Riptide win first game of playoffs, Lyndsey Angus named Player of the Year
August 26, 2006 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
New England Riptide News Release
Stratford, Connecticut - The New England Riptide defeated the Chicago Bandits 1-0 in 9 innings to advance to the finals of the National Pro Fastpitch playoffs. Jocelyn Forest pitched a complete game for the Riptide, allowing only 2 hits in 9 innings. The Riptide finally broke through in the bottom of the ninth when Lyndsey Angus led off with a sharp single to centerfield. KJ Kelley attempted a sacrifice bunt down the first base line and Chicago firstbaseman Nicole Trimboli misfired the ball into centerfield, allowing Angus to score all the way from first for the game winner.
Leominster native Lyndsey Angus of the New England Riptide was voted the 2006 National Pro Fastpitch Player of the Year. The award is the equivalent of the Most Valuable Player and is traditionally awarded annually to recognize the one player in the league who has contributed the most to the success of the player's team. The award is voted upon by the team owners of each team in the NPF prior to the championship weekend.
The choice was simple really; all the owners had to do was look at the clutch hits that Angus came through with this season. She had numerous hits to win several games and contributed in key situations with both timely offense and defense. In the 40 games that Angus started, she committed just one error - a feat she also accomplished in 2004. Angus was fourth in the league in batting average with .345. She was also tied for fifth in the league with 23 RBIs.
Listed on the roster as a utility player, Angus played first base this season for Coach Sharon Drysdale, but has played seven different positions in the NPF. This versatility is part of Lyndsey's value to the team. In a year that was full of walk-offs and extra inning games, Angus also contributed to the team simply by her leadership. As a three year veteran of the Riptide, Angus was the quiet role model for the team's many rookies. Her confidence inspired them to always strive to do their best and never give up until the last pitch was thrown.
Angus held several awards from the University of Kentucky where she played for four years. She was selected for the SEC all conference team for three years in a row. Last season she was named to the 2005 NPF All-Star team.
Angus was a near unanimous choice, with her closest competition Jessica Merchant of the Connecticut Brakettes receiving 2 votes.
Angus, Jocelyn Forest, and Jackie Pasquerella were named to the 2006 NPF All Star team voted upon at the same time. Forest led the league in wins with 15 and was a factor in most of the Riptide's 24 wins this season. She accumulated 3 saves along the way and was able to complete 11 of the 16 games she started. Her 1.32 ERA was good enough for third in the league. This is Forest's second election to the NPF All Star Team. Also among her accomplishments was leading her Cal-Berkeley team to the 2002 College World Series. She has played in Holland for DCS 74 and led them to their first National Championship. Last season she split her pitching duties between the Riptide and USA Elite team, helping the USA win the prestigious Canada Cup. Pasquerella was sixth in the league in average this year with a .320 and committed only 3 errors at third base in over 150 chances.
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 26, 2006
- Riptide win first game of playoffs, Lyndsey Angus named Player of the Year - New England Riptide
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