The 1999 Women's Professional Softball League season was the third season of professional fastpitch softball for the league named Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). In 1997 and 1998, WPSL operated under the name Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF).
Milestones and Events
After the 1998 season, the WPF (Women's Pro Fastpitch) changed its name to Women's Professional Softball League season (WPSL). WPSL Commissioner/CEO John Carroll said the change should improve the league's name recognition, as "The term 'softball' is more readily recognized by our mass audience than the term 'fastpitch'," Carroll said. "We believe the name change will result in higher public recognition. It will allow people to identify with the sport we play, rather than our style of play." Also, two-time WPF Champion Orlando Wahoos folded, and their roster was assigned to the expansion Akron Racers.
On December 22, Centenary College of Shreveport, LA softball coach Michael Bastian was hired as the full-time head coach of the Racers. The other full-time WPSL coaches were Willie Rucker for the Carolina Diamonds, Judy Martino for the Durham Dragons, Cindy Bristow for the Georgia Pride, Linda Derk for the Tampa Bay FireStix, and Terri Pearson for the Virginia Roadsters.
On March 23, the Durham Dragons introduced Bill Miller as general manager, replacing Dena Lambert.
The WPSL cancelled all preseason games, citing that many draft picks and free agents would be participating in the Women's College World Series.
On July 16, Georgia's Desarie Knipfer pitched the second perfect game in WPSL history, beating the Dragons 6-0.
Teams, cities and stadiums TeamCityStadium Akron Racers Akron, Ohio Firestone Stadium Carolina Diamonds Gastonia, North Carolina Sims Legion Park Durham Dragons Durham, North Carolina Durham Athletic Park Georgia Pride Columbus, Georgia South Commons Softball Complex Tampa Bay FireStix Tampa, Florida Red McEwen Field Virginia Roadsters Hampton, Virginia War Memorial Stadium
Player Acquisition
College Draft
On December 5, 1998 the 1999 WPSL Senior Draft was held in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Durham Dragons selected 3B Isonette Polonius of East Carolina University with the first pick.
Notable Transactions
League standings Source: TeamWLPct.GB Tampa Bay FireStix 37 29 .561 - Akron Racers 34 32 .515 3 Virginia Roadsters 34 32 .515 3 Georgia Pride 33 33 .500 4 Carolina Diamonds 32 34 .485 5 Durham Dragons 28 38.424 9
WPSL Championship The 1999 WPSL Championship Series was held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio August 24-8. The top three teams on the standings qualified. The second- and third-place teams, the Racers and Roadsters, played a best-of-three semifinal series. The semifinal winner, the Racers, played the first-place team, the FireStix, in a best-of-three final series.
1999 WPSL SemifinalsAkron Racers defeat Virginia Roadsters 2–0 Game Date Score Series Location 1 August 24 Akron Racers 1, Virginia Roadsters 0 1–0 Akron, Ohio 2 August 25 Akron Racers 4, Virginia Roadsters 1 2-0 Akron, Ohio
1999 WPSL ChampionshipTampa Bay FireStix defeat Akron Racers 2–0 Game Date Score Series Location 1 August 27 Tampa Bay FireStix 3, Akron Racers 2, (12 innings) 1–0 Akron, Ohio 2 August 28 Tampa Bay FireStix 2, Akron Racers 1 2-0 Akron, Ohio
1999 WPSL Championship Series Most Valuable PlayerPlayerClubPat DufficyTampa Bay FireStix
Annual awards Source: Regular season championsTampa Bay FireStix
AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable Player Kaci ClarkVirginia RoadstersPitcher of the Year Kaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters23-8, 1.51 ERA, 168 KsHitter of the Year Marty LaudatoTampa Bay FireStix .311 BA, 8 HRs, 36 RBIsDefensive Player of the YearRandi BergGeorgia Pride.966 fielding %, 92 assists, 137 putouts, 237 total chances, 19 double playsHome Run ChampionMonica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds12 HR (WPSL record)Coach of the YearLinda DerkTampa Bay FireStix
1999 WPSL All-Star Game
The 1999 WPSL All-Star Game was played on June 13 in Plant City, FL at Plant City Stadium, televised on July 29 later on ESPN2. The game feature 30 players split between two teams, one called the "WPSL Stars" and the other "WPSL Stripes." The Stars included players from the Akron Racers, Durham Dragons and Virginia Roadsters, and the Stripes were made up of Carolina Diamonds, Georgia Pride and Tampa Bay FireStix.
The WPSL Stars beat the WPSL Stripes by a score of a 5-4. Roadsters catcher Scia Maumausolo hit a game-winning home run in the eighth inning and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Following are the All-Star rosters:
1999 WPSL STARS All-STARSPlayerWPSL TeamPositionVOTED STARTERSCarla BrookbankAkron Racers1BCrystl BustosAkron RacersSSTraci ConradAkron RacersOFTobin Echo-HawkAkron Racers2BTamara IvieVirginia RoadstersOFAmy KylerAkron RacersPStephanie LittleDurham DragonsCNicole OdomAkron Racers3BJen SmithDurham DragonsDPKellyn TateAkron RacersOFRESERVESKaci ClarkVirginia RoadstersPMichele HawkinsDurham DragonsPScia MaumausoloVirginia RoadstersCPatti RaduenzDurham DragonsSSCheri ShinnVirginia RoadstersOFCOACHESMichael BastianAkron RacersAll-Star Head CoachJudy MartinoDurham DragonsAll-Star Assistant CoachTerri PearsonVirginia RoadstersAll-Star Assistant Coach
1999 WPSL STRIPES ALL-STARSPlayerWPSL TeamPositionVOTED STARTERSMonica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds3BPatti BenedictGeorgia PrideOFCrystal BoydGeorgia PrideSSDanielle CoxGeorgia PrideOFMarty LaudatoTampa Bay FirestixCSara GrazianoTampa Bay FireStixDPMichelle HublerTampa Bay FireStix2BVictoria HuffCarolina Diamonds1BVenus TaylorTampa Bay FireStixOFDeeDee Weiman-GarciaTampa Bay FireStixPRESERVESKaren JacksonCarolina DiamondsPJulie CrandallGeorgia PrideCBrandee McArthurCarolina DiamondsPChristine Parris-WashingtonTampa Bay FireStix3BGina PerezTampa Bay FireStixOFCOACHESLinda DerkTampa Bay FireStixAll-Star Head CoachWillie RuckerCarolina DiamondsAll-Star Assistant CoachCindy BristowGeorgia PrideAll-Star Assistant Coach
Statistical leaders Source:
Batting BATTING TOP 10 (MINIMUM 158 PLATE APPEARANCES) BATTERCLUBAVGGABRHHRRBIKellyn TateAkron Racers.320601753256428 Marty LaudatoTampa Bay FireStix.311601772355836 Patti BenedictGeorgia Pride.304662372972021 Scia MaumausoloVirginia Roadsters.302611821655842 Traci ConradAkron Racers.291582062860014 Ali ViolaTampa Bay FireStix.287571782651628 Monica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds.2866618528531235 Danielle CoxGeorgia Pride.28657182215209 Venus TaylorTampa Bay FireStix.282602022957116 Priscilla WelchVirginia Roadsters.282661952055013 HOME RUNS BATTERCLUBHRMonica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds12Marty LaudatoTampa Bay FireStix8Andrea D'InnocenzoCarolina Diamonds8Scia MaumausoloVirginia Roadsters8Several Players Tied at 7
RBI BATTERCLUBRBIScia MaumausoloVirginia Roadsters42Marty LaudatoTampa Bay FireStix36Andrea D'InnocenzoCarolina Diamonds36Monica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds35Jen SmithDurham Dragons30
STOLEN BASES BATTERCLUBSBDawn WuthrichCarolina Diamonds26Jen BufordCarolina Diamonds21Venus TaylorTampa Bay FireStix14Traci ConradAkron Racers14Several Players Tied at 13
TEAM BATTING CLUBAVGABRHHRBBSOSBCSTampa Bay FireStix.2531770231447292082313621 Akron Racers.2441794242437332062716836 Georgia Pride.2441849186451151532125127 Virginia Roadsters.2431772210430211662377321 Carolina Diamonds.2341826193427261502509326 Durham Dragons.2271808178411181232333416 HITS BATTERCLUBHPatti BenedictGeorgia Pride72 Traci ConradAkron Racers60 Dawn WuthrichCarolina Diamonds59 Venus TaylorTampa Bay FireStix57 Andrea D'InnocenzoCarolina Diamonds57
DOUBLES BATTERCLUB2BKellyn TateAkron Racers11 Patti BenedictGeorgia Pride11 Ali ViolaTampa Bay FireStix9Kendall RichardsGeorgia Pride9 Several Players Tied at 8
TRIPLES BATTERCLUB3BSarah FredstromVirginia Roadsters5 Jen BufordCarolina Diamonds4 Several Players Tied at 3
ON-BASE PERCENTAGE BATTERCLUBOBPNancy EvansTampa Bay FireStix.439 Monica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds.432 Kellyn TateAkron Racers.420 Scia MaumausoloVirginia Roadsters.402 Cheri ShinnVirginia Roadsters.387
SLUGGING PERCENTAGE BATTERCLUBSLGMonica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds.541 Scia MaumausoloVirginia Roadsters.489 Kellyn TateAkron Racers.486 Marty LaudatoTampa Bay FireStix.480Liza BrownAkron Racers.459
EXTRA-BASE HITS BATTERCLUBXBHMonica ArmendarezCarolina Diamonds21 Sarah FredstromVirginia Roadsters19 Kellyn TateAkron Racers18 Scia MaumausoloVirginia Roadsters17 Several Players Tied at 15
RUNS SCORED BATTERCLUBRSarah FredstromVirginia Roadsters34 Cheri ShinnVirginia Roadsters33 Kellyn TateAkron Racers32 Several Players Tied at 29
Pitching PITCHING TOP 10 (MINIMUM 66 IP) PITCHERCLUBW-LERAIPHBBSOSteph KlaviterGeorgia Pride5- 90.85107823349Kaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters23- 81.5123117489168Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride15-111.6619013951147Brandee McArthurCarolina Diamonds16-111.721911507680Monica TrinerTampa Bay FireStix10- 71.741331192551Sarah DawsonAkron Racers13- 81.911431204288Amy KylerAkron Racers7- 71.97110804759Trinity JohnsonDurham Dragons8- 61.9796783258Heather ComptonTampa Bay FireStix10-111.991271043980Dee Dee Weiman-GarciaTampa Bay FireStix16- 92.0118816953123
WINS PITCHERCLUBWKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters23Dee Dee Weiman-GarciaTampa Bay FireStix16Brandee McArthurCarolina Diamonds16Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride15Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds14
SAVES PITCHERCLUBSSarah DawsonAkron Racers3Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride2Several Players Tied at 1
STRIKEOUTS PITCHERCLUBKKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters168Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride147Dee Dee Weiman-GarciaTampa Bay FireStix123Michele HawkinsDurham Dragons97Sarah DawsonAkron Racers88
TEAM PITCHING CLUBW-LERAHCGSHOSVHRBBSOGeorgia Pride33- 331.644494013327146273Tampa Bay FireStix37- 292.03415518224126262Akron Racers34- 322.19411437520168225Carolina Diamonds32- 342.48440435119208172Virginia Roadsters34- 322.554303810021189255Durham Dragon28- 382.63458455131169247
GAMES PITCHERCLUBGKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters38Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds35Michele HawkinsDurham Dragons33Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride32Several Players Tied at 29
COMPLETE GAMES PITCHERCLUBCGKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters26Dee Dee Weiman-GarciaTampa Bay FireStix22Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds20Brandee McArthurCarolina Diamonds20Michele HawkinsDurham Dragons18
SHUTOUTS PITCHERCLUBSOKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters7Sarah DawsonAkron Racers5Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds4Several Players Tied at 3
INNINGS PITCHED PITCHERCLUBIPKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters231.1Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds203.1Brandee McArthurCarolina Diamonds191.1Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride190.0Dee Dee Weiman-GarciaTampa Bay FireStix188.0
LOSSES PITCHERCLUBL Michele HawkinsDurham Dragons15Amie StewartDurham Dragons13Several Players Tied at 11
WALKS PITCHERCLUBBBKaci ClarkVirginia Roadsters89Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds88Brandee McArthurCarolina Diamonds76Amie StewartDurham Dragons68Several Players Tied at 53
HOME RUNS ALLOWED PITCHERCLUBHRMichele HawkinsDurham Dragons14Desarie KnipferGeorgia Pride12Karen JacksonCarolina Diamonds11 Amie StewartDurham Dragons11Several Players Tied at 7
References
External links
See also
List of professional sports leagues List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada