The 1997 Women's Pro Fastpitch season was the first season of women's professional softball for Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF). The season began on May 30, 1997 and finished in a championship series between the two highest finishers.
Teams, cities and stadiums TeamCityStadium Carolina Diamonds Charlotte, North Carolina Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium at D.L. Phillips Softball Complex Durham Dragons Durham, North Carolina Durham Athletic Park Georgia Pride Lithonia, Georgia Southeast Athletic Complex Orlando Wahoos Winter Park, Florida Alfond Stadium at Rollins College Tampa Bay FireStix Tampa, Florida Red McEwen Field Virginia Roadsters Hampton, Virginia War Memorial Stadium
Milestones and Events Launching the WPF
The WPF was the second attempt at an American professional women's fastpitch softball league. The previous league, the International Women's Professional Softball Association, lasted from 1976-1979.
In January 1989, former Utah State pitcher Jane Cowles, approached her parents, Sage and John, owners of Cowles Media Company, with a plan for a professional women's fastpitch league. They believed there was potential in the idea, and began a period of research. They raised funds to establish the National Fastpitch Association (NFA) in 1991 in Boulder, Colorado.
In June 1993, the NFA held an exhibition series of two teams of former collegiate fastpitch players around the country. After evaluating the success of the exhibitions, the NFA focused research on possible markets, investors and sponsors. NFA's moved their offices to Minneapolis/St. Paul where Jay Cowles, Jane's brother, become CEO.
On January 19, 1994, Jay Cowles officially announced the formation of the National Fastpitch Association. Plans to begin league play in 1996 with an exhibition tour scheduled for the summer of 1995 was announced.
Making the game's national debut on August 11, 1994, the Decatur Pride and the California Commotion faced off at Borg Warner Stadium in Decatur, Illinois, later broadcast by ESPN2. By late fall of 1994, planning for an exhibition Tour was underway, and NFA changed its name to Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). In February 1995, Mitzi Swentzell, former Executive Vice President of the Denver Nuggets, assumed the position of President and CEO.
From June 15 to July 13, the 1995 WPF Tour featured two All-Star teams, called the Blaze and the Storm, that played in 16 cities and eight states.
WPF held its first draft at its Minneapolis offices on October 31, 1995. Swentzell announced that the league would play its first season in the summer of 1997. WPF offices moved to Denver, and another draft, consisting of 1997 college seniors, was held March 20.
After more than eight years of planning, the WPF played its first games May 30, 1997. Opening games were played in Durham and Orlando. The Virginia Roadsters claimed the first win in league history, defeating the Durham Dragons 2-1 in a broadcast on ESPN2. Games that season were also shown on the Sunshine Network, Fox Sports South and WPEN-LP.
Teams played a 72-game schedule, with the winners of each half meeting in a championship series. Each team had a salary cap of $74,000 for their 15-player rosters. AT&T Wireless was the main sponsor, promising $4 million over three seasons. The league owned everything from vending rights to player contracts to franchises.
Player Acquisition
College Draft
NewsOK.com reported that, in anticipation of the launch of the WPF, a draft was held in October, 1995. Among those drafted included Michelle Smith and Lisa Fernandez. NewsOK.com also reported that the draftees would be assigned to teams in the Midwest and the West Coast and that the WPF would begin play in 1996. As no teams were on the West Coast and the league launched in 1997, these detail were premature.
A 1997 draft of college seniors was held March 20.
League standings Source:
TeamGPWLTPct.GB Orlando Wahoos 70 57 12 1 .826 - Virginia Roadsters 70 33 37 0 .471 24.5 Tampa Bay Firestix 70 31 39 0 .443 26.5 Durham Dragons 70 30 39 1 .435 27 Carolina Diamonds 70 29 41 0 .414 28.5 Georgia Pride 70 29 41 0 .414 28.5
WPF Championship The 1997 WPF Championship Series was a best-of-five series between the Orlando Wahoos and the Virginia Roadsters. The Wahoos won both halves of the season, with the Roadsters finishing behind them.
1997 WPF ChampionshipOrlando Wahoos defeat Virginia Roadsters 3–1 Game Score Series 1 Orlando Wahoos 3, Virginia Roadsters 1 1–0 2 Orlando Wahoos 3, Virginia Roadsters 4 1–1 3 Orlando Wahoos 10, Virginia Roadsters 3 2-1 4 Orlando Wahoos 11, Virginia Roadsters 1 3-1
1997 WPF Championship Series MVP PlayerClubDebbie DoomOrlando Wahoos
Annual awards Sources:
AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable PlayerSarah DawsonOrlando WahoosPitcher of the YearSarah DawsonOrlando WahoosHitter of the YearLiz MizeraOrlando WahoosDefensive Player of the Year Rashunda TaylorOrlando WahoosHome Run ChampionsSue Lewis-NewtonOrlando WahoosLiz MizeraOrlando WahoosTrisha ReinhardtDurham DragonsCoach of the YearLu HarrisOrlando Wahoos
References
External links
See also
List of professional sports leagues List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada