Tag: Softball

Tennessee Diamonds National Pro Fastpitch Softball Team Announced

Posted by Rick Laney – January 5, 2010

Maryville, Tenn. – The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League announced today that a new professional women’s softball team, the Tennessee Diamonds, has been franchised and will begin play in 2010 in Blount County, Tenn.  The last time a professional sports team operated in Blount County, Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States.

SmallDiamondsLogo“This is an exciting announcement for National Pro Fastpitch,” said Cheri Kempf, Commissioner of the National Pro Fastpitch League.  “Tennessee is a fantastic location for this new team. The addition of the Diamonds adds an expansion team geographically in a great southern spot for the League — and the fact that it is located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains will offer fans additional entertainment options while taking in a Diamonds game.”

“East Tennessee is known throughout the country for its support of women’s athletics through the Lady Vols and, of course, the legendary Pat Summitt. Ralph and Karen Weekly and their Lady Vols team introduced successful softball to the area and in turn, the fanbase has grown for the sport.  This will be a great home for the Diamonds.”

Sarah Fekete, a former Maryville High School and University of Tennessee softball standout who later played professionally for the Philadelphia Force, will be the General Manager of the Tennessee Diamonds.

Fekete, a native of Maryville, was instrumental in the tremendous 2006 Tennessee Lady Vols softball season. A Lady Vol softball center fielder, she was named a 2006 NFCA First-Team All-American and led the nation in hitting with a staggering .500 (110-of-220) batting average. Fekete was selected as the 2006 Lady Vol Athlete of the Year and was nominated for the SEC Female Athlete of the Year.

Sarah Fekete

Sarah Fekete

During 2006, Fekete set a new SEC record for single-season hits (110) and completed her career as the all-time Tennessee leader in batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases, while finishing second in all-time runs scored and hits.  She went on to play for the NPF’s Philadelphia Force professional softball team for three seasons and in 2009 was named to ESPN’s “All-Decade Softball Team.”

“Bringing professional softball to my hometown is amazing,” Fekete said.  “Most people don’t realize that there are more young women playing softball in this country than there are young men who play Little League Baseball.  It’s a fantastic sport and it does great things for young athletes – having the Diamonds based here will do wonders for the sport and for local players and fans.  It truly is a family-oriented, fan-based sport and a perfect fit for East Tennessee.”

The Tennessee Diamonds’ franchise agreement with the National Pro Fastpitch League was finalized on Dec. 29, 2009.  The team may have a permanent home in the Ripken baseball and softball complex, but will play its first season at a temporary facility in Blount County.  With the franchise agreement, the Tennessee Diamonds also obtained rights to the Rockford Thunder roster which includes softball superstar Cat Osterman.  The new team is currently working on contract renewals with Rockford Thunder players and should release player information soon.

Karen Weekly, co-head coach of the UT Lady Volunteers softball team, said, “Ralph and I are excited to welcome a NPF franchise to Knoxville. It’s important that our outstanding college softball players have the opportunity to continue their careers at the professional level.  Our Lady Vol program has enjoyed tremendous fan support, and I’m sure those fans will be thrilled to get behind professional softball as well.  This is a great day for softball in Knoxville and the entire state of Tennessee.”

USSSA Chairman of the Board and CEO, and fellow NPF Team Owner, Don DeDonatis, said, “USSSA could not be more pleased and excited that the Tennessee Diamonds have selected the Knoxville area as their permanent home. Knoxville and its surrounding communities have a rich tradition of supporting world class sporting events, such as the USSSA Smoky Mountain Classic, and I am certain that the NPF and women’s professional fastpitch softball will be an overwhelming success.”

“I look forward to the challenge that the Diamonds will present on the field when the USSSA Florida Pride comes to town.  Monica Abbott against Cat Osterman — it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

Pro softball captured the attention of fastpitch fans worldwide when it was started in 1997.  Since then, what was originally called the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) has regularly showcased an unparalleled brand of fastpitch softball played by the world’s best female athletes.

Kempf said, “Fastpitch softball was an overwhelmingly popular sport fan-wise at the Olympic level. With the absence of softball as a medal sport in the Olympics, the time is right for professional fastpitch softball to take a position as a viable career opportunity for these talented young women.”

The last professional team to call Blount County home was the Maryville-Alcoa Twins, the Class D Minor League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.  The Twins played at Hunt Field, a 3,000-seat stadium on Hunt Road across from the Alcoa North Plant, before the team moved to Morristown in 1954.  Some of the stadium’s foundation can still be found on Alcoa property on Hunt Road.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn.  More information about the athletes who will play for the Tennessee Diamonds and the team’s 2010 schedule will be announced in coming weeks.  For more information, visit www.TennesseeDiamondsSoftball.com.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Baseball, LLC teams with Cal Ripken, Jr.’s company to consider local multi-million dollar baseball and softball complex

Posted by Rick Laney – September 17, 2009

Ripken Design Logo    Maryville, Tenn. – Sept. 16, 2009 – Baseball, LLC, a group of East Tennessee investors that recently purchased Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy, has hired Ripken Design of Aberdeen, Md. to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a local multi-million dollar world-class baseball and softball complex as a national and regional draw.

Representatives of Ripken Design visited Blount County a second time last week and met with Baseball, LLC representatives to discuss the project.  Baseball, LLC has been talking with Ripken Design – baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr.’s firm specializing in the design and management of amateur and professional sports facilities – for the past six months.  Ripken Design was officially hired by Baseball LLC at the beginning of August to conduct the feasibility study, which will be finished by the end of this month. 

Ripken Design personnel meet with Doug Bochtler (right) of Baseball, LLC

Ripken Design personnel meet with Doug Bochtler (right) of Baseball, LLC

If the feasibility study shows that a baseball and softball complex makes sense for East Tennessee, Baseball, LLC is prepared to move forward quickly with obtaining land and beginning the project.  Groundbreaking for Phase One of the complex, which includes seven or eight fields, could begin as early as next year.

Because of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the McGhee Tyson Airport, easy access to major interstates and an already-established tourism base, East Tennessee is a great location for a baseball and softball tournament and training facility according to Baseball, LLC.  Early indications are that the Ripken Design feasibility study supports Baseball, LLC’s beliefs.

“These facilities typically bring in families – not just the players,” said Jeff Eiseman, Vice President of Ripken Design. “These families usually come in to play baseball or softball and stay in the community for the whole weekend or longer.  They stay at hotels, eat at restaurants and go out and do the same things typical vacationers do.  They spend a considerable amount of money while they’re in town.”

“With a shift towards family travel in youth sports tourism, a complex must have a great location, great operations, and great amenities in and around the facilities in order to be successful.  The Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge, and the Knoxville area are very conducive to the type of family travel and entertainment necessary for a destination complex.”

Cal Ripken, Jr.

Cal Ripken, Jr.

“After meeting with Baseball, LLC and examining their current operations, we have no doubt that they have the ability to properly operate a facility” Eiseman continued.  “With two out of the three necessities met, we are now completing the due diligence to see if the location is the right fit for such a complex.  If the study finds favorable participation numbers in the area, we believe the proposed facility could be a huge success, not only for Baseball, LLC but also for the growth of the game of baseball as well as the quality of life for the surrounding community.”

Baseball complexes similar to the one Baseball, LLC wants to develop can draw as many as 2,500 people for a single three-day tournament, and most complexes have 30 to 40 tournaments each year.  A complex in this area with these types of fields could operate from February through November, extending the tournament season for teams from northern climates.  Early estimates indicate that Baseball, LLC’s complex could generate $19 million to $25.5 million for the local economy every year.

Other Ripken Design sports complexes are successfully operating in cities including Myrtle Beach, S.C., Aberdeen, Md. And Baton Rouge, La.

Former Major League Baseball player Doug Bochtler, spokesman for Baseball, LLC and one of its investors, says that a world-class complex could be a huge economic boost and a significant tourism draw for the entire region.

“Ripken projects are known for their park-like settings, ample use of green space and country club-like appearance,” Bochtler said.  “Communities are standing in line waiting for sports complexes like the one we want to do here.  Ripken Design helps groups like Baseball, LLC build beautiful facilities that contribute to the local economy and provide family and youth-oriented fun.  It’s a win for everyone.”

The Baseball, LLC group says it is only considering areas where the baseball and softball complex would compliment or enhance the existing surroundings and fit into the community’s existing development and growth plans. 

A sample of a Ripken Design baseball and softball complex

A sample of a Ripken Design baseball and softball complex

“This area is perfect for a world-class sports facility,” Bochtler said.  “We have an initial goal of providing an unparalleled training facility for youth who will call this complex home for their various teams.  This will be a state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor training operation with strength and conditioning, nutrition, video training and one-on-one and team coaching from former college and professional players, coaches and scouts.  The playing fields will be second-to-none.

“The new facility will also provide the opportunity for league competition during the week and tournament play on weekends.  This gives athletes a consistent training and playing schedule that greatly enhances and reinforces the skills they learn in their individual training sessions.”

With a superstar staff that includes Bochtler, who played Major League Baseball for San Diego, Detroit, Los Angeles and Kansas City, and Maryville native Sarah Fekete Bailey, who shattered softball records at the University of Tennessee and went on to play professional fast-pitch softball for the Philadelphia Force, training and instruction will also play a big role in the new complex.  Athletes currently travel from all over Tennessee to Cherokee Academy for training.

Ripken Design says it will submit its feasibility study to Baseball, LLC by Oct. 1, 2009.

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Update:  Read more about this story at The Daily Times and watch the report at WATE-TV.  Also, read about additional coverage from WBAL Sports Radio in Baltimore, Maryland.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com