League Standings
Texas Thunder (12-6)
Akron Racers (10-6)
NY/NJ Juggernaut (11-7)
New England Riptide (7-11)
Arizona Heat (6-10)
California Sunbirds (5-11)
Team-by-Team Notes
THUNDER
Last Week: The Texas Thunder remains in first place in the league standings, just one game ahead of the NY/NJ Juggernaut and the Akron Racers. Texas started the week hosting Arizona, where they took 2-of-3 from the Heat. Peaches James and Christa Williams continued their strong starts, as each picked up another victory before suffering their first defeats of the season. Lindsay Gardner and Clare Burnum continue to carry the Thunder offense. Gardner is in the top five in average, hits, homeruns and RBI’s, while Burnum leads the league in homers with four.
This Week: Due to rain showers in Houston, the Thunder was forced to postpone their series with the Racers. Texas will start a nine-game road trip in Arizona on Sunday evening.
RACERS
Last Week:After taking two games from the league-leading Thunder, the Racers find themselves only one game out of first. Akron was led on the mound last week by former Olympian Danielle Henderson. Henderson went 2-0 last week and finished second in Player of the Week votes to her teammate, Iyhia McMichael.
This Week: Due to rain showers in Houston, the Racers were forced to postpone their series with the Thunder. Akron will look to improve on its two-game winning streak on Sunday when they host the Juggernaut.
JUGGERNAUT
Last Week: The Juggernaut fell from second to third this week, but trail the second place Racers by percentage points. Pitcher Amanda Scott was the bright spot for NY/NJ, picking up two more wins. Scott is tied for the league lead in wins with five.
This Week: The Nauts begin a nine-game road trip this week beginning in New England tonight. After leaving the Riptide, NY/NJ will travel to Akron to play the Racers.
RIPTIDE
Last Week: New England started the week winning two of their first three home games. They took 2-of-3 from California before dropping 2-of-3 to the Juggernaut. The Riptide have played 39 innings in their last two games, with Monday’s game vs. NY/NJ went a diamond sports record 27 innings. Pitcher Dana Sorenson picked up a win in her first outing since pitching for the Stanford Cardinal in the WCWS.
This Week: The Riptide will be hosting their second home series of the season when they play the Juggernaut (6/23-25). The home stand will be short, as the team will travel to Stockton to take on the Sunbirds beginning on Sunday, June 27.
HEAT
Last Week: The Heat took 2-of-3 games from the California Sunbirds, after losing 2 of-3 to the Texas Thunder. Arizona continues to be lead on offense by former Wildcat standout Wendy Allen. Allen leads the team with a .316 batting average and she remains the only member of the Heat with an average above .300. Pitcher Tarrah Beyster earned her first season of the season in the Heat’s 1-0 win over the Sunbirds on June 20.
This Week: Arizona will begin a season-long nine game home stand tonight when they host the California Sunbirds. The Heat will then welcome he league-leading Thunder to Tucson beginning on Sunday night.
SUNBIRDS
Last Week: The Sunbirds continue to struggle on offense, scoring only nine runs in their last six games. Over the teams last ten games they went 2-8 and have fallen five full games behind league leader Texas. Pitcher Jodie Cox has been the most used of the Sunbirds pitchers, collecting a 2-7 record.
This Week: California looks to rebound from losing 2-of-3 to the Heat last week when they travel to Tucson to play Arizona beginning tonight. California will play three on the road before returning home to host the New England Riptide.
NPF Player of the Week
Iyhia McMichael. Akron Racers
Outfield (Mississippi State)
McMichael finished last week with a .400 (8-for-20) batting average for the Racers, including her first career homerun. Over her last six games, McMichael collected two hits in three games, and was held hitless in only one game. During the same time frame, McMichael hit three doubles, drove in three and scored four runs, all in helping Akron move into the second place position in the league standings. McMichael’s hot stretch vaulted her to the top of the league in batting average at .375. McMichael is also in the top 10 in hits, runs, doubles and RBIs.
