Pride Face Dallas Charge at the University of Missouri

Kissimmee, FL -June 3, 2015- The USSSA Florida Pride will play a two game series against the Dallas Charge on June 15^th and 16^th at the University of Missouri. The two game series will be played at University Field at 8:05 PM each night. This series marks the return of former Missouri All-American and current Pride pitcher Chelsea Thomas.

“I’m excited to return to University Field with the Pride this summer. I have so many amazing memories in that circle and I can’t wait to play on my ‘home’ field again! The outpouring of support I still have from my Mizzou family is incredible and I can’t wait to see them in the stands cheering on the USSSA Pride,” said Thomas.

Chelsea Thomas returns to Columbia after rewriting the record books for the Tigers. The third year pro finished her career in 2013 as Missouri’s all-time wins and strikeout leader. The former Big 12 and SEC Pitcher of the Year helped the Tigers earn two trips to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS).

The USSSA Pride is coming off of back-to-back NPF Championship Series titles in 2013 and 2014. Prior to the Columbia series, the Pride and Charge will play a two-game series in Kansas City at Community America Ballpark on June 11^th and 12^th. The Pride’s roster features some of the top softball talent in the world including Olympians Andrea Duran, Kelly Kretschman, Cat Osterman, and Natasha Watley. Additionally, the Pride roster features last year’s NPF Rookie of the Year and former University of Tennessee standout Madison Shipman and the last two WCWS Players of the Year in Hannah Rogers (Florida) and Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma). The Pride rookie class includes 2015 NFCA All-Americans Shelby Pendley, Amber Freeman, Chelsea Goodacre and Emilee Koerner.

As part of their Midwest tour, the Pride and Charge have the opportunity to play in a thriving fastpitch area. Both Kansas and Missouri rank as two of the top states in terms of USSSA fastpitch membership. The Top Gun Invitational, one of the premiere youth fastpitch tournaments in the country that features over 110 youth teams, will be held in Kansas City just days prior to the series allowing young players the opportunity to watch their idols in person.

The Pride’s 2015 NPF season kicks off June 6^th in McKinney, TX when the Pride visits the Dallas Charge. After a four game series with the Charge that ends June 9^th, both teams will head to the Midwest for their series’ in Kansas City and Columbia.

For all information about the USSSA Pride and the 2015 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) season, visit the team website www.dev.usssapride.com and follow the Pride all season long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About USSSA Florida Pride:

The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.

About NPF:

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.

About USSSA:

USSSA is headquartered in Osceola County, Florida. USSSA is the World’s largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!