NPF adds 6th team, Houston
The National Pro Fastpitch added an expansion team for the 2016 season.
The new team will be known as the Scrap Yard Dawgs and will be based in Woodlands, Texas, just north of Houston.
The Dawgs will be the sixth team in the NPF, joining the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride.
The Dawgs are the first NPF franchise to be based in the Houston area since 2007 when the Texas Thunder left for Rockford, Ill.
The Dawgs have designated The Scrap Yard in the Woodlands, Texas, as their home park and base of operations. The Scrap Yard is nationally renowned for hosting tournaments, showcases and college recruiting events.
“We are extremely proud of this announcement,” said NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf. “Professional fastpitch continues to enjoy expansion and the state of Texas gains another jewel in its crown of women’s professional sports. The Scrap Yard Sports Complex is already an impressive venue and will most certainly make a great location for the Dawgs to call home.”
The Houston area is home to more than 6.2 million people and features one of the largest and most active youth softball communities in the country.
“We are very excited that the Scrap Yard Dawgs will call the Scrap Yard Sports Complex their home,” said Connie May, Director of Operations for Scrap Yard Sports, “We already host numerous high school and college tournaments, so we are very pleased to be adding a National Pro Fastpitch team to our lineup as well.”
Kevin Shelton will serve as general manager. Shelton recently led the latest NPF expansion team, the Dallas Charge, to the playoffs in their inaugural season.
“It’s an extremely exciting opportunity for women’s fastpitch and the entire greater Houston area,” said Shelton. “The NPF is growing and we are pleased to be a part of that growth and honored to provide these gifted women a chance to compete in the sport they love as professionals. Houston has a vibrant fastpitch community. I am confident that the entire area will benefit from the presence of a professional women’s fastpitch team.”
Whitney Cloer will serve as assistant general manager. Cloer was an assistant coach at Troy University, and volunteer assistant coach at Arkansas and Oklahoma, after her playing career ended at Arkansas.
The Scrap Yard Dawgs will begin play as the NPF season opens in June of 2016. The team’s website is www.scrapyarddawgs.com.