USSSA Pride
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| USSSA Pride | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | National Pro Fastpitch (2009–2019) Independent (2020–2021) Women's Professional Fastpitch (2022–) |
| Location | Viera, Florida |
| Ballpark | USSSA Space Coast Complex |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Regular season champion | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Cowles Cup championships | 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 |
| Colors | Navy, red, silver, white |
| Retired numbers | 8, 26 |
| Coach | Kelly Kretschman |
| General Manager | Don DeDonatis |
| Website | usssapride |
The USSSA Pride is a professional softball team based in Viera, Florida and a former member of Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). Founded in 2009, they previously played in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) from 2009 to 2019. They play their home games at USSSA Space Coast Complex.
The team was established to replace the folded Washington Glory, who played in NPF from 2007 to 2008. They are organized by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). The Pride won the Cowles Cup championship in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019.
History
[edit]2015 - 2019
[edit]Of their selections in the 2015 NPF Draft, the Pride signed All-American and 2013 Big 12 Player of the Year Shelby Pendley of Oklahoma,[1] two-time All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year Emilee Koerner of Notre Dame,[2] and All-American and 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year Amber Freeman of Arizona State.[3] All-time NCAA Division I homerun champion Lauren Chamberlain signed a three-year deal.[4]
The Pride also signed free agent All-American Chelsea Goodacre of Arizona.[5]
Caitlin Lowe announced her retirement as a player after the 2014 season. Subsequently, the Pride announced that Lowe would be inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame, and that her jersey number 26 would be retired.[6]
In 2017, the Pride announced that former player and assistant coach Megan Willis was promoted to assistant general manager.[7]
USSSA purchased Space Coast Stadium and announced renovations to make it a center for amateur softball and baseball with 15 fields. It became the Pride's new home stadium, beginning in 2017.[8]
At the Pride's first home game at USSSA Space Coast Stadium, played on June 8, 2017, the team announced that it had retired legendary pitcher Cat Osterman's jersey number "8," commemorating it with a banner on the outfield fence.[9]
In 2018, the Pride announced Mike Stith, the head coach of the OC BatBusters, would be their coach for 2018. His assistants were Cody Dent, volunteer assistant coach of the Florida Gators softball team, and Andrea Duran, Olympic medalist and former Pride player.[10]
On September 13, 2019, the Pride announced they would not renew their partnership with National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the 2020 season.[11]
2020 - present
[edit]On September 30, 2021, the Pride announced they are joining the WPF - Women's Professional Fastpitch league for the 2022 exhibition season. They played in the 2023 Women's Professional Fastpitch season, the inaugural season of the league, where they were crowned Runners-Up against the Texas Smoke.
They declined to continue participation in the WPF for the 2024 season.
General managers
[edit]- Don DeDonatis (-present)
All-time head coaches
[edit]| # | Name | Term | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC | W | L | W% | GC | W | L | W% | |||
| 1 | Gerry Glasco | 2014 | 48 | 33 | 15 | .688 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2 | Mike Davenport | 2015 | 48 | 34 | 14 | .708 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| 3 | Lonni Alameda | 2016-17 | 99 | 77 | 22 | .778 | 10 | 6 | 4 | .600 |
| 4 | Mike Stith | 2018 | 47 | 42 | 5 | .894 | ||||
Season-by-season
[edit]| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 16 | 24 | 0 | 4th place National Pro Fastpitch | Lost in NPF Semifinals |
| 2010 | 28 | 20 | 0 | 2nd place National Pro Fastpitch | Won NPF Championship |
| 2011 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Lost in NPF Finals |
| 2012 | 31 | 12 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Faced Chicago Bandits in NPF Finals |
| 2013 | 34 | 14 | 0 | 2nd place National Pro Fastpitch | Won NPF Championship |
| 2014 | 33 | 15 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Won NPF Championship |
| 2015 | 34 | 14 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Lost to Chicago Bandits in NPF Finals |
| 2016 | 37 | 13 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Lost to Chicago Bandits in NPF Finals |
| 2017 | 40 | 9 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Lost to Scrap Yard Dawgs in NPF Finals |
| 2018 | 42 | 5 | 0 | 1st place National Pro Fastpitch | Won NPF Championship |
| 2019 | 32 | 13 | 0 | 2nd place National Pro Fastpitch | Won NPF Championship |
| 2023 | 18 | 16 | 0 | 3rd Place Women's Professional Fastpitch | Lost to Texas Smoke in WPF Finals |
| Totals | 375 | 164 | 0 | ||
Retired numbers
[edit]The Pride has retired two jerseys:
Current players
[edit]| Active roster (YYYY = Final season of player contract) | Inactive roster | Coaches | |||||||
| Pitchers
| Catchers
Outfielders |
| |||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Jami Lobpries (29 May 2015). "Shelby Pendley Signs with the USSSA Pride". USSSAPride.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Irish Great Koerner Inks Contract With USSSA Pride". Notre Dame Fighting Irisg Athletics. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ Jami Lobpries (27 May 2015). "Former Arizona State All-American signs with USSSA Pride". USSSAPride.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ Jami Lobpries (4 June 2015). "Pride Sign First Overall Draft Pick Lauren Chamberlain". USSSAPride.com. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ Richie Melby (31 May 2015). "Former Wildcat Chelsea Goodacre signs pro contract". News4Tucson KVOA.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ a b Jami Lobpries (5 June 2015). "Caitlin Lowe's Legacy Continues with USSSA". USSSAPride.com. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
- ^ Celia Balf (21 December 2016). "Former USSSA Pride catcher Megan Willis named team's assistant general manager". Excelle Sports. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ Dave Berman (27 April 2017). "Space Coast Stadium transforming to youth sports hub". Florida Today. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ a b "usssafloridapride". Instagram. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Breaking News: Mike Stith of the OC Batbusters Named as USSSA Pride Head Coach". Extra Inning Softball. May 16, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
- ^ "USSSA Pride Part Ways With The NPF, Opt For Non-Renewal". flosoftball.com. September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
External links
[edit]| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Cowles Cup NPF Champions USSSA Pride 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NPF Regular Season Champions USSSA Pride 2011 and 2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cowles Cup NPF Champions USSSA Pride 2013 and 2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NPF Regular Season Champions USSSA Pride 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | Succeeded by |