Nashville, TN – National Pro Fastpitch announced today the addition of a new team set to begin competition in the upcoming 2013 season. The new team, the NY/NJ Comets, will be headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey and will play games in venues located in New Jersey and New York, with a two game outreach series in Pennsylvania.
The Comets were granted rights to expiring contracts for players who were on the roster of the former Carolina Diamonds in 2012, whose franchise was terminated following the conclusion of the 2012 championship season. In addition, the Comets will assume the second position in each round of the upcoming player draft (the position vacated as a result of the termination of the Carolina franchise).
Michael Neuwirth is the President and acting General Manager of the newly formed NY/NJ Comets and will be handling the day to day operations of the team.
“I am thrilled to be part of NPF and bring professional softball to the Northeast,” Neuwirth said. “Having daughters who play softball, I gained an appreciation for the sport as a parent, coach and fan.”
“Softball has had a positive influence on our family. It began in 2008 when our daughters met their idols Jessica Mendoza, Jennie Finch, and the rest of the USA Olympians. The look of joy when our daughters received autographs planted the seed for what eventually grew into the NY/NJ Comets,” Neuwirth continued. “Today, those Olympians and many more elite athletes are playing in the NPF. These women inspire our youth both on and off the field. The mission of the Comets is to showcase these extraordinary role models in the Northeast and to promote the female spirit through softball.”
Fans in the Northeastern market will have many opportunities to see the Comets as they bring 16 home games to the region in 2013. Those games will be played in minor league baseball venues that will be converted for regulation NPF competition. Tickets will be available beginning February 21, 2013, and may be purchased through the Comets Pro Softball website or on any game day at the venue location box office.
“The League is thrilled to deliver professional fastpitch competition to the Northeastern market once again,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “This is an area that has always supported the sport of fastpitch softball and continues to produce top quality players in our sport. I believe the fan base that exists here, will support the overall growth of this game at the professional level.”
The NPF is set to celebrate in 2013 its tenth regular season, with championship play opening in June. The Comets join the Akron Racers, the League’s most experienced professional organization celebrating a 12th season of professional competition in 2013; the winningest organization in NPF history, the Chicago Bandits; and the USSSA Florida Pride, an organization that boasts the most decorated and accomplished roster, touting 9 former Olympians. Schedule details for the 2013 season are set to be released mid-February.
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!