NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Pro Fastpitch held its annual Winter Meetings January 18-20 in Nashville. Representatives from all teams, including owners and General Managers, were on hand to discuss and plan for the upcoming 2017 season, which included the release of its 2017 season schedule.
The 120-game regular season schedule breaks down to 48 games per team. The 2017 season kicks off on June 1, with a three-game series slated at The Ballpark at Rosemont featuring the Chicago Bandits hosting the Akron Racers. The remaining three teams of Scrap Yard Dawgs, Texas Charge and USSSA Pride open the following weekend on June 8.
The regular season concludes on August 13 followed by the NPF Championship Series. The Series’ location and dates have not yet been announced.
To see the full 2017 NPF Schedule, click here
Each year, the Winter Meetings yield policy changes, rule approvals and adjustments, and the upcoming season schedule, among other things. Highlighting this year’s results are an increase in the team salary cap and an increase in the maximum players allowed on a roster.
In addition, some ground breaking rule adjustments will be implemented into league play in 2017, specifically in the area of pitching. Pitching regulations will align much more with WBSC pitching rules, as opposed to the history of echoing NCAA outlines. The penalty for an illegal pitch, will be reduced from “a ball on the batter and advancement of one base to all baserunners”, to simply, “one ball on the batter and no baserunner advancement”.
Growing emphasis will be placed on further regulation and monitoring of allowable bats for NPF competition. Bats supplied to NPF players will be limited to NPF partner suppliers who completely understand the bat performance parameters and who stand behind their manufacturing and distribution process in maintaining bats that conform to the legal allowances of the league.
“Our Winter Meetings are a time for us to come together and make the league better from season to season”, commented league Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “I am proud of our group of team owners and GM’s in continuing to make changes that not only fit the elite level of competition housed in NPF, but lead the way in making the game better overall for players, fans and teams.”
For Summary of NPF Winter Meetings click here
— Courtesy of NPF