasons. The league owned everything from vending rights to player contracts to franchises. [10]

Player Acquisition

College Draft

NewsOK.com reported that, in anticipation of the launch of the WPF, a draft was held in October, 1995. Among those drafted included Michelle Smith and Lisa Fernandez. NewsOK.com also reported that the draftees would be assigned to teams in the Midwest and the West Coast and that the WPF would begin play in 1996. As no teams were on the West Coast and the league launched in 1997, these detail were premature. [11]

A 1997 draft of college seniors was held March 20. [8]

League standings

Source: [12]

TeamGPWLTPct.GB
Orlando Wahoos 7057121.826-
Virginia Roadsters 7033370.47124.5
Tampa Bay Firestix 7031390.44326.5
Durham Dragons 7030391.43527
Carolina Diamonds 7029410.41428.5
Georgia Pride 7029410.41428.5

WPF Championship

The 1997 WPF Championship Series was a best-of-five series between the Orlando Wahoos and the Virginia Roadsters. The Wahoos won both halves of the season, with the Roadsters finishing behind them.

1997 WPF Championship
Orlando Wahoos defeat Virginia Roadsters 3–1
GameScoreSeries
(ORL-VIR)
1 Orlando Wahoos 3, Virginia Roadsters 11–0
2 Orlando Wahoos 3, Virginia Roadsters 41–1
3 Orlando Wahoos 10, Virginia Roadsters 32-1
4 Orlando Wahoos 11, Virginia Roadsters 13-1
1997 WPF Championship Series MVP
PlayerClub
Debbie Doom Orlando Wahoos

Annual awards

Sources: [12] [13]

AwardPlayerTeam
Most Valuable Player Sarah Dawson Orlando Wahoos
Pitcher of the Year Sarah Dawson Orlando Wahoos
Hitter of the Year Liz Mizera Orlando Wahoos
Defensive Player of the Year Rashunda Taylor Orlando Wahoos
Home Run Champions Sue Lewis-Newton Orlando Wahoos
Liz Mizera Orlando Wahoos
Trisha Reinhardt Durham Dragons
Coach of the Year Lu Harris Orlando Wahoos

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Pro Fastpitch</span> American professional womens softball league

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), formerly the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL), was a professional women's softball league in the United States. The teams battled for the Cowles Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prominent women's sports leagues in the United States and Canada</span>

The prominent women's sports leagues in the United States and Canada represent the elite level of women's sports competition for women athletes in North America. The majority of professional women's leagues are found in the United States. Top women's leagues in North America include both team sports and individual athletes.

The 2011 National Pro Fastpitch season was the eighth season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's 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.

The 2010 National Pro Fastpitch season was the seventh 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.

The 2008 National Pro Fastpitch season was the fifth 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.

The 2006 National Pro Fastpitch season was the third 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.

The 2004 National Pro Fastpitch season was the first 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.

The 2003 National Pro Fastpitch season was the final year before the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) relaunched with league play in 2004. In November 2002, WPSL announced that it was taking a new name, National Pro Fastpitch, and that it would spend 2003 as a year of touring before resuming competitive play. From 1997 to 2002, the league operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).

The 2002 Women's Pro Softball League season was a year after the WPSL suspended play in 2001 and before it rebranded, toured, and resumed competitive play as National Pro Fastpitch in 2003 and 2004. From 1997 to 2002, the league operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).

The 2001 Women's Professional Softball League season was the first year that the WPSL suspended play before relaunching the league in 2004 under the name National Pro Fastpitch. From 1997, WPSL operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).

The 2000 Women's Professional Softball League season was the fourth season of professional women's fastpitch softball for the league named Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). It was the WPSL's final season until the league relaunched in 2004 under the name National Pro Fastpitch. In 1997 and 1998, WPSL operated under the name Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Women's Pro Softball League season</span> Sports season

The 1999 Women's Professional Softball League season was the third season of professional fastpitch softball for the league named Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). In 1997 and 1998, WPSL operated under the name Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF).

The 1998 Women's Pro Fastpitch season was the second season of professional softball for the Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF). The 66-game season was divided into two-halves, with the winner of each half meeting in a championship series.

The Colorado Altitude were a women's professional softball team based in Littleton, Colorado. They were part of the founding roster of National Pro Fastpitch teams in 2004.


The 2000 WPSL Drafts were held on December 4, 1999 at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida during the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Convention for the 2000 season. Draft Day 2000 actually featured three drafts:

The 1999 WPSL Senior Draft was the third annual collegiate draft for the WPSL/WPF's 1999 season, and was held on Saturday, December 5, in St. Petersburg Beach, Fla, at the Tradewinds Resort in conjunction with the 1998 NFCA National Convention.

The 1998 WPF Draft was the second annual collegiate draft for the WPSL/WPF's 1998 season, and was held on December 7, in Palm Springs, CA in conjunction with the 1998 NFCA National Convention. Draft order was based on teams' finish in 1997. Georgia Pride and Carolina Diamonds tied with the same record during the 1997 regular season. Georgia lost more games to Carolina in the 1997 head-to-head series and chose ahead of Carolina in the odd-numbered rounds. Carolina chose ahead of Georgia in the even numbered rounds.

The 1997 WPF Drafts are a pair of player drafts held as part of the launch of the inaugural season of Women's Pro Fastpitch softball league. The first, the 1996 WPF Amateur Draft, a draft of 120 softball players, was held in Minneapolis, MN Oct. 8, 1996. The second, the 1997 WPF Senior Draft, a draft of 60 college seniors divided among the WPF's six teams, was held March 20, 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Professional Fastpitch</span> Professional womens softball league

Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) is a professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. The new league began its promotional campaign in 2021 and will launch its inaugural season in June 2022.

The 2018 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 15th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Reebok is Named Footwear Sponsor of Women's Professional Fastpitch League". PR News. 15 May 1997. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Roadsters' Scoring Woes Continue". Daily Press. 26 June 1997. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Firestone Stadium". DigitalBallparks.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Durham Dragon News". DurhamDragons.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 1998. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Shannon Rose (7 November 1998). "Orlando Wahoos Disband". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Scott Massey (22 June 2000). "FireStix look for second league title". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "At War Memorial, It's Time To Play Ball Again". 1 June 1997. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 "WPSL History". ProSoftball.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2000. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Historical Timeline". AkronRacers.org. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Barry Jacobs (10 June 1997). "Softball's New Cachet Spawns a League of Pros". New York Times. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "5 State Softballers Picked in Draft". The Oklahoman. 1 November 1995. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  12. 1 2 "WPSL Archive Information". ProSoftball.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Fastpitch Softnall History". Angelfire.com. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

See also


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.