July 15, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
It's been a while since we last heard from former Illinois State softball players Stacy Birk and Shannon Nicholson, but the pair of stellar collegiate pitchers are back in action for their respective National Pro Fastpitch league teams, after each went almost three weeks without seeing any significant game action. Birk, a member of the league-leading Philadelphia Force, earned a pitching nod recently, while Nicholson has taken some swings in the batter's box for her third-place Akron Racers.
Pitching for the first time since June 13 (a no-decision against the Chinese National Team), Birk earned her first save of the season after she pitched the final three innings of Philadelphia's 17-2 rout of Rockford July 11. The right-hander from Huntington Beach, Calif., went three full innings, and allowed one run on three hits, with three walks and one strikeout.
Birk is 0-1 on the season with a 6.94 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched. In the batter's box, she has scored one run in two at-bats, and also has an RBI to her name.
Akron leads the six-team NPF league with a 17-7 mark through July 14.
Nicholson has also seen some time in the batter's box for Akron. The All-American right-hander from Chatham, Ill., has two at-bats on the season with no official batting average, as of July 14. In the circle, Nicholson is 0-0 with a 7.88 ERA in 8.0 innings pitched.
Philadelphia begins a four-game series against the Chicago Bandits Wednesday, while Akron will travel to Lowell, Mass., Wednesday through Sunday for a pivotal four-game set against the New England Riptide. Akron (12-12) currently holds a two-game lead over fourth-place New England (13-15).
The NPF league also announced recently that 11 of its games this season will be shown nationally on Fox Sports Net (FSN). Air dates and times for each game will vary depending on the viewer's broadcast region. Below is a list of the remaining NPF games that are set to air on FSN this summer that will feature either Birk or Nicholson in action.
UPCOMING NPF GAMES ON FOX SPORTS NET
Thursday, July 24, 2008 - Chicago Bandits at Philadelphia Force; Airdate: July 31
Thursday, July 31, 2008 - Rockford Thunder at Akron Racers; Airdate: Aug. 7
Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008 - Chicago Bandits at Akron Racers; Airdate: Aug. 14
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008 - Akron Racers at Philadelphia Force; Airdate: Aug. 21
