| San Antonio Armadillos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | National Pro Fastpitch |
| Location | San Antonio, Texas |
| Ballpark | SAISD Spring Sports Complex |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Ownership | Suzi Stauffer |
| Manager | Phil Koehler |
The San Antonio Armadillos were a women's professional softball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They were part of the founding roster of National Pro Fastpitch teams in 2004.
The Armadillos's owner was Suzi Stauffer. [1] The Armadillos were assigned to the NPF's West Division, along with the Colorado Altitude, Arizona Heat, and California Sunbirds. The East Division included NY/NJ Juggernaut, New England Riptide, Akron Racers and Texas Thunder. [2]
The team announced in February that they had an agreement to lease San Antonio Independent School District's Spring Sports Complex for their games. [3]
Veteran softball coach Phil Koehler was named the Armadillos' coach, to be assisted by Charles Dismuke of the San Antonio Fastpitch Academy and former Texas A&M softball player Gina Perez. [4] By 2015, Koehler had more than 35 years of softball coaching, including 1989-96 as head coach of St. Edward's University [5]
In March 2004, NPF released its inaugural schedule for the year and did not include the Armadillos and the Altitude. Sources reported that NPF felt the San Antonio ownership ""came in late and really just couldn't get everything together in time," while Stauffer, calling the process a "nightmare," claimed she had a stadium and sponsors signed up, but NPF doubted her ability to support the team and increased her fee substantially, on top of a dispute over whether the league owned the team name and logos. [6]
Shortly thereafter, a letter of the team's website indicated that the Armadillos, with new owners, would apply to be an NPF expansion team in 2005. [7] However, the only 2005 expansion team was the Chicago Bandits, and after the Texas Thunder moved to Rockford, Illinois, the NPF would not have a team in Texas until the Dallas Charge began play in 2015.
The Armadillos participated in NPF's inaugural Elite Draft and Senior Draft. The following players were drafted by the Armadillos: [8]
Player | Position | College | Draft Position | NPF Experience [9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stacey Phillips | 1B | Michigan State | Elite Draft: Round 1, pick 1 - Signed | Never played in NPF |
| Kathy Morton | OF | Southwestern Louisiana | Elite Draft: Round 1, pick 7 - Signed | Never played in NPF |
| Lea Mishlan | SS | South Florida | Elite Draft: Round 2, Pick 9 | Never played in NPF |
| Stormy Hanson | C | Indiana | Elite Draft: Round 3, Pick 17 | Never played in NPF |
| Jessica Wheeler | SS | San Jacinto College | Elite Draft: Round 4, Pick 25 | Never played in NPF |
| Carri Leto | IF | Northwestern | Senior Draft: Round 2, Pick 16 | NY/NJ Juggernaut (2004–05), Philadelphia Force (2006), New England Riptide (2007–08) |
| Tara Knudsen | SS | Georgia Tech | Senior Draft: Round 3, Pick 24 | Arizona Heat (2005) |
| LaDonia Hughes | OF | LSU | Senior Draft: Round 4, Pick 32 | Arizona Heat (2005–06), Washington Glory (2007–08), USSSA Pride (2009) |
| Anissa Meashintubby | P | Oregon | Senior Draft: Round 5, Pick 40 | Never played in NPF |
| Meghan Clark | 1B | Mercer | Senior Draft: Round 6, Pick 48 | Never played in NPF |
The following players also appeared on the team's roster, acquired via means other the draft (free agency, trade): [10]
Player | Position | College | NPF Experience [9] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robyn King | 2B | Boston University | Never played in NPF |
| Tobin Echo-Hawk | 3B | Nebraska | Orlando Wahoos (1997–98), Akron Racers (1999-00, 2005) |
| Becky Manson | UT | Central Michigan | Never played in NPF |
| Alicia Smith | OF | Hofstra | NY/NJ Juggernaut (2005) |
| Monica Triner | P | South Florida | Tampa Bay FireStix (1999-00), Arizona Heat (2004) |
| Tarrah Beyster | P | Oregon State University | NPF All-Stars (2003), Arizona Heat (2004), New England Riptide (2006–07) |
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.
The Carolina Diamonds, formerly known as the NPF Diamonds, Tennessee Diamonds, Rockford Thunder and Texas Thunder, was a women's softball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since the 2004 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). They were known as the Texas Thunder from 2004 to 2006, the Rockford Thunder from 2007 to 2009, and the Tennessee Diamonds in 2010. They relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2012.
The Texas Charge were a women's professional softball team based in San Marcos, Texas. The team began play as the Dallas Charge as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) with a game on June 3, 2015. They were initially headquartered in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas area, with most home games at The Ballfields at Craig Ranch.
The 2015 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 12th 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 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 2009 National Pro Fastpitch season was the sixth 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 2007 National Pro Fastpitch season was the fourth 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 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.
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 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 2006 NPF Senior Draft is the third annual NPF Draft. It was held February 15, 2006 to assign division I college players to pro teams for 2006 season. Athletes are not allowed by the NCAA to sign professional contracts until their collegiate seasons have ended. The first selection was Texas's Cat Osterman, picked by the Connecticut Brakettes. Osterman chose not to sign with the Brakettes. The Brakettes' rights to her expired after the 2006, after which she signed with the Rockford Thunder.
The 2004 NPF Draft denotes a series of player drafts as a part of the launch of the NPF inaugural season. On December 6, 2003 in conjunction with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Convention at the Del Lago Resort in Montgomery, Texas the eight original NPF teams selected players in two drafts: a four-round Elite Draft that selected players who had completed their college eligibility and a six-round College Senior Draft which selected players in their final year of college. Athletes are not allowed by the NCAA to sign professional contracts until their collegiate seasons have ended.
Before the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) decided to suspend play for the 2001 season, it held its regularly scheduled 2001 WPSL Senior Draft on December 2, 2000, at Adam's Mark Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk in conjunction with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Convention. As the league did not resume play until 2004, many draftees never played in the league. However, some did, even making an All-Star team.
The Scrap Yard Fast Pitch was an independent women's professional softball team based in Conroe, Texas, just north of Houston. Established in October 2015 as the Scrap Yard Dawgs, the team played in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The Dawgs were the first NPF team to be based in the Houston area since the Texas Thunder became the Rockford Thunder in the 2007 season. In 2017, the Dawgs won their first NPF title against Pride in the best of three game series.
The 2017 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 14th 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 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
