In 2004 the world was riveted as it watched USA Women’s Softball dominate every other team with the skill, power and heart that led them to their third consecutive gold medal. Though they made it look easy, it’s been a long, bumpy road to recognition for the first ladies of America’s game. With many false starts from the รยรยรยขรขยยฌร
ยกรยรขยยรยรยด40s through the รยรยรยขรขยยฌร
ยกรยรขยยรยรยด90s, former Olympian and college all-star fastpitch players finally have — yes — a league of their own: National Pro Fastpitch.
Most recently organized and relaunched in 2004, National Pro Fastpitch picked Houston as the lucky home of the current league leaders, the 7-1 Texas Thunder, including reigning league MVP outfielder Kristen Zaleski and rookie pitcher Serena Settlemier, who leads the league in home runs and RBIs. (Hey, we never saw Roy O. hit like that…) Cheer on your other hometown team when they take on the Philadelphia Force at 7:05 p.m.
June 28-July 1, 7:05 p.m.
This article appears in Jun 22-28, 2006.