“Sulphur Parks and Recreation is proud to continue the great relationships formed in the 2010 Championships with the NPF League and their outstanding players. We look forward to the many positive aspects the National Pro FastPitch Championship Series brings to Southwest Louisiana,” said Norman Farr, director of Sulphur Parks and Recreation.
The NPF Championship Series is the League’s hallmark event and is designed to feature the League’s outstanding talent in a playoff/tournament format. All four NPF Teams participate in the Championship Series. The format is a best of 3 series between the #1 and #4 seed, along with a best of 3 series between the #2 and #3 seeds, with the winners of those two series’ facing off in a best of 3 Final Championship Series. This will be the second time the event will be held in the state of Louisiana.
“The people of Southwest Louisiana and specifically the leadership of the Sulphur Parks and Recreation Department along with the Lake Charles CVB welcomed the NPF in 2010 with open arms, which enabled NPF to hold a first class championship experience,” commented Commissioner Cheri Kempf of the National Pro Fastpitch League. “We believe the environment and accommodations in Sulphur and Lake Charles will greatly contribute to making the NPF Championship Series the premier women’s fastpitch softball competition in the world.”
In last year’s NPF Championship Series, the #2 Seed of the Series, USSSA Florida Pride, captured the title after first winning a best of 3 series from the #3 Seed Akron Racers, before moving into the Final Series round against the #1 Seed 3-peat Ringor Cup Regular Season Champions, the Chicago Bandits. The Chicago Bandits earned their way to the Final Series through the Tennessee Diamonds. The Pride’s Natasha Watley was named the MVP of the 2010 NPF Championship Series.
“The positive superlatives stretch from great Economics to the quality of life additions manifested through their charity works, sports promotion through youth outreach, and other “fun” Fan Fest events. Southwest Louisiana “Can’t Wait” for 2011,” said Farr.
The Championship Series will be surrounded by additional promotional events including a Pro-Am Golf Tournament, 5K Race, NPF/Ringor Friends of the Pros Game (for handicapped athletes) , NPF 2011 Season Awards Luncheon, and a Players Clinic. In addition to that, a series of USSSA youth qualifying tournaments that coincide with the Championship Series are expected to be announced soon. Television coverage has yet to be finalized.
“We are honored to once again host the National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series,” said Eric Zartler, Senior Sales Manager/Athletics for the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Southwest Louisiana community truly embraced this event in 2010 and showed their support by turning out in record numbers for the Series. “
“Southwest Louisiana set the bar a long time ago for youth sports and we are thrilled to be a part of bringing professional athletes and a professional Championship Series to the area once again,” Zartler added.
“An event like the National Professional Fastpitch Championship Series has large economic implications for the entire area,” said Shelley Johnson, Executive Director of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In addition to the funding generated by the visitor expenditures on food, gas and souvenirs, the Series also brings a national spotlight to Southwest Louisiana.”
Tickets for the event will go on-sale February 1st. More information can be found by visiting the NPF Championship Series site at http://championship.profastpitch.com/
or by visiting http://profastpitch.com/.
