ELGIN – Chicago Bandits GM Aaron Moore announced the resigning of two Bandits veterans to the Chicago roster today, and the finalization of a returning free-agent. Bandits’ outfielders Vicky Galindo and Caitlin Lever finalized their contracts to return for the 2010 season. The duo both spent time with Chicago and their respective National Teams in 2009. For Galindo, it was Team USA and Lever called Team Canada home for parts of the season in 2009. Both will again spend time with their respective National teams this year. In 2009, Galindo batted .243 with one RBI, nine hits and four runs scored, but saw limited time at the plate, only getting 37 opportunities. For Lever, it was a slightly brighter picture at the plate. She batted .333 with one homerun, nine RBIs, 12 hits and five runs in her 36 appearances. Pitcher Jessica Sallinger has officially finalized her contract with the Bandits. Sallinger was previously drafted by and pitched for the Bandits from 2006-2008, then spent 2009 with the now defunct Philadelphia Force. “I am very excited to be coming back to the Chicago Bandits,” said Sallinger. “This is where my professional career began and where I won a National Championship. I feel like I ...

KISSIMMEE, FL – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and its four-affiliate teams held the 2010 NPF Senior Draft Presented by Miken on Wednesday night which was broadcast for the first time in league history on MLB.COM, live from the Hermitage Key Resort. This was the second consecutive year the NPF has broadcast the Draft live but the first time on MLB.com. Each team had at least three selections in the five-round draft. The USSSA Pride held seven of the 20 overall picks due to a draft-day trade in 2009. With the first pick in the draft the USSSA Pride selected University of Alabama’s Charlotte Morgan. Charlotte Morgan has been a key impact Player for Alabama’s Offense. She became the first Player in Alabama history with three 50 or more RBI seasons. The Tennessee Diamonds selected Molly Johnson of the University of Kentucky with the No. 2 pick in the draft. While USSSA Pride chose Melissa Roth of Louisville at No. 3 and Chicago picked Michigan pitcher Nicki Nemitz with the final pick of the first round. USSSA Pride made the first selection of the second round and the fifth pick overall by choosing University of Oklahoma ...

ST. LOUIS — Worth Sports has signed Olympic Medalist and pitcher for the NPF’s Florida Pride, Monica Abbott, to a multi-year endorsement contract. Abbott will be endorsing the new Worth 5-Tool product line of training equipment and designing two Monica Abbott signature fielders gloves. “Monica is acknowledged as one of the greatest pitchers in the fastpitch game,” said Mike Thompson, Senior VP of Marketing at Worth. “Her unparalleled athletic accomplishments are clearly exemplified by her statistical records. Worth is committed to being the best at every level of fastpitch softball. Monica will play a critical role in the development of Worth products for youth and amateur players right up to the highest level of professional players.” Abbott was one of the key members of the USA Women’s National Team in its run to the Silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Before turning professional as a current member of the National Pro Fastpitch’s Florida Pride, Abbott was a collegiate standout at the University of Tennessee. Abbott was the 2007 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year and holds NCAA Division I records in: career victory record (189), career shutout record (112), strikeouts (2,440), appearances (253), and single-season strikeouts (724). “I am ...

Kissimmee, Fla. - The USSSA Florida Pride, a member of the Women’s National Professional Fastpitch League (NPF), announced today that they have signed former Olympic Gold (2004) and Silver (2008) medalist Natasha Watley as a new addition to the Pride’s 2010 roster. She will be joining fellow Team USA members Jessica Mendoza and Lauren Lappin, also recent signees to the Pride for the 2010 season. The three are welcome additions to a team which already features former Olympians and Team USA members Monica Abbott, Kelly Kretschman, and Caitlin Lowe, as well as recently signed Katie Burkhart, formerly of Arizona State University and the NPF’s Philadelphia Force. During the 2004 Olympics, Watley assisted the USA Softball Team to their third consecutive gold medal in Athens by breaking the Olympic record for stolen bases and was third on the team with a .400 batting average, with 9 hits and 10 RBI. During the 2008 Olympics, Watley brought home a silver medal after hitting .321 in the leadoff position with two home runs and six RBI. Internationally, Watley is a two-time Pan-American Gold Medalist (2003 & 2007), two time World Champion (2002 & 2006), and three time World Cup Champion (2006, 2007, ...

ELGIN, Ill. – Chicago Bandits GM Aaron Moore announced today that the Bandits have released the following players to free-agency: catcher Jamie Schloredt, outfielders Izmena Cabrera and Cheyenne Jenks, shortstop Aileen Morales, pitcher Gina Oaks and pitcher Brandice Balschmiter. In 2009, Jenks batted 3-for-13 (.231) with a double and two runs scored. She made the team by way of the open tryout in early May. Jenks recently signed on to play softball professionally in Europe during the 2010 season. Outfielder Izmena Cabrera and catcher Jamie Schloredt both joined the Bandits in 2009 as rookies out of Sacramento State University. Cabrera quickly made an impact off the bench as a clutch hitter in the early parts of the season. In 2009 she batted 6-for-24 (.250) with three RBIs and one stolen base. Schloredt filled in nicely behind the plate, splitting time at the catcher position with Rachel Folden. Schloredt finished 2009 with 15 hits in 61 at-bats for eight RBIs, eight runs and five homeruns. One homerun came early in the season in the form of a game winner off USSSA Pride pitcher Monica Abbott. Aileen “Boom Boom” Morales split time with the Bandits and team Puerto Rico last year as ...

NASHVILLE – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and its four-affiliate teams will hold the 2010 NPF Senior Draft on Wednesday February 10, 2010 at 8PM EST. The broadcast will be live from the Heritage Key Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. This will be the second consecutive year the NPF will broadcast the Draft live but the first time on MLB.com. “The College Senior Draft is a much anticipated event for the entire League. We are always looking forward to the next talented group of outstanding athletes who will undoubtedly contribute positively the future of the NPF,” stated NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf. The 2009 Draftees made a huge impact during the NPF Season. Those players included Kaitlin Cochran (Akron) and NPF Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year Tammy Williams (Chicago). Each team has at least three selections in the five-round draft. The USSSA Pride, the host of the 2010 Draft, will hold six of the 20 overall picks due to a 2009 draft-day trade with the Akron Racers. The order of the Draft is as follows: First Round: 1 1. USSSA Pride 2. Tennessee Diamonds 3. USSSA Pride from Akron Racers – 2009 trade 4. Chicago Bandits Second Round: 5. ...

ELGIN – The Chicago Bandits have released infielder Kristie Fox, team General Manager Aaron M. Moore announced today. Fox, 24, played three seasons with the Bandits after completing her college career at the University of Arizona. Fox finished the 2009 season with a .231 batting average, collecting 24 hits in 104 at-bats. She struck out just five times on the season. During her three seasons in Chicago, Fox was a .265 hitter, collecting 78 hits and seven home runs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by SportJunk.com Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter at Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Become a fan of the Fastpitch News on Facebook at Facebook.com/SoftballMedia Don't forget to check out our other softball websites Fastpitch.FM Home of the Fastpitch Radio Show. Fastpitch.TV Home of the Fastpitch TV Show. FastpitchSearch.com A seach engine just for softball. SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment. SoftballMedia.com One site for all our softball media.

ELGIN, IL – The Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) announced today that they have signed three high-caliber players for the 2010 season. Players signing today are utility player Emily Friedman and pitcher Jessica Sallinger, and 2010 USA Women’s National Team selection, catcher Ashley Holcombe. Sallinger was previously drafted by and pitched for the Bandits from 2006-2008, then spent 2009 with the now defunct Philadelphia Force. “I am very excited to be coming back to the Chicago Bandits,” said Sallinger. “This is where my professional career began and where I won a National Championship. I feel like I am coming back home and I am looking forward to another great year and hopefully another Championship as a Bandit!” In 2008, Sallinger was a workhorse for the Bandits, starting 18 games in the circle, while going 12-6 as a starter and also contributing three saves, one of which came in the Championship Series against the Washington Glory. Sallinger also struck out 107 batters in 120 innings of work, leading the Bandits to the 2008 Cowles Cup trophy. Behind the plate the Bandits signed WNT selection and 2009 Rockford Thunder rookie catcher Ashley Holcombe. Added for her elite defensive ...

story by Margaret Dixon – Joliet Jackhammers JOLIET, IL - The Joliet JackHammers announced “Bandits and Boys” today, a Battle of the Sexes exhibition game against the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league. The battle is scheduled for Monday, August 9 at 6:10 p.m. “We are thrilled to be a part of bringing this event to downtown Joliet this summer,” said JackHammers General Manager Jamie Toole. The JackHammers will face off against some of the most talented athletes in the NPF, in what is sure to be a great clash of genders. Eileen Canney, a second round draft pick out of Northwestern University, spoke today about the match up at a press conference held by the JackHammers. Canney was a two time Big Ten Pitcher of the year, three time All Big 10 selection, two time First-Team NFCA All-Midwest Region and Big 10 Freshman of the Year honors, as well as leading her team to consecutive World Series appearances. “The Bandits are excited to take part in another exhibition game with a Northern League team, and we hope to make this an annual event,” says Aaron Moore, General Manager of the Chicago Bandits. “If we can duplicate ...

USSSA Florida Pride General Manager, Don DeDonatis, announced today that former Olympic Gold (2004) and Silver (2008) Medalist, Jessica Mendoza has signed a contract to play for the USSSA Florida Pride. “We are thrilled to sign another amazing athlete of world-class caliber to the USSSA Florida Pride,” commented DeDonatis. “We are committed to putting a top quality team on the field for NPF competition and we are also committed to exposing young softball players across the nation to these extraordinary athletes and people.” Mendoza joins a Pride program that is moving into their second season of National Pro Fastpitch competition. In 2009, their inaugural season, the Pride went all the way to the Championship game of the NPF’s much heralded, Championship Series, before falling to the Series Champion, Rockford Thunder. “I am excited to be a part of the NPF family and help the future of girls and women in sports through the success of professional fast pitch softball,” said Mendoza. “I can’t wait to reach and educate thousands more girls and their families about the NPF and the future it holds for them to continue their dreams in the sport of softball.” Mendoza is one of the most ...