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Texas Charge
Information
LeagueNational Pro Fastpitch (former)
LocationSan Marcos, Texas
BallparkBobcat Softball Stadium
FoundedJanuary 8, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-01-08)
Folded2017
League championships0
OwnershipJoel Bartsch
CoachRoman Foore
General ManagerScott Smith

[1] The Texas Charge were a women's professional softball team based in San Marcos, Texas. The team began play as the Dallas Charge as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) with a game on June 3, 2015.[2][3] They were initially headquartered in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas area, with most home games at The Ballfields at Craig Ranch.

Seasons

[edit]

Inaugural season

When the Dallas team was publicly announced, NPF also revealed its general manager would be Kevin Shelton, who had experience heading the Texas Glory youth program.[4] The Charge hired former Olympian Jennifer McFalls to be their first head coach.[5] Later, Chez Sievers was added as an assistant coach.[6]

Jolene Henderson signed with the Charge in January 2015, becoming their first player.[7] Other transactions included signing former Texas Longhorns shortstop Taylor Thom,[8] and the Charge trading their fourth round pick in the 2016 NPF Draft to the Chicago Bandits for catcher Kaylyn Castillo.[9] Later, infielder Natalie Villarreal became the first player from the Dallas area to join the Charge.[10] Then, the Charge signed pitcher Morgan Melloh, who had played the previous three years in the Japan Softball League after spending 2011 and 2012 in the NPF.[11] The club then added five-year veteran Angeline Quiocho.[12] Texas Tech's all-time home run leader, outfielder Mikey Kenney,[13] and pitcher Bailey Watts[14] were next to join. Texas native and catcher Molly Fichtner,[15] and pitcher Sarah Purvis[16] of Georgia Southern were the next additions to the Charge.

Dallas' next signings were international ones. Australian National Team pitcher Vanessa Stokes signed with the Charge. She is the first indigenous softball player ever to pitch for Australia, and the first Australian to sign with the NPF.[17] Next, the Charge set their sights on Japan. Olympic gold medalist outfielder Eri Yamada, and the Japan League's 2013 and 2014 Catcher of the Year Kazuki Watanabe joined the Charge. Both played with the Chicago Bandits in 2013.[18]

On the domestic front, Dallas next added Texas native and Texas A&M Aggie infielder/catcher Nicole Morgan. Morgan played for the Pennsylvania Rebellion in 2014.[19] After attending a try out in May 2015, outfielder Brianna Cherry was offered a deal with the team. Cherry was with the Akron Racers in 2014.[20] Kathy Shelton, formerly of Baylor and general manager Kevin Shelton's daughter, was next to sign.[21]

At the 2015 NPF Draft, the Charge drafted several players. In the first round, they selected 3B/C Danielle Henderson (California). She is Jolene's sister. The club then selected utility player Kaitlyn Richardson (Minnesota). In the second round, their only pick was INF/OF Kylee Lahners (Washington). The third round selection was infielder Ashley Burkhardt (Purdue). Dallas was allowed a market pick to select a player from Dallas or who went to a Dallas school. This selection was shortstop Renada Davis (NC State). Round four yielded two picks: SS/2B Kahley Novak (UCF) and RHP/1B Lauren Haeger (Florida). Selected in the fifth round was OF Janie Takeda (Oregon). The sixth and final round had three Dallas picks: RHP/UT Ally Carda (UCLA), OF Kaitlyn Thumann (Baylor), and pitcher Farish Beard (South Alabama).[22] Before opening day, the Charge signed draftees Ashley Burkhardt,[23] Kahley Novak,[24] Kaitlyn Richardson,[25] Danielle Henderson,[26] and Renada Davis. Other free agents who signed with the Charge included Renee Erwin of West Texas A&M,[27] Nadia Taylor of Texas and Akron Racers,[28] and Victoria Valos of George Washington.[29]

The Charge finished their inaugural season in fourth place at 17-31.[30] The Charge then lost in the 2015 NPF Championship semifinals to the USSSA Pride.[31]

2016 season

For the 2016 season, Jennifer Rocha was named head coach succeeding Jennifer McFalls.[32] They ultimately finished in fifth place and missed the playoffs.

2017 season

The Charge moved to San Marcos for the 2017 season and hired three-time Olympian Crystl Bustos to be their head coach.[33] In July, with a 10-11 record, the Charge replaced Crystl Bustos with Roman Foore as head coach.[34] For the second year in a row, they finished in fifth place and missed the playoffs.

In a January 2018 release describing the termination of the Scrap Yard Dawgs' franchise, NPF also indicated that the Charge had been "dismantled after [owner Joel] Bartsch failed to execute an exclusive purchasing option."[35] This was the first official statement by the league about the status of the Charge after the league listed all Charge players as free agents and Justin's World of Softball reported the dissolution of the team in October 2017.[36]

General managers

[edit]

All-time head coaches

[edit]
# Name Term Regular season Playoffs
GC W L W% GC W L W%
1 Jennifer McFalls 2015 48 17 31 .354 2 0 2 .000
2 Jennifer Rocha 2016 50 20 30 .440 0 0 0
3 Crystl Bustos 2017 21 10 11 .476 0 0 0
4 Roman Foore 2017 29 12 17 .308 0 0 0

Season-by-season

[edit]
Season records
Season W L T Finish Playoff results
2015 17 31 0 4th place National Pro Fastpitch Lost in NPF Semifinals
2016 20 30 0 5th place National Pro Fastpitch Did not qualify
2017 22 28 0 5th place National Pro Fastpitch Did not qualify
Totals 59 89 0

Final roster before dissolution

[edit]
Texas Charge roster
Active roster
(YYYY = Final season of player contract) 		Inactive roster Coaches

Pitchers

Catchers

Utility players

Infielders

Outfielders

Unsigned Draftees
(Year Team's Rights Expire)


Legend
  • * Franchise Player Tag
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain
→ All NPF rosters

References

[edit]
  1. ^ G., WELLS, H. (2022). WAR OF THE WORLDS. WILLIAM COLLINS. ISBN 978-0-00-854213-9. OCLC 1289483361.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "NPF Announces New Team in Texas for the 2015 Season". National Pro Fastpitch. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Riddle, Greg (June 2, 2015). "Dallas Charge pro fastpitch softball players love the sport, but can't afford to quit their day jobs". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Greg Riddle (8 January 2015). "Pro softball league adds Dallas-area team for 2015 season; Kevin Shelton will be general manager". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  5. ^ Greg Riddle (20 January 2015). "Dallas Charge softball team names Olympic gold medalist Jennifer McFalls, a former Hockaday and Midlothian coach, as team's first head coach". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Former Longhorn Sievers named to coaching staff of NPF's Dallas Charge". TexasSports.com. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Jolene Henderson Becomes First Player Ever to Sign with NPF Dallas Charge". CalBears.com. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Former Softball standout Thom signs with NPF's Dallas Charge". TexasSports.com. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Dallas Charge trade for veteran catcher Kaylyn Castillo". Heart of Texas Sports Network. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ^ Greg Riddle (10 February 2015). "Former Frisco, Texas A&M standout Natalie Villarreal is first Dallas-area player to sign with Dallas Charge pro softball team". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Dallas Charge Add Veteran Arm with Megan Melloh". Heart of Texas Sports Network. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  12. ^ "National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) veteran Angeline Quiocho Signs with Dallas Charge". DallasCharge.com. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Kenney Signs Professional Contract With Dallas Charge". TexasTech.com. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Former Cougar Bailey Watts Signs with Dallas Charge". Houston Cougars. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  15. ^ University of Alabama Athletics (3 March 2015). "Volunteer Assistant Molly Fichtner Signs With NPF's Dallas Charge". RollTide.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  16. ^ John Kosater (10 May 2015). "Purvis ready for shot at pro softball". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Dallas Charge Sign Australian National Team Pitcher". DallasCharge.com. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Japanese Veterans Sign with Dallas Charge". DallasCharge.com. 5 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  19. ^ "Dallas Charge Sign Texas Native Nicole Morgan". DallasCharge.com. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Brianna Cherry Signs with the Dallas Charge". DallasCharge.com. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  21. ^ Greg Riddle (15 May 2015). "Former McKinney North, Baylor star Kathy Shelton signs with Dallas Charge pro softball team". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Oklahoma's Chamberlain No. 1 Pick in 2015 NPF Draft Presented by Bownet". National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Charge Sign Draftee Ashley Burkhardt". DallasCharge.com. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  24. ^ "Charge Sign Kahley Novak". DallasCharge.com. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  25. ^ "Richardson Signs With NPF's Charge". GopherSports.com. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  26. ^ "Charge Sign Draftee Danielle Henderson". DallasCharge.com. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  27. ^ "Charge Sign Texas Native Renee Erwin". DallasCharge.com. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Former UT standout Taylor signs with NPF's Dallas Charge". TexasSports.com. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  29. ^ "GW Softball Graduate Victoria Valos Signs with Pro Team". GWsports.com. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Charge Drop Season Finale to Bandits". Dallas Charge. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Charge Inaugural Season Ends With Loss to Pride in semi-finals". Dallas Charge. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Jennifer Rocha to Lead the Charge in 2016". Dallas Charge. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  33. ^ Kayla Lombardo (6 October 2016). "Olympian Crystl Bustos named Texas Charge head coach". Excelle Sports. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  34. ^ "Bustos Fired, Foore Assumes Helm of Charge". Justin's World of Softball. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  35. ^ "National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Terminates Houston-Based Scrap Yard Dawgs". ProFastpitch.com. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ^ "NPF'S TEXAS CHARGE DISSOLVED; WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN 2018 SEASON". Justin's World of Softball. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
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