USSSA Pride to Face Scrap Yard Dawgs in Season Opener
June 10, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
USSSA Pride News Release
Kissimmee, FL - The USSSA Pride open the 2016 season this Friday, June 10, in Conroe, TX against the newly established Scrap Yard Dawgs. The Scrap Yard Dawgs will host the Pride in a four-day, four-game series at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex.
The Pride are coming off their second-consecutive regular season championship and their seventh-consecutive appearance in the NPF Championship Series. After losing to the Chicago Bandits in the 2015 Championship Series, the Pride are looking to secure their third post-season title in four years.
The Pride return both the 2015 NPF Player of the Year, Kelly Kretschman, and 2015 Rookie of the Year, Shelby Pendley, as well as four members of the 2015 All-NPF team: Kretschman, Pendley, Jordan Taylor, and Megan Wiggins.
Series Schedule:
Friday, June 10th 8:30 PM (EST)
Saturday, June 11th 8:00 PM (EST)
Sunday, June 12th 3:00 PM (EST)
Monday, June 13th 8:30 PM (EST)
Pride players to watch:
* Kelly Kretschman: The veteran NPF player and reigning Player of the Year enters the 2016 season following the best professional season of her career. Kretschman finished the 2015 season with a .338 batting average, seven home runs, 22 RBI and she was a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts. She finished in the overall top five of eight offensive categories, including stolen bases, total bases and sacrifice flies (second); total hits (third); batting average, slugging percentage and runs scored (fourth); and home runs (fifth).
* Shelby Pendley: The reigning Rookie of the Year enters her second professional season following a season in which she lead all NPF rookies in eight offensive categories, topping the list in hits, slugging percentage, home runs and RBIs. Pendley ranked second overall in the NPF in doubles (10) and fifth overall in slugging percentage (.519).
* Jordan Taylor: In 2015 Taylor was named an All-NPF pitcher, her first nod in four years as a professional. Her 11 saves set an NPF record, and her 0.51 ERA was second only to Monica Abbott.
* Megan Wiggins: Wiggins ended her debut season with the Pride leading the offense with 29 RBI and 7 home runs (tied with Kelly Kretschman). In 140 at-bats, Wiggins totaled 40 hits, 68 total bases, and 5 doubles.
About the Scrap Yard Dawgs:
The Dawgs made headlines and history before the start of the 2016 season by signing Chicago Bandits ace Monica Abbott to a $1 million contract. Her contract is the NPF's first contract of the million-dollar caliber. The Dawgs, new to the NPF in 2016, also acquired sister pitchers Ivy Renfroe and Ellen Renfroe Reed, both former Vols from the University of Tennessee. Ivy came to the Dawgs from the Akron Racers with three years of professional experience after being drafted in 2013. Ellen arrives on the scene with the Dawgs with two years of professional experience after being drafted by the Bandits in 2014. Players acquired from the Pride include standout shortstop Madison Shipman, Breja'e Washington and Brigette Del Ponte.
TICKET INFO
As a promotion for the 2016 home opener, on behalf of the Scrap Yard Dawgs, fans can enjoy FREE ADMISSION to the Pride-Dawgs series. Parking fees still apply.
BROADCAST INFO
Subscribers can view all four games of the Pride-Scrap Yard Dawgs series on NPFTV via profastpitch.com.
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from June 10, 2016
- Bandits Drop Series, Finale to Charge 6-5 - Chicago Bandits
- Racers Slug Their Way to Sweep of Rebellion - Akron Racers
- National Player of the Year Sierra Romero Signs with the Pride - USSSA Pride
- The Road Less Traveled - NPF
- USSSA Pride to Face Scrap Yard Dawgs in Season Opener - USSSA Pride
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