SEPTEMBER 6 2010 UPDATE

RESUMING SPY MAGAZINE

SPY’s contract with the webmaster for spysoftballthemagazine.com expired September 1, but I have renewed for one more year, $365, even though I did not publish in 2009, and have not yet published in 2010. Some of the kinds of articles originally conceived for the magazine have instead  been posted on spysoftball.org, and photo features of the kind which once appeared in the magazine have been published on Spy’s Picasa site.  These two sites do not require a subscription.

While I cut back on travel in 2010 for both financial and medical reasons, I have not had enough time to fill eight additional pages a month by myself (in addition to all the material going into the three sites noted above), and neuropathy in both hands limits personal keyboard-based  production.

More, the new SPY format on spysoftball.com actually contains a fund-raising contribution feature readers have used, which is not linked to the magazine.

Still, I feel compelled to honor the subscriptions. 

To generate additional material (beyond news etc for the other websites), I have received offers from several authorities in the field to submit articles, essays, opinions, etc.  Moreover, the magazine will have one or more pages of reader commentary – in short bursts, like Twitter, only with a 200-word limit.  Many readers have asked over the years to be allowed to comment in SPY, and a number of readers have used the comment provision at the bottom of the new SPY format to comment on specific articles.  The comment section now envisioned would be limited to comments on softball-specific matters.

SPY receives numerous political messages from readers, even religious texts, which SPY does not publish, and will not publish in the magazine.  A reader took me to task recently wanting an editorial slamming her daughter’s college coach over playing time.  Out of bounds!

The intention is to publish on the 15^th of every month, beginning in September.

Reviving the magazine may or may not generate new subscriptions (yes, I hate PayPal too), but it will satisfy my inner need to honor the outstanding subscriptions. www.spysoftballthemagazine.com.

COMMITMENTS

 

Sarasota Heat

Kaitlyn Jaeger-SS/UT-USC Upstate

Katie Johnsky-1B/OF-GA Tech

Amanda Mendolia-C-Lander

Sam Messer-P-FAU

Kayla Lombardo, Morris County Belles, committed to Fordham

 Rhode Island Thunder Gold

 2011 Nikki Silva verbal to Bucknell University

UNSIGNED SENIORS

People: delete all formats from material you send to SPY; plays havoc with SPY software

Dana Hughes 2011 Is unsigned.  3.3 GPA; Tucson, AZ; Plays for Tucson Elite Gold

(Previous AZ Hotshots); 17th pl @ 16uASA Nationals; Very Good Hitter and quick

hands in fielder; Smart & Athletic

Contact:  ljhughes@yahoo.com

Players name: Tarah Steinbach

Positions: SS/3B/OF

Player has a great work-ethic and is always willing to do the extra work, she is coachable, competitive, a great teammate, unselfish, and has a true passion for the game!

GPA: 3.67  SAT 1420

Throws: Right   Bats (R/L/Switch): Left handed slapper

ASA Team: Xplosion 18A Showcase Team

Head Coach: Steve Sandberg  avsteven@aol.com (661) 733-3510 cell

Player’s E-mail: tarahsteinbach@gmail.com

PITCHER OR SHORTSTOP WANTED

This is Coach Jody Long at Northeast Mississippi Community College. I am looking for a pitcher/ short stop player that would like to sign with me in August or January or it can be an unsigned player or transfer .

Jody Long

Head Softball Coach

Northeast Mississippi Community College

101 Cunningham Blvd

Booneville, MS 38829

(O) 662-720-7305

(fax) 662-720-7220

(Cell) 662-663-0340

jwlong@nemcc.edu

ISF REPRESENTATIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA
ISF Secretary General Ms. Low Beng Choo and Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro have been in South Africa, meeting on next year’s (age 19-and-under) junior women’s world championship (fast pitch). The ninth edition of the tournament will take place in Cape Town from December 6-17, 2011. An ISF Coordination Commission had been in place for the world championship that took place this year (women’s, in Venezuela) and a similar group will be formalized for next year’s event as well.

NPF TOURING STARS VS COLLEGES

 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (September 1, 2010) – National Pro Fastpitch announced today, in cooperation with USSSA, a tour of NPF All Stars that will be focused on competing with college teams throughout the fall.  The NPF “Back to School – College Tour” presented by USSSA will kick off next week on September 10th in Memphis, TN against the University of Memphis softball team.

This fall tour will follow up a very successful 2010 season for National Pro Fastpitch that culminated with the League’s Championship Series in Sulphur, LA last weekend. The USSSA Florida Pride left Sulphur with the 2010 Championship Series trophy in hand as the Chicago Bandits captured the regular season championship for the 5th time in NPF’s short history.

The NPF Back To School – College Tour presented by USSSA will make over 15 stops on college campuses across the United States competing against some of the nation’s best college programs in their fall seasons. Team NPF will be comprised of athletes from all four of the NPF Teams (Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Tennessee Diamonds, and USSSA Florida Pride) and will include an accomplished list of competitors.

The Tour will kick off on September 10th in Memphis, Tennessee and will culminate on November 15th in Daytona Beach, Florida. In between Team NPF will make stops at Ole Miss, UMKC, Missouri Western, Nebraska, Arizona, New Mexico State, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida State, Florida, San Diego State, Texas, and Daytona Beach.

Team NPF will be decorated group of professionals with well seasoned and impressive resumes including Olympic Gold Medalists and NPF Champions and Award winners.  Athletes playing on the tour will include: Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, Andrea Duran, Francesca Enea, Vicky Galindo, Alissa Haber, Kelly Kretschman, Caitlin Lever, Jessica Mendoza, Stacy May, Charlotte Morgan, Sarah Pauly, and many more.

USSSA and NPF will also be coordinating clinics at some of the Tour stops. Information on clinic times, locations, and costs will be forthcoming. All admission to games will go through the respective colleges and universities.

For more information, contact the NPF office at info@profastpitch.com or 615-232-2900; or you can contact USSSA at 800-741-3014.

September 10th – 7:00 – University of Memphis

September 11th – 2:00 / 4:00 – University of Memphis

September 12th – 3:30 – Ole Miss

September 30 – 7:00 – UMKC

October 1st – 6:30 – Missouri Western

October 2nd – 12:00 / 2:30 – University of Nebraska

October 4th – 7:00 – University of Arizona

October 5th – 7:00 – New Mexico State University

October 6th – 7:00 – University of Texas – El Paso

October 7th – 7:00 – New Mexico (tentative)

October 13th – 7:00 – Oklahoma University

October 15th – 7:30 – Oklahoma State University

October 17th – 4:00 – University of Tulsa

October 21st – 7:00 – University of Georgia

October 22nd – 7:00 – University of South Carolina

November 5th – 3:00 – Chipola College

November 5th – 5:00 – Florida State University

November 6th – 6:00 – University of Florida

November 12th – 6:00 – San Diego State

November 15th – 6:00 – Daytona Beach CC

August 31 2010 UPDATE

VA TECH HALL OF FAME

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Corey Moore, the most honored football player in Virginia Tech history, is one of five new members selected for induction to the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.

Joining Moore as 2010 inductees are:

• Gene Bunn, a ball-hawking defensive back of the 1970s who set a Tech career pass interception record that still stands today.
• Michelle Meadows, a record-setting softball player who excelled on the diamond and in the classroom during a stellar four-year career.
• Laurie Shiflet Hackbirth, the first female tennis player in Tech history to finish a season with regional and national rankings in singles.
• The late Duke Thorpe, a jumping-jack basketball forward of the mid-70s whose relentless play helped him etch his name into the Tech record book.

The five new honorees will be inducted at a Hall of Fame dinner on the Tech campus on Friday, Oct. 22, the evening before Tech’s home football game against Duke University. Each of the living inductees and families of all of the inductees will be introduced to fans at halftime of the football game.

UNSIGNED SENIORS

Fran D’Amato, NJ Pride 18A.  SS,3rd,2nd.  Athletic, good hitter.  horohonich@aol.com.

2011 OF Slapper with 2.7-2.8 speed & very Strong Arm
PLAYERS NAME: Darrian Williams
Positions: Center field, Left field, Right field
GPA: 4.17  ACT:19
Throws (R/L):Right  Bats (R/L/Switch): Left
Gold Team: Tulsa Elite Gold (Just made the team at recent tryouts; very strong OF)
Gold Contact: Jeff Filali  Phone: 918-951-7142  Email:  tulsaelitegold@yahoo.com
HS Team: 6A Sand Springs Lady Sandites (OKLA)
Player’s Cell #: 918-948-4547

San Diego Legacy – Ken Weimer (kweimer@legacysoftball.com 805-338-4634)
Morgan Allaband – P – mallaband@legacysoftball.com
Shaiann Anderson – 1B – sanderson@legacysoftball.com
Aly Clemente – OF – aclemente@legacysoftball.com
Juliann Johnson – 3B – jjohnson@legacysoftball.com
Madison Jones – P/OF – mjones@legacysoftball.com
Dominique Madruga – 2B/OF – dmadruga@legacysoftball.com
Lauren Miranda – OF – lmiranda@legacysoftball.com
Justine Tjaden – P – jtjaden@legacysoftball.com
Kayla Wartner – C/1B – kwartner@legacysoftball.com

EAST COAST COLLEGE SHOWCASE
October 16 – 17, 2010
Over 300 college coaches have been invited, representing NCAA Division I,
II, & III, NAIA, and Junior College programs.
Entry fee $565.00 Must be received by September 15, 2010
register @ www.galaxystarsevents.com
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Format: Five pool games over Saturday and Sunday!”
5 GAME GUARANTEE!!! (weather permitting)

ISF YOUTH CUP

YOUTH CUP LOGO UNVEILED
The logo for the ISF Youth World Cup has been revealed (below). The mark will be used in conjunction with the (age) 16-and-under girls’ fast pitch tournament that will take place at the ISF’s world headquarters complex in Plant City, Florida (USA) from December 30-January 7. More information on the event is available on the ISF website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS

Katie Raile – 3B/UT – Team FLA Gold – Morehead State University
Tamara Vermeulen Gold Coast Hurricanes Verbal LSU

AMERICAN FREEDOM GOLD

Lindsi Glenn (2011, LHP), verballed to Midwestern State University, Div. II Lonestar Conference

Fresno Force Gold

Darcy Schueler, 2011, C, to Eastern Kentucky University

Kelsey Dodd, 2011, C/1st, to New Mexico State University

CATCHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports have announced the ten student-athletes who are the recipients of the 2010 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award.

The Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award is presented annually to the top catcher from an NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAACC and high school.

A committee comprised of head coaches in each of the 10 divisions determines the winner of their respective award. The winners of the 2010 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award are as follows:

NCAA Division I
Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State University
With her selection this season, Bramlett has now won the last three Diamond Catcher of the Year awards. She ended her record-breaking career as Bulldog by batting .536 on the year, the second-highest average in all of Division I. In addition to throwing out a career-high 21 base stealers in 2010, the four-time Louisville Slugger NFCA First Team All-American also stole a NCAA-leading 61 bases. For her work on the base paths this season she earned the 2010 adidas Golden Shoe, marking the second straight year she has won both the adidas Golden Shoe and Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year awards

NCAA Division II
Alyssa Shirey, Valdosta State University
Shirey helped guide the Blazers all the way to the National Championship game this season by hitting .432 and finished the year with one of the best slugging percentages in all of Division II at 0.814. Behind the plate, she threw out nine of 26 base runners, while in front of the plate she hit 20 home runs, the fourth most in Division II.

NCAA Division III
Tiffany Kruse, Luther College
Kruse started all 49 games for the Norse in 2010 and helped guide them to 42-7 record and a National Championship appearance. Kruse was an offensive force for Luther this season, leading the team in RBIs, home runs and stolen bases with 58, 18 and 14, respectively. Her 18 home runs was not only a school single-season record, but it was also the third most in all of Division III. Behind the plate, Kruse was equally as dangerous, throwing out nine of 23 would-be base stealers.

NAIA
Brittney Fisher, Bethel College (Ind.)
Fisher helped lead the Pilots to the school’s first-ever NAIA quarterfinal appearance this season by batting .404 on the year. By blasting 11 home runs, Fisher finished the season ranked 39th amongst all NAIA players. As a catcher, she played a key part in the Pilots’ deep run into the national tournament by throwing out 11 of 20 runners in 2010.

NJCAA Division I
Cyd Allen, Salt Lake Community College
Allen helped lead the Bruins to a top six finish at the national tournament by going 90-for-173 on the year for an astounding batting average of .520, the fourth best in NJCAA Division I. She also drove in a division leading 91 runs, while hitting for extra bases 33 times. On the field, Allen committed just four errors in 428 chances for Salt Lake, in addition to throwing out 12 of 27 base stealers.

NJCAA Division II
Ashley Heiberger, Iowa Lakes Community College
Heiberger was a major factor in the Lakers’ third place national finish in 2010, due in large part to her 39 extra base hits, 53 stolen bases and NJCAA Division II leading 101 RBIs. Behind the plate this season, Heiberger committed only four errors on 472 chances for a fielding percentage of .992, ranking her in the top 20 nationally.

NJCAA Division III
Val Karas, Joliet Junior College
Karas hit .396 the season for the Lady Wolves with 57 RBIs, 42 runs, 13 home runs and 13 doubles. She also played a key role as catcher and helped lead Joliet to third place at the Region IV tournament.

Cal JC
Adriana Perez, Antelope Valley College
Perez was the top hitter in Cal JC this season with a batting average of .575 to go along with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. As catcher, Perez helped lead the Marauders to the state tournament and a sixth-straight Foothills Conference crown by committing just three errors in 209 chances and throwing out 16 of 29 base runners from behind the dish.

NWAACC
Shaila Rivers, Walla Walla Community College
Rivers helped lead the Warriors to a league tournament berth this season by coming up big at the plate with a .417 batting average to go along with 15 doubles and 33 RBIs.

High School
Sarah Mooney, North Mecklenburg High School (N.C.)
Mooney was an integral component of the Viking’s state tournament run this year, hitting an astounding .605 for the season while driving in 40 runs and scoring 42 of her own. The James Madison commitment also showed power from the plate in 2010 by hitting 27 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, for a slugging percentage of 1.222. From behind the plate, Mooney was nearly flawless, throwing out 15 of 30 base runners and ending the year with no errors in 209 chances.

ORIGIN OF “CAN OF CORN” PHRASE

A reader requested a definition; Wikipedia provided the following:

can of corn
An easily-caught fly ball. Supposedly comes from a general store clerk reaching up and dropping a can from a high shelf. Frequently used by Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson. Also, a phrase used in the expression of mild excitement, general agreement or indication from one person to another that completion of said task is in order.

AUGUST

AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT AUGUST 2010.
This August has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, 5 Tuesdays, all in one month. It happens once in 823 years.
I’ll probably miss it next time!

 

 

NPF FINAL

USSSA Florida Pride Win 2010 NPF Cowles Cup

Sulphur, La. — Facing a decisive game three in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, the Florida Pride handed the ball to ace pitcher Cat Osterman. Osterman was electric, pitching her way to a complete game, two hit, two run, seven strikeout performance. Osterman and the Pride out pitched and out hit the Bandits, putting seven runs off 12 hits on the scoreboard. Osterman held Chicago to just two runs on two hits, both Samantha Findlay home runs, for a 7-2 victory. The end of this game not only marked the end of the playoffs, but also the end of two illustrious careers for the Bandits — Jennie Finch and Stacy May. Leading off the top of the second, Bandits first baseman Samantha Findlay stepped up to face off with Pride pitcher Osterman. Findlay proceeded to blast the first pitch deep over the left field wall for the solo home run, giving the Bandits a 1-0 lead. With runners on first and second in the bottom of the second, Pride third baseman Andrea Duran dropped a bunt back to Bandits pitcher Kristina Thorson. Duran would be out on the play, but both runners would advance to second and third base. Lauren Lappin, struggling in earlier playoff games, redeemed herself by blasting an 0-1 change up to the left field fence, scoring two runs to give Florida a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Bandits starting pitcher Thorson was pulled following the double for Nikki Nemitz. With Lappin on second, Tonya Callahan blasted her own double, scoring Lappin for a 3-1 Pride lead. Nemitz stopped the bleeding shortly after, getting the Bandits out of the inning down by two runs. Thorson finished the 1.1 innings of work with three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. It was rookie versus rookie as Charlotte Morgan faced off with Chicago’s Nikki Nemtiz. Morgan got the better of the two in the bottom of the third, ripping a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Pride a 4-1 lead. With two on and no outs, Kelly Kretschman continued her hot hitting, blasting a two RBI single to right field, giving the Pride a 6-1 lead. Immediately following the single, Nemitz was replaced by Jessica Sallinger in the pitchers circle. Nemitz finished the game with 1.2 innings pitched, seven hits for three runs and one strikeout in 12 batters faced. Bases were loaded with no outs as Sallinger stepped into the circle to face the potent Pride lineup. Sallinger stopped the bleeding as she got three straight Florida batters to ground out. The bleeding continued just one inning later as Natasha Watley blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence to put the Pride up 7-1. With three outs left till elimination, Chicago’s Samantha Findlay blasted off on Cat Osterman for the second time in the game, bringing the score to 7-2. The home run would be the final time the Bandits touched the scoreboard, losing in the 2010 NPF Championship Series final to the Pride, 7-2. The championship victory is the second consecutive National Pro Fastpitch trophy for Cat Osterman and the first ever in Florida Pride history.

 

Nicole Pauly sparks Bandits offense for 7-2 game two victory

Palatine, Ill native Nicole Pauly sparks Bandits offense for 7-2 game two victory Game three set to start at 5:20 p.m. CT Sulphur, La. — Down 1-0 in the series and in game two of the National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, Palatine, Ill. native and Chicago Bandits rookie Nicole Pauly stepped up big with her best game of her rookie season, going 3-for-3 in the batters box.Pauly’s solo home run in the top of the fifth sparked a three-run inning for the Bandits, and Chicago would not stop there, adding four more runs in the top of the seventh. The 7-1 lead gave pitcher Jennie Finch all the insurance she would need, closing out the Pride in game two with a complete game victory. In seven innings of work, she faced 24 batters, striking out nine, walking zero and allowing two runs on four hits. Both runs were home runs for the USSSA Florida Pride.With Amber Patton on third base and two outs, Chicago Bandits first baseman Samantha Findlay stepped to the plate to square off against Florida’s Danielle Lawrie in the top of the first inning. Ahead 1-2 in the count, Lawrie caught Findlay swinging on an inside curve for the final out, ending the Bandits scoring threat. After a bang-bang play at first base put Natasha Watley aboard safely, Bandits’ catcher Ashley Holcombe backed up her pitcher by gunning down Watley at second base on the attempted steal. The throw, a laser beam to the bag, barely beat Watley for the second out of the inning. With Emily Friedman on second base and Nicole Pauly on first, the Bandits placed runners in scoring position for the second straight inning. Chicago could not capitalize however, as Vicky Galindo smacked a pop up to Kretschman in centerfield for the final out of the second inning. Stacy May opened the third inning with a blooper, just past the outstretched glove of Pride second baseman Amber Flores to right field, advancing to second base for the leadoff double. Rachel Mitchell (pinch running for May) moved to third base when Amber Patton grounded out to Watley at short. Just 60 feet from home, Mitchell waited as Samantha Findlay stepped up to bat with two outs. Mitchell will stay there as for the second consecutive inning, Danielle Lawrie and the Pride forced the Bandits to leave runners stranded on the base paths. Wheeling and dealing from the pitchers circle, Lawrie kept Bandits hitters guessing through the fourth inning where she spent the inning by going 1-2-3 against Chicago hitters. Through four innings and 16 batters faced, Lawrie kept the Bandits to just four hits, zero walks and has sent four back to the dugout with strikeouts. With zeros on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, Chicago Bandits’ rookie Nicole Pauly launched a solo home run over the left field fence, scoring the first run of the ballgame to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in game two of the NPF Championship Series. Two batters later, Stacy May popped a triple to right field when the sliding Alissa Haber could not come up with the ball, allowing May to reach third with one out. A hard grounder up the middle by Amber Patton brought May home for the 2-0 Bandits lead with two outs. Two batters later and with Rachel Folden on first after a single, Samantha Findlay stepped in to square off with Lawrie. Findlay came up huge with a double to right centerfield to score Caitlin Lever (pinch running for Folden) from second base for a 3-0 lead. Lawrie once again buckled down in the circle, getting Jennie Finch out on a called strike three to end the inning. Florida rookie Alissa Haber broke the shutout in the bottom of the fifth when she blasted a solo home run to right field. Bandits outfielder Patton attempted to catch the ball, but crashed through the fence unsuccessfully. The solo home run closed the scoring gap to 3-1 in favor of the Bandits. In the top of the seventh, Chicago added some insurance for Finch when May, Patton, Knauer (pinch running for Samantha Findlay) and Angela Findlay all scored runs. Angela Findlay scored the final run of the inning with a solo blast to deep centerfield, giving the Bandits a 7-1 lead. Facing a game three, Pride outfielder Kelly Kretschman tried to spark the Florida offense for a seventh inning rally. Her solo home run closed the scoring gap to 7-2, but the Pride could gather any more runs as Finch struck out Haber to end the inning. Lawrie finished the seven inning game with 34 batters faced, 12 hits, seven runs, one walk and seven strikeouts. She threw 138 pitches on the day. Notes: Prior to today’s ballgame, four parachuters flew down from the sky dressed in Jennie Finch (CHI), Stacy May (CHI), Chelsea Spencer (TEN) and a National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series jerseys. The parachuters donned  jerseys of the three players because each will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2010 playoffs. In yesterday’s release we mentioned the pre-game ceremony for Jennie Finch. It was left out that the NPF has created a new award that will be handed out at the end of each season, beginning with the 2011 season. The “Jennie Finch” award will be awarded for the player that best exemplifies character, humility overall excellence.

Battle of the Bats

Photo By: Dina Kwit Written By: Adam Gierhart The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Championship Series concluded Day One of the week with the National Pro Fastpitch Battle of the Bats. The NPF’s version of the Homerun Derby, the Battle of the Bats was a three-round homerun competition allowing each batter only seven swings of the bat. Each round, the field of competitors was cut in half and homeruns did not carry over from one round to the next. The Battle of the Bats contestants consisted of players from the Chicago Bandits and USSSA Florida Pride, with the Tennessee Diamonds and Akron Racers not being represented in the contest. The Chicago Bandits were represented in the 2010 Battle of the Bats by three players: Samantha Findlay, Rachel Folden, and Jennie Finch. The remaining four competitors from the USSSA Florida Pride were: Jessica Mendoza, Charlotte Morgan, Andrea Duran, and Francesca Enea. In the first round of competition the Bandits had two players in the top four to move on to round two of the competition, Samantha Findlay and Jennie Finch who both hit four homeruns in their allotted seven swings of the bat. Rachel Folden, who hit zero homeruns in Round One, did not advance into the second round of the competition. Folden requested a pitching change after only five pitches, replacing Coach Stu with Florida’s Beth McClendon who pitched the entirety of the competition except for the five thrown by the Bandits’ Coach Stu. Round Two of the Battle of the Bats was narrowed down to four competitors: Samantha Findlay, Jennie Finch, Charlotte Morgan, and Jessica Mendoza. Mendoza began the round hitting one homerun in her seven swings, followed by Morgan who hit three. Jennie Finch then stepped in to the batter’s box and hit only one homerun. Finch was followed by Samantha Findlay who hit two homeruns. Findlay’s two homeruns were just enough to move her into the Championship Round against Florida’s Charlotte Morgan. In the finals, Morgan led off the round with two homeruns, leaving the Battle of the Bats crown up for grabs with Samantha Findlay still to hit. Findlay was not able to exceed the two homerun bar that Morgan set, only hitting one homerun in the final round, leaving USSSA Florida Pride’s Charlotte Morgan the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Battle of the Bats Champion and winner of a $500 cash prize. The Bandits will begin their playoff journey, Thursday night against the Tennessee Diamonds. To catch all of the action from the Championship Series in Sulphur, La. and support your Chicago Bandits as they look to capture their second National Championship in team history visit http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/mediacenter/npf.jsp for live streams or http://www.profastpitch.com/ for live game stats.