USSSA Pride 2 , Bandits 0
The Pride gave the ball to Danielle Lawrie in the Pride’s Opening Day contest against the bandits while the Bandits sent Jamie Juarez to the circle to face off against the USSSA Pride.
Ashley Charters started things off in the bottom of the first with single to centerfield. Jessica Mendoza followed up with a double and Charters advanced, scoring on the throw. The veteran Kelly Kretschman scored Mendoza with a single and the Pride ended the frame having scored their first 2 runs of the 2011 season.
The game continued quietly after the first inning with Danielle Lawrie showcasing why the Pride signed her in the 2010 season, as she blanked the Bandits, holding them to two hits while striking out 4 and walking 1. Vicky Galindo and Dorian Shaw were the lone hits for the Chicago Bandits in this first contest between the two NPF rivals. Jamee Juarez gave up two runs while striking out 5 and walking none.
The series looks to be a very competitive dual between two of the NPF’s most powerful and talented teams.
The action continues tomorrow at 3PM when the two teams square off in double header at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida in a Nationally televised contest on ESPN 2. Stay tuned.
About USSSA Florida Pride:
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!