In This Issue Publisher 2018 NPF College Draft Stafford Connor Nashville, TN. Managing Editor 6 Greg Huchingson Design/Printing REEDESIGN Lebco Graphics 12th Annual Space City Classic Contributing Writers Van Galeon 18 Greg Huchingson Julie Walton Dale Weiser Hall of Fame Classic Photographers / Credits Dual Event draws the Bill Diehm best 35-team field in the Scott Duffy world Jeff Neill 30 Pete Spatula Ben Templeton Dale Weiser Conference USSSA Phillip Wheeler Standings heading into Logistics Manager the Windy City Roy WTD Dean 31 Cover and Feature Editorial Photos Julie Walton B.J. Fulk ...a 25-year slow pitch softball force Big Time Softball is published quarterly. Publishing offices are located at 6028 42 Rayburn Dr., Fort Worth, TX. 76133. Reproduction or use of the contents in whole or in part without prior written permission of the publisher is prohibited. 33rd Annual Budweiser 6028 Rayburn Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76133 Softball Festival 817.944.7484 Bryan/College Station, TX [email protected] 45 www.BigTimeSoftball.com T COAST O COAST Big Time Softball 5 NPF Draft - 1 Paige Lowary Drafted First in 2018 NPF College Draft University, Kylee Hanson, pitcher role in the growth of professional fast- from Florida State University, and pitch softball, and I can’t wait to see Paige Parker, pitcher from University what they accomplish in the years to of Oklahoma, rounding out the first come.” round. Aussie Spirit, taking part in the “We couldn’t be happier with the selec- NPF draft for the first time, selected tion of Paige Lowary, and we welcome Kaylee Carlson, pitcher from Auburn NASHVILLE, Tenn. – N. Paige Lowary, her to the Bandits family,” said Toni University, with their historic first pitcher from the University of Calmeyn, Chicago Bandits general draft pick as a member of NPF. Oklahoma, was the first selection manager. “She’s a hugely talented “Being NPF’s partner for the 2018 Draft by the Chicago Bandits in the 2018 pitcher, and her history with Oklahoma is a great honor, something we’re all National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft shows she can compete at a high level extremely proud of, and also just a fun Presented by BLAST on Monday night consistently. We’re looking to the time,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, CEO, as the league prepares for its 15th future and know she’ll play an impor- Blast Motion. “Our partnership has anniversary. tant part in our success.” been extremely rewarding so far, and Allie Walljasper, pitcher from “As NPF kicks off its 15th season, I’m I have no doubt the women selected Louisiana State University, was excited by the support we’ve seen here tonight will continue that success selected second overall by the Beijing across the country, and across the for the league. Our goal is to aid them Shougang Eagles, with Gwen Svekis, globe, for our league and sport,” said in that success, help them be the best catcher from the University of Oregon, Cheri Kempf, NPF commissioner. “This softball players they can, and realize Randi Rupp, pitcher from Texas State year’s selections will play a massive their dreams.” First Round Third Round University of 13. Aussie Spirit Kaylee Carlson pitcher Auburn University 1. Chicago Bandits Paige Lowary pitcher Oklahoma Beijing Shougang University of 14. Brittany Gray pitcher Beijing Shougang Louisiana State Eagles Georgia 2. Allie Walljasper pitcher Eagles University 15. Chicago Bandits Jessie Scroggins outfielder Baylor University University of 3. Chicago Bandits Gwen Svekis catcher University of Oregon 16. Cleveland Comets Alexis Osorio pitcher Alabama Texas State 4. Cleveland Comets Randi Rupp pitcher University of University 17. USSSA Pride Nicole DeWitt infielder Florida Florida State 5. Cleveland Comets Kylee Hanson pitcher University Fourth Round University of 18. Aussie Spirit Kaitlin Lee pitcher Ole Miss 6. USSSA Pride Paige Parker pitcher Oklahoma Beijing Shougang 19. Victoria Draper outfielder Auburn University Second Round Eagles Florida State University of South 7. USSSA Pride Jessie Warren infielder 20. Cleveland Comets Devin Brown pitcher University Alabama Beijing Shougang University of 8. Emily Watson pitcher University of Tulsa 21. Chicago Bandits DJ Sanders infielder Eagles Oregon Louisiana State University of 9. Cleveland Comets Carley Hoover pitcher 22. Cleveland Comets Jenna Lilley infielder University Oregon pitcher/ University of University of 10. Chicago Bandits Aleshia Ocasio 23. USSSA Pride Cortni Emanuel outfielder utility player Florida Georgia 11. Cleveland Comets Vanessa Shippy utility player Oklahoma State University of 2004 2008 12. USSSA Pride Nicole Pendley outfielder CELEBRATING NPF’S 15TH SEASON! Oklahoma T 6 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball NPF Draft - 2 NPF College Draft Returns to Acme Feed & Seed, Downtown Nashville Photos by Bill Diehm and Pete Spatula Special thanks to NPF Media Coordinator, Julie Walton Mayor of the Village of Rosemont, IL., Brad Stephens (left) and USSSA Pride GM, Don Dedonatis. Rosemont, IL., home of the Chicago Bandits, will host the 2018 NPF Cowles Cup Lauren Lappin and Brad Stephens reveal the Chicago Bandits’ #1 draft pick- Oklahoma’s Paige Lowary. Championship. NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf Blast Motion’s softball channel manager, Vanessa Laughlin, being interviewed by Eric Collins and Barb Jordan. Blast was this year’s title sponsor for the draft. T 8 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball NPF Draft - 3 Beijing Eagles’ Head Coach, Teresa Wilson Representing the Chicago Bandits at the 2018 NPF College Draft were (left to right): Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz, GM Beijing Eagles’ Huang Qian (left) and Yang Liu. Toni Calmeyn and Mayor Brad Stephens. Aussie Spirit’s Chet Gray NPF VP, Gaye Lynn Wilson Cleveland Comets’ management team (left to right): Head Coach, Charlotte Morgan, Craig Stout, owner and GM Stephen Dunn. 805 Stats EVP, Pete Egedi (left) sharing ideas with Spirit’s Chet Gray. Broadcast announcers for the event were Eric Chicago Bandits’ Toni Calmeyn (left) and NPF’s media coordinator, Julie Collins and Barb Jordan. Walton. T COAST O COAST Big Time Softball 9 NPF Draft - 4 OKLAHOMA PITCHER selected by #1 ROUND 1 COLLEGE PICK # #3 2 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #4 # COLLEGE PICK 5 COLLEGE PICK T 10 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball NPF Draft - 5 #6 #7 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #8 #9 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #10 #11 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK T 12 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball NPF ad NPF Draft - 6 #12 #13 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #14 #15 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #16 #17 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK T 14 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball NPF Draft - 7 #18 #19 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #20 #21 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK #22 #23 COLLEGE PICK COLLEGE PICK T 16 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball Baugh Ford topples All Out to capture 12th Space City Classic Text by Van Galeon Photos by Pete Spatula 12th Annual Space City Classic Champions Baugh Ford/ Pure Sports/ Kincaid - Clanton, AL “If at first you don’t succeed, “It was a great feeling to win the Space each of the past nine years, and with Try, try, try again.” City – 64 teams regardless of the class 64 again teams this year it will surely is hard to win,” said player/sponsor be the largest of 2018. Many of the – William Edward Hickson Tommie Baugh. “I have about five teams at Space City are C and D teams guys on this team that had never won from the fertile Texas softball commu- ommie Baugh has been bringing a Conference USSSA event, so that’s nity. But this year the tournament his softball team to Houston something they will remember for a was the strongest field ever, with 18 since 2011 with limited success. long time.” Conference USSSA teams (compared to In 2011, Baugh Ford went 4-2 to The Conference USSSA tournament just 12 the year before) and included a Ttie for ninth place in the Space City Major team, four AA teams and eight was played April 13-15 at Big League Classic. In 2013, they finished second Dreams in League City, located minutes Class A teams. There were 29 Class B behind ASP Nation with a 7-2 record. from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. and above teams entered, including Last year they went 4-2 to capture Space City was the second tournament teams from 14 different states. fourth place. of the 2018 Conference USSSA season, The 10 A and above Conference USSSA But this year Baugh Ford/Pure Sports/ following the Sin City Classic one week teams entered were Dan Smith/ Kincaid from Clanton, Alabama put earlier in Las Vegas. Menosse/Steven Smith from San Jose, it all together and went undefeated The Space City Classic has drawn the Calif. (Major); Precision/3rdStreet/ through seven games to win the cham- largest number of total teams among Bull Dawg from Chicago, Ill. (AA); pionship of the 12th Annual Space City all Conference USSSA tournaments Nightmare/Miken from Branson, Classic. Mo. (AA); Pure Sports/Monsta from T 18 COAST O COAST Big Time Softball Premier Athletics ad Charleston, South Carolina (AA); Riot Sports/Broughton/Beckham/ Worth from Tampa, Fla. (AA); AllOut/ SteelSports/Miken from Whitehouse, Texas (A); Baugh Ford/Pure Sports/ Kincaid from Clanton, Al. (A); Stars/ VSP/Miken/Thunder from Denver, Co. (A); Seminoles/TPS/Miken from Tulsa, Ok. (A); Vivid/Killbombers/OA/Easton from Frisco, Texas (A); A&A/Miken/ TI Sports/ASP/Hovas from Houston (A); Primetime/Easton/Evolution from Forsyth, Ga. (A); and SNI/Easton/SDA/ Dynasty from Orlando, Fla. Many teams played one or two games 12th Annual Space City Classic- Second Place All Out/ Steel Sports/ Miken - Whitehouse, TX on Friday night, including Baugh Ford who defeated Clutch City from Houston (32-1) and Entourage/Kade Luke Insurance from Raceland, La.