Sooners in the NPF: Week 11

NORMAN, Okla. - As a bonus to OU softball fans, SoonerSports.com will provide a weekly glimpse at five former players competing in the National Pro Fastpitch league this summer. Today's installment covers the 11th week of the NPF season for the Sooner alums. Check back every week for an updated look at the Sooners in the professional ranks.

Five former Oklahoma softball players have joined the National Pro Fastpitch League, which is in its third season. Jennifer Stewart, April Valdez and Kristin Vesely are making their debut in the professional ranks while Christina Enea and Heather Scaglione enter their second season with the NPF.

Scaglione's Stats | Valdez's Stats | Vesely's Stats
Stewart's Stats | Enea's Stats

Valdez, Scaglione and the Arizona Heat were swept by Stewart and the Philadelphia Force in four games in this week's NPF action. Stewart was in command inside the circle in game one, pitching all seven innings and only allowing four hits. Scaglione posted one of the hits after going 1-for-4 at the plate, but the Force won the contest 2-1.

In game two, Scaglione pounded a two-RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Force lead in half, 6-3. The Force then added three runs of their own to stop the Heat rally and went on to win, 9-3.

After the Force won game three, 2-0, they used their offense in game four to blow away the Heat. Philadelphia pounded 12 hits on the day, scoring a total of eight runs. Stewart was in the circle again for the Force, throwing the complete game shutout in the win.

Both teams, which are in the bottom half of the league standings, will miss the cut for the NPF tournament.

Enea, playing with the first-place Chicago Bandits, saw limited action on the field, playing in only games two and four of the series against the Connecticut Brakettes as the squads split the series with two wins each. Enea recorded her only hit of the series in game four, but the Brakettes won the final contest, 3-0.

Vesely and the New England Riptide managed only one win in a four-game set against the Akron Racers. The lone victory Vesely's squad picked up was in game two as Vesely pounded a hit in an 8-3 win. The Riptide remain in third place.

The NPF playoffs are now set with the conclusion of this week's action. The teams earning the right to be in the tournament field are the Akron Racers, Connecticut Brakettes, New England Riptide and the Chicago Bandits. The Championship tournament will take place in Connecticut Aug. 27-28.

Arizona Heat | New England Riptide | Chicago Bandits
Philadelphia Force

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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