Michigan Ice Softball Schedule Released
April 6, 2006 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Mid Michigan Ice News Release
The Michigan Ice, mid-Michigan's new women's professional fastpitch softball team, have released their 2006 schedule. The Ice will be playing independently this summer before applying for a franchise into the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league in 2007. Jason Newsham, GM of the Ice is very pleased with the schedule in terms of competition.
"This years 28-game schedule is loaded with national teams from Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Toyota Shokki (Japan's top professional team), Canadian National Elite as well as 16 games against pro teams, Texas Thunder, Chicago Bandits and Arizona Heat from the NPF. There isn't one night where we can afford to take off," states Newsham.
The Ice will play 11 home games in Midland at Currie Stadium. They open their inaugural season on the road in Texas to face the Thunder in a four game series (June 7-10). The home opener for the Ice is Friday June 16th with Venezuela at 8:05pm. They will face the Dominican Republic on June 17th at 8:05pm before ending their opening weekend on Fathers Day with a showdown against the local Lady Explorers 23U. Game time for Fathers Day is 2:35pm.
The Ice will play Venezuela in two additional games June 19th and June 20th. Location for the June 19th game will be played at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. Game time is 6:05pm. The June 20th game is not yet determined but Newsham believes it will be played in the Detroit area. "We don't want people, especially young players to hear about us, we want them to come out and watch. Going into these different areas around the state during our first season will help us establish awareness that there is a pro softball team in Michigan."
The Canadian National Elite squad will come to Midland for a four-game tilt the weekend of June 22-25. Newsham says of Canada, "This team is very strong up and down the lineup. They competed against NPF teams last summer and won quite a few games. But this is the type of high level, competitive team that when fans watch us play, will want to come back for the next night."
Before the Ice head to the road, they entertain 2005 NPF regular-season champion, the Chicago Bandits at Currie Stadium for a four-game series June 30-July 3. Monday July 3rd will have a special start time of 1:05pm. The Bandits feature league all-stars, Peaches James, Trena Peel & Selena Collins. "This will be the highlight of the home schedule. Chicago is as good as anyone and have the star players to back it up. To have an opportunity to showcase this much talent on the field to our fans will be special. But to keep things in perspective, we will go out and compete with them and expect to come out on top."
The Ice will then have a week off before heading to Spring Arbor College (Jackson, MI) to face the Toyota Shokki. The Shokki are the top rated pro softball team in Japan and feature US Olympic player Michele Smith. The Shokki travels from Japan to the United States to visit different Toyota automobile plants during the summer months.
The Ice will play two games in Jackson before heading to Columbus, IN to face the same Shokki team in a the series finale July 19th. "This will be a good test for us after a having a week off. We felt that our schedule had to have some balance and this should get us going as we head into the final stretch of the season."
That final stretch of the season will take the Ice to the Windy City, Chicago, August 3-6 for a return bout with the Bandits. The Ice will then fly down to Arizona to face the Heat. The Heat will be closing out their regular season that weekend and trying to build momentum into the NPF playoffs.
It should be noted that all 16 games the Ice play against NPF teams, will count in the pro teams win-loss standings. Because of that, Newsham would like to see the Ice have a chance to play the role of spoiler. "This season we don't have a true championship to play for but if that series has playoff implications for the Heat, that will be our chance to play for 'something'. By that time, we will have more than likely have approval to join the NPF in 2007 so that series is a build-up of momentum for us."
For a complete list of the Ice schedule and additional information, visit the Michigan Ice softball website @ www.michiganice.net.
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2006 Michigan Ice Schedule
June 7 @ Texas Thunder (in Houston), 8 p.m.
June 8 @ Texas Thunder, 8 p.m.
June 9 @ Texas Thunder, 8 p.m.
June 10 @ Texas Thunder, 8 p.m.
June 15 Meet the team/skills competition, 5:30 p.m. (at Currie)
June 16 VENEZUELA, 8 p.m.
June 17 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, 8 p.m.
June 18 MIDLAND LADY EXPLORERS, 2:30 p.m.
June 19 vs. Venezuela, 6:05pm @ Lake Superior State University (Sault Ste. Marie, MI)
June 20 vs. Venezuela, time and place TBA
June 22 CANADA, 7 p.m.
June 23 CANADA, 7 p.m.
June 24 CANADA, 7 p.m.
June 25 CANADA, 1 p.m.
June 30 CHICAGO BANDITS, 7 p.m.
July 1 CHICAGO BANDITS, 7 p.m.
July 2 CHICAGO BANDITS, 1 p.m.
July 3 CHICAGO BANDITS, 1 p.m.
July 14 vs. Toyota Shokki at Spring Arbor College, (Jackson,MI) 6 p.m.
July 15 vs. Toyota Shokki at Spring Arbor College, (Jackson, MI) 2 p.m.
July 19 vs. Toyota Shokki at Indianapolis, 6 p.m.
Aug. 3 @ Chicago Bandits, 7 p.m.
Aug. 4 @ Chicago Bandits, 7 p.m.
Aug. 5 @ Chicago Bandits, 7 p.m.
Aug. 6 @ Chicago Bandits, 3 p.m.
Aug. 17 @ Arizona Heat, 10 p.m.
Aug. 18 @ Arizona Heat, 10 p.m.
Aug. 19 @ Arizona Heat, 10 p.m.
Aug. 20 @ Arizona Heat, 10 p.m.
(all games in caps are at Currie Stadium in Midland, MI)
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from April 6, 2006
- Michigan Ice Softball Schedule Released - Mid Michigan Ice
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