2010-06-30
Akron Racers Host USSSA Pride in Five-Game Set
 Racers, Pride Will Battle For Top Spot in NPF Standings
Game Notes (PDF)
AKRON, Ohio (June 30, 2010) – The Akron Racers, winners of three of their last four games will face arguably the National Pro Fastpitch’s hottest team when the USSSA Pride rolls into town for a five-game set, Thursday, July 1 through Monday, July 5 at Firestone Stadium.
Racer Nation Roundup…
Akron heads into the series with a 8-4 record, having won five out of the last seven against the Chicago Bandits, while suffering two extra-inning defeats. In fact, all four Akron losses this year have been by one-run margins with three coming in extra frames. Shortstop Jessica Valis has been on an absolute hitting tear and currently leads the team with a .361 clip, recording 13 hits, nine runs scored and two RBI. Micaela Minner and Crystl Bustos each enter the series with .333 batting average lending hands to Akron’s offensive efforts while Courtney Bures, Lisa Modglin and Samantha Ricketts have each driven in six runs on the season. In the circle, ace Lisa Norris has been virtually unstoppable. Norris now leads the league with five wins and is second with 34 strikeouts and a 0.46 ERA.
National Pride…
The USSSA Pride, winner of seven straight games and the league’s top team, comes into the series with a 9-3 record, having beat the Tennessee Diamonds in back-to-back series. The team lacks no amount of talent or experience as it boasts seven current and two former US National team members in Andrea Duran, Alissa Haber, Lauren Lappin, Caitlin Lowe, Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman and Natasha Watley as well as former members Katie Burkhart and Kelly Kretschman. Seasoned NPF veterans like Jessica Williams and Megan Willis along with well-rounded rookies, including Francesca Enea, Charlotte Morgan and Melissa Roth transform the Pride lineup into a top-to-bottom threat at any moment.
Don’t Call it a Comeback…
In the last three outings, the Pride trailed by three runs in each contest but used the long ball approach to bounce back for 5-3 victories each time out. In game one, down 3-0, rookie Charlotte Morgan (the NPF RBI leader with 11) delivered the grand slam home run to put Tennessee away. Facing the exact same deficit in game two, Enea and Amber Flores each provided the offense on respective solo and grand slam home runs. Finally, down 3-0 once more in game three, the Pride got another round-tripper from Morgan, this of the three-run variety to tie the game before Kretschman put the Pride in front on a RBI double.
Promotions…
Thursday - Salute to Heroes Night/Vandergeest Statue Day (Police, EMS, Fire & Safety—free ticket with valid ID; Family & friends $5 tickets)
Friday - Together Against Breast Cancer Night/Pink Balloon Release
Saturday - USO Night (Military—free ticket with valid ID; Family & friends $5 tickets)
Sunday - Red, White and You Day/Pepsi Kids’ Day (featuring $5 kids tickets (12 & under), $1 hot dogs and two Dr. Pepper kids’ bike giveaways (one boy and one girl will WIN!)
Monday - Mardi Gras Night #1 (Green beads giveaway)
For more information or tickets, please visit www.AkronRacers.org. To follow the series from home, you can catch the action live on MLB.com or stream live stats via www.Pointstreak.com.
|
|
