My annual trip to the National Pro Fastpitch game – USSSA Pride vs Akron Racers

The USSSA Pride takes on the Akron Racers

This past Friday night was SoftballCenter.com's annual trip with the girls to the Akron Racers vs USSSA Pride NPF (National Pro Fastpitch) game in Akron, Ohio.  Akron is just 40 minutes from home and my twin 12 year old daughters have been taking their fastpitch game a little more seriously lately and wanted to go to a game.

The NPF is a 4 team women's pro fastpitch league with teams based out of Chicago, Florida, Akron-Ohio, and the latest addition in New Jersey.  The league is rumored to be expanding to 5 teams in 2014.  Each team plays a 48 game schedule between June and the season ending playoffs at the end of August.  In Akron on this Friday night the weather was pleasant with a threat of rain in the forecast.  After a splendid rendition of the National Anthem by a teenager using a violin, Akron opened the door in the first inning with a walk and a few misplays on tough grounders.  The Pride's outstanding leadoff hitter Natasha Watley who has a career .400+ batting average, walked, stole second base, and moved around to score on an error and a sacrifice hit.  And the Pride was up 1-0 after one inning.

In the second inning the Pride added 5 runs on 5 hits to lead 6-0, including Andrea Durans line drive homer, her 4th of the year.  Then in the top of the 3rd the Pride's Francesca Enea hit the highest (is that a word?) homer I've seen in fastpitch softball, her second of the year, and the Pride led 8-0 after 3 innings. Then the rain let loose for about 2 innings and the fans all moved under the main concourse seating to stay dry.  The game continued however and the Pride added 4 more runs on 6 hits, spraying the ball all over the park for a 12-0 lead.  Akron finally got on the board in the 6th with a double by Kaylyn Castillo and a single and an error by Jessica Garcia.

The Prides starting pitcher Sarah Pauly who seems to stand about 6'3 or taller got the dominating win and is now 8-4 on the season.  She held down Racer leadoff hitter Montalvo (0-4) and power hitter Morgan (0-3).

The Pride would lose on Saturday to Akron 3-1 even though they had ace pitcher Cat Osterman pitching, and then the Pride beat Akron in the third game of the series Sunday 12-4.  The series finishes up tonight (Monday). The Pride is trying to chase the Chicago Bandits for first place with just two weeks left in the regular season.

Here are the current NPF standings as of 8/4/2013:
 Chicago Bandits 29-10 .744
 USSSA Pride     27-12 .692
 Akron Racers    14-24 .368
 NY NJ Comets     8-32 .200

The National Anthem was played by a young lady on a violin.  She did a great job.

I found the game to be entertaining and with daughters playing 12u travel ball I am beginning to understand the nuances of the game.  I was impressed by the Prides offensive explosion and a couple of the hard shots to center field as well as the towering homer by Enea.  Also the Akron third baseman Kelley Montalvo made an incredible full out diving stop in the hole towards shortstop.  It may have been the best infield play I have seen this season (and I see a lot of softball)  🙂

I am often criticized by older players for making statements about changes I think should be made to softball.  Players often tell me I should just stick to reporting and they seem to see my opinions (they are just opinions) as some sort of threat to the game.  Well in fastpitch softball, at least at the pro level, I think the pitching rubber should be 3 feet further back.  These pitchers at the top level are so tall that by the time they release the pitch their front foot slides past the pitching circle and the pitch is on top of these great hitters very quickly.  Just my two cents.  You know I had to give it.

Otherwise the game was great.  The athleticism of the women playing this game is evident and the fans, mostly softball "die hards", and parents with kids that play fastpitch, were entertained and got their moneys worth.

The Akron Racers play a littly hacky sack before the game.

Watley leads off for the Pride

Akron starting pitcher Brittany Mack (left) and Pride starter Sarah Pauly (right)

Pride outfield Enea, Lowe, and Kretschman (I think)

Racers third baseman Kelley Montalvo is the "Dennis Rulli" of the NPF

and made one of the best plays I've seen all year.  She also hits leadoff.

Both the Racers and the Pride had a player from Japan.

Watley scores but I am not sure she ever touched homeplate?

The Pride celebrate a 12-1 win to open the 4 game series

Our boys from Hang Rite shoes support the NPF

The crowd was fairly large and moved under the overhang when the rain came.

Former Team USA pitcher Keilani Ricketts pitched the last couple of innings for the Pride.

The Pride dominated the game with 3 homers and a 12-1 victory!

The girls with Racers mascot "Wheelie"

The girls chased down two foul balls.

My daughter likes the Racers mascot car with the ball stitching