Eight Softball Australia Players to Join Chicago Bandits
Bandits win Cowles Cup in 2016
Rosemont, Ill - The four time champion, Chicago Bandits announced today that eight of Australia’s best softball players will have the opportunity to play professionally during the 2017 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) season.
After months of negotiations between Softball Australia and the National Pro Fastpitch, the two sides came to an agreement and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two softball programs.
“This partnership between Softball Australia and National Pro Fastpitch will ensure that some of our athletes have a chance to participate together as part of a team in the NPF– one of the best competitions in the world,” said Softball Australia CEO Chet Gray.
With a least eight players joining the Bandits, the Aussie Spirit squad will be getting high level competition and training while playing in the NPF this summer. This is of course in preparation for the upcoming 2018 World Championships and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“It is a conscious strategy of the league to integrate more international players and continue to have a positive effect on the global development of the game of softball,” said Cheri Kempf, NPF Commissioner. “The ability to include Australian players in the NPF’s 2017 season on a much larger scale is a win for our sport.”
The Bandits have gone through a complete make over this off season. The back to back champs will have a target on their backs this season and looks like the Chicago front office is getting ready.
This is a huge step for the National Pro Fastpitch a league determined to become the world premier stage for professional softball.
