Rockford Thunder Captures 2009 NPF Title; Bear Creek Little League Graduate Cat Osterman Named Championship Series MVP

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The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Championship Series was hosted by the Akron Racers at Firestone Stadium on Aug. 19–23.  The top four teams in the league’s standings earned the opportunity to compete for the Cowles Cup, with the Rockford Thunder taking the title in three games over the Florida Pride.

For the second consecutive season, the Chicago Bandits finished the year as regular season champions and clinched the No. 1 seed heading into playoffs with a league-best 27-12 record.

The Akron Racers finished in second place with a 26-14 mark after taking four out of five games against the league-leading Chicago Bandits in Elgin, Ill., toward the end of the regular season.

Pitcher Cat Osterman (11-1 for the season) solidified the Thunder’s No. 3 playoff spot with a 19-21 record. The Pride dashed the Philadelphia Force’s playoff hopes in Allentown, Pa., with a 3-2 win to clinch the final playoff berth with a 15-24 record.

“The NPF Championship Series positions the most talented athletes in the sport of women’s fastpitch softball on opposite sides of the field,” Cheri Kempf, President and Commissioner, said. “Whenever you have the greatest opponents you are bound to be entertained.”

Miss Osterman, a former member of the Bear Creek Little League in Houston, Texas, earned the NPF Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award after picking up all of her team's playoff victories. The Thunder ace only gave up two runs, one earned, in her five tournament starts.

The Florida Pride and Thunder met in Game 1 of the NPF Championship Series in Akron, and the Pride grabbed the victory, 4-0, behind a strong pitching performance by Sarah Pauly and timely hitting throughout the Pride lineup.

Early in the game, a Kristin Schnake single started a rally highlighted by Amber Jackson, who drove a ball up the middle to score Miss Schnake with the Pride’s first run.  That would be how the score would stay for the next three innings, as Miss Pauly and Thunder starter Allison Kime engaged in a pitcher's duel for the first half of the game.  Then in the top of the fourth the Pride broke through for a big inning, scoring three runs.

Facing elimination in Game 2, the Rockford Thunder turned to Osterman, who threw a 2-0 complete game, outdueling Pride ace Monica Abbott.  Miss Osterman struck out 13 hitters, and scattered five hits in seven innings.

The Thunder captured its first Cowles Cup with a 2-0 victory in Game 3.

Rockford climbed back from the brink of elimination to win both of their series and became champions.

For the tournament, Osterman went 4-1, striking out 50 batters in 31 innings (five starts).

“I am sorry for any true fastpitch fan that missed the action in this Series,” Kempf said. “The competition and quality of play was second to no other sports championship that exists.  In the future, the challenge for the NPF is to share this experience with many more sports enthusiasts.”

More information on the 2009 National Professional Fastpitch season is available, at: www.profastpitch.com.