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Bandits Mon Jul 15 2013
Rosemont Hosts the 2013 National Pro Fastpitch Softball Championship
Chicagoans know that softball (16 or 12 inch) is a way of city life once the grass turns green and temps rise above 50. Local parks fill up with all ages of ballplayers, hoping to squeeze in one more season and do their best to not pull a hammy.
And while cheering on your friends and loved ones, while praying they don't break an ankle, might seem like a lot of fun, why not hop the Blue Line to Rosemont and watch how the real pros get it done at the 2013 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series.
The event takes place Thursday, August 22, through Saturday, August 24, at the Ballpark in Rosemont located at; you guessed it, 27 Jennie Finch Way. The Championship Series is sponsored through National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), which has given elite female fastpitch players the chance to compete since 1997. The teams representing this year are USSSA Pride, NY/NJ Comets, Akron Racers and your Chicago Bandits, the 2011 Cowles Cup champs.
"The NPF is so thrilled to be back in Rosemont for this year's Championship Series," said NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf. "We are going to have a very exciting competition this year, especially as the audience for women's fastpitch softball continues to grow."
The first game will be held at 7:00pm on August 22 with a live broadcast on ESPN2 of the 4:00pm game on August 24. A tape-delayed broadcast of the "if necessary" game will be shown on Sunday, August 25, at 4:00pm. The entire schedule is as follows, which features two elimination games prior to the best of three Final Series:
National Pro Fastpitch Championship Schedule:
Thursday, August 22
Game 1: 7 p.m. (#4 vs. #3)
Friday, August 23
Game 2: 5:30 p.m. (Game 1 winner vs. #2)
Game 3: 8:30 p.m. (Game 2 winner vs. #1)
Saturday, August 24
Game 4: 4 p.m. (Game 2 winner vs. #1)
Game 5: 7 p.m. (Game 2 winner vs. #1) (*if necessary*)
The three-day set also includes the Champions' Festival, which caters to athletes, parents and coaches. Participants also may attend a panel discussion where Olympic and NPF champions will discuss relevant topics, a champion's clinic that teaches attendees how to better themselves every day, and a unique opportunity to spend a morning with some NPF champions.
Tickets are available through the NPF site, as well as each team's site participating in the tourney. Tickets also can be purchased day of at the stadium box office, pending availability, or by calling: 615-232-2900. Each session ticket price ranges between $7.00 to $20.00, with discounts available for groups, students, seniors and military. Children ages 3 and under are admitted free. All-session passes are priced from $23.00 to $47.00.
