Akron Racers
| Akron Racers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| League | National Pro Fastpitch |
| Location | Akron, Ohio |
| Ballpark | Firestone Stadium |
| Year founded | 1999 |
| Cowles Cup championships | 2005 |
| Colors | black, red, grey |
| Retired numbers | 4, 6, 24, 43 |
| Coach | Brian Levin |
| General Manager | Joey Arrietta |
| Media |
SportsTime Ohio 1590 WAKR |
The Akron Racers are a women's softball team based in Akron, Ohio. The team was started by Joey Arietta in 1999 to participate in the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Since the 2004 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).
The Akron Racers became the first Midwest franchise to begin play in the WPSL in 1999. The league suspended play in Orlando and assigned the Wahoos roster to the Racers. In 2000, the league consolidated sending the Georgia Pride team to Akron. The team was renamed the Ohio Pride. Both teams began sharing Firestone Stadium
In their first year the Racers made it to the championship of the WPSL, but lost to the Tampa Bay FireStix.
The WPSL suspended operations in 2001; the Racers was the only team of the four 2001 teams to revive when the league reformed as the NPF in 2004. In 2005 the Racers beat the Chicago Bandits to win the NPF championship. From 2004 to 2008, the Akron Racers have compiled an all-time win-loss record of 149-94.
Crystl Bustos was named manager in October 2009, replacing Barb Sherwood.
The Racers upset the highly favored Chicago Bandits in the 2014 NPF Championship Series in Hoover, AL in the best two-of-three to move on to face the USSSA Pride. The Racers and Pride battle for eighth innings before the Pride pushed across a run on the bottom of the eighth inning to take the 1-0 advantage. The Racers could not hold off the Pride in game two dropping the 8-3 decision.
The Racers grabbed Coach of the Year honors (Brian Levin & Dustin Combs), Offensive Player of the Year (Nerissa Myers) and Jennie Finch Award (Kelley Montalvo). Five Racers were named to the All-NPF Team including Myers, Montalvo, Rachele Fico and rookies Jill Barrett and Ashley Thomas.
Of their selections in the 2015 NPF Draft, the Racers signed Griffin Joiner of Kentucky, Shellie Robinson of USC Upstate, and Megan Low of UTSA.
The Racers have retired four numbers:
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Wikipedia