A Season Preview With NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf.

Nashville TN, - At the end of today Cheri Kempf will put the finishing touches on her 9th National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft. The commissioner since 2007 has taken the league to extraordinary lengths and continues to impact not only the growth of the league but also the awareness of women’s softball worldwide. We got to chat with the commissioner ahead of tonight’s draft! Early Career Kempf played college softball at Missouri Western State University and led the program to their only National Championship in school history in 1982. In her collegiate career Kempf racked up several honors including All-American. She was also a phenomenal basketball player and broke school records not only on the diamond but the basketball court as well. In 1990, Kempf founded Club K, a training facility for softball, which became the largest one in the world for private training. The focus started on pitching but then expanded to all facets of the game with over 600 lessons a week. Cheri continued to play as well; in 1992 Kempf was a pitcher on the World Cup Gold Medal winning USA National team. Before the NPF existed other leagues allowed women to continue to play professionally, Kempf was also a two-time Women’s Major Softball Champion with the powerhouse Raybesto’s Brakettes.

Growing The Game

From the beginning Kempf has been a pioneer for women’s Fastpitch softball, in 2002 she wrote an instructional book on softball pitching, “The Softball Pitching Edge”. Kempf said of the work, “I am happy that’s there, I know it’s a resource still to this day! For a lot of people when I am out, people will show me books that are wore out and have dog tares…” Although it might have felt like a term paper in college, Kempf discussed the importance writing a technical book to help the future generations of players to come.

Along with her writing, Kempf is also a popular television analyst for college and professional softball on ESPN. She has also worked for other networks such as Fox Sports, MLB Network and Comcast Sports. “Television is inevitably a huge contributor to all of that popularity and success of college softball… I am lucky I sort of fell into broadcasting, and I think that will be something I always look back on and feel fortune I got to see it from up close.” For over a decade Cheri has contributed to the growth of the game and has witnessed the changes over the years. “Last season 2015, the Women’s College World Series consistently out-rated the College World Series of Baseball. It’s really come along way the audience has developed, the game has developed.” As a player, instructor and sports analyst Kempf was able to learn a lot about the game, more than just playing it but in 2007, three years after its founding, The NPF hired Kempf as commissioner for the league.

The Life of A Commissioner Kempf is going into her 9th season as commissioner of the league and has dedicated her life to bringing more awareness to the women’s Fastpitch league. The league has seen its ups and downs just like another other women’s professional leagues but it has been under the leadership of Kempf that has led to the increased attention to NPF. “The level of performance by the athletes it’s second to none, these are the most extraordinary women, they are talented and you are seeing them either at their prime, or as they are approaching their prime… its not only the most talented but the most developed and talented athletes this game has!” With the growing popularity of the league and the increased coverage these athletes continuously have a professional league to pursue their passion of playing a game they love. The roads aren’t always easy for the commissioner though, when asked what has been the biggest struggle during her tenure Kempf had this to say... “The most difficult part is really fighting for the placement and respect of women’s professional sports. That is on going! That is everyday! It is still a mystery to me as to why, why we are having to fight for that… as shown as exhibited by the ratings last year… these women are as entertaining if not more, the game is as entertaining if not more! I don’t think there are a lot of people who will argue with that. So why are we having to fight so hard to gain a consistent presence for women’s sports.”

Chicago Bandits win 2015 NPF Championship (ProFastpitch.com)

It is one of, if not the biggest issues plaguing women’s athletics is the lack of consistent media coverage. The WCWS has generated a higher audience for the last two years, and has been one of the highest viewed women’s sporting events in the last five years. The NPF Championship series aired on CBS Sports was also one of the highest viewed finals in championship history. The commissioner has worked endlessly to grow the presence and sustainability of the league and through her vision the NPF has seen increased media exposure and increased sponsorship opportunities. Kempf has been able to take pride in her accomplishments but still admits there is more to do. “The most gratifying [Experience] is the overall growth of the game. That is most evident in college softball. In the venues, in the scholarship opportunities, in the overall presence it has for the fans inside those venues and also on television… As just a fan, just the explosion of the popularity of the sport has to be the most gratifying” The game is definitely on the rise and with a chance of coming back to the 2020 Olympics, Kempf plans to utilize the international stage to help promote the game not only domestically but internationally as well. “Making Moves” for NPF During her time with the league, Kempf has stressed the importance of television contracts and maximizing the viewership of people watching games. In 2009, Kempf established NPF Media LLC, which financially supports the leagues growth not only in increased media coverage but also with league office operations, expansion, and sponsorships. “The league needed, not in just that area but in other areas, the league needed to be able to make moves that were strategic in the overall growth and development of the league.” The commissioner credits the new structure being vital in the recent success of the league and how it has changed the outlook for the future.

Thanks to her efforts, Kempf accomplished two major milestones this past season and has seen the overall growth of the NPF league flourish going into the draft tonight. First, Kempf added two other expansion franchises in the Dallas Charge in 2015, and the Scrap Yard Dogs in 2016. These were the first two of what looks to be many more to come in a series of expansion efforts not only by the league but also fans in cities wanting a team to support. When asked about future teams in the works…”We have two franchises on hold for next season, and continue to look forward to adding more in the future.” The growth has been evident for the league and with more and more opportunities the pool of players continues to grow as well. Last season the league saw increased coverage in a historic partnership with two networks covering over 30 games, the most for professional softball. That success will continue this year starting with the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch draft being aired live on CBS Sports Network. Also announced this week a new partnership with Rawlings Sports, as the sole supplier for the league!

2016 NPF Draft The 2016 National Pro Fastpitch College Draft will take place at the CMA Theater in Nashville, located directly within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It is the 13th in league history, and has become the marquee event for the league. Current and future stars of the increasingly popular professional league will come together and see six teams select 40 players from the 2016 senior class.

“When you see the banners drop of the number one pick and you see the interviews… its just a real special time for us and in a way you are honoring the college athletes and their accomplishments”. Kempf said

It will be a historic moment tonight for the league and for the future generations of players watching and being selected into the league. The continued success of the National Pro Fastpitch exemplifies that women’s professional leagues can and will ultimately succeed if the right values are instilled in the organization. Behind the Ladies Professional Golf Association, Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s National Basketball Association, the National Pro Fastpitch is one of the longest serving women’s professional leagues in existence. Tonight marks yet another successful season underway and we are excited to see the leagues continued growth and success continue!

Follow Luis Sanchez on Twitter @Luis_MyW