THE GLORY BRING 2007 NPF COWLES CUP HOME TO DC Washington Dominated the 2007 Championship Series with 3-0 Run to Cinch 2007 Title

Ashburn, VA – This season’s National Pro Fastpitch Cinderella team brought home a nice piece of glass after blazing its way through the two-day championship series in Kimberly, Wisconsin. At the end of its first year in the league, the Washington Glory franchise is now the proud owner of the Cowles Cup and the 2007 NPF national title.

“This was a goal we set at our very first team meeting back in May,” says owner Paul Wilson. “For a first-year expansion team, we were able to pull together a very strong, balanced roster that was deep both offensively and defensively, and gelled perfectly early on in the season. Coach Dever-Boaz could put together any number of different line-ups to take advantage of our opponent’s weaknesses, giving our club the best chance to win.”

While most every athlete who sets a goal wants badly to achieve it, for some on the Glory, victory meant redemption. Pitcher Monica Abbott, whose Lady Vols team fell just short in this year’s NCAA Women’s College World Series, was named the Championship Series Most Valuable Player for her two strong outings, one of which was a complete game no-hitter against the Rockford Thunder on Saturday. Coach Dever-Boaz has also come close in the past, playing on teams from Fresno State University that went to the NCAA finals three straight years in the late 80’s without a victory. It only made lifting the cup over their heads on the field in Kimberly all the sweeter on Sunday afternoon after defeating the Thunder 3 to 1.

“We all came together this season to fulfill our goals,” says Wilson. “I am very fortunate to be surrounded by an outstanding organization of dedicated and talented individuals.”

The championship title was the crowning moment to an already amazing inaugural year for the team. In addition to cinching first place during the regular season with a .773 winning percentage, the Glory had five players named to the 2007 All-NPF team (Amber Jackson, Oli Keohohou, Nichole Thompson, Desiree Serrano, and Sarah Pauly). The NPF also awarded Amber Jackson, who led the league in nearly every offensive category throughout her rookie season, with the Majestic Athletic 2007 Player of the Year; right-hander Desiree Serrano was named the 2007 Pitcher of the Year for her record 18 regular season wins; and Coach Dever-Boaz earned the Diamond Sports Manager of the Year award.

About the Washington Glory
The Washington Glory is the DC area’s professional women’s fastpitch softball team. In its inaugural year with the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league, the team is coached by Carie Dever-Boaz and Assistant Coach Erin Goettlicher. The team plays its home games at the softball complex at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, which will be undergoing extensive renovations in preparation for next season’s home opener in late May. For more information about the Washington Glory, visit www.washingtonglory.com.

About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch and Women’s Pro Softball League.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the official development partner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. The partnership, which began in 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help the MLB and its 30 major league clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences. More information can be found online at profastpitch.com.

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