Pro Fastpitch Holds 2009 Draft. Philly Force Drafts Baylor Bopette

WPCNR FASTPITCH NATION. From The Philadelphia Force, The Northeast Major League Fastpitch Leader. February 18, 2009: National Pro Fastpitch Commissioner Cheri Kempf hosted the National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft in Akron, Ohio, today, live for the first time in league history over the internet on The Softball Channel website, hosted by the Akron Racers, the pioneer pro fastpitch team from the old WPSL of the 1990s.



The Force who open 2009 play in June selected Brette Reagan thirdbaser for Baylor University who has clobbered 32 homers, 126 RBIs and a .638 slugging percentage in her college career. The Force drafted fourth overall. Ms. Reagan will be belting out in Allentown this season.









 


While at Baylor, Reagan has won numerous awards, including being named on the USA Softball National Player of the Year Preseason Watch List for the last three years, a Preseason All-America selection by ESPN.com in 2008 and 2009, First-Team All-Big 12 as a Sophomore and a Junior, Second-Team All-Big 12 as a Freshman, and the 2008 Big 12 All-Tournament Team, just to name a few.  In 2007 Brette helped Baylor reach the Women’s College World Series for the first time in 2007 after winning the Big 12 Conference.

 Reagan had this to say about getting Drafted by the Philadelphia Force: “I am really excited to play with the girls on that team,” Reagan said. “It means a lot for me, my family, friends and teammates. Being a female athlete, it is just a tremendous feeling to know that these things are possible. I knew as a kid that I wanted to go pro in something, and when I got into softball, I knew it was this sport that I wanted to do it in. I really feel honored and blessed to have this opportunity and I will take full advantage of it.”


 Erin Statmore, Assistant  Force GM had this to say about Brette Reagan: “Fans, this is a player you are going to want to watch this year!  Brette is full of energy and will be a great addition to this year’s roster.  Brette is such a great athlete that we see her helping us fill some holes in our infield especially with the loss of Chelsea Spencer.”



 In the Second Round and 9th overall of the 2009 NPF Draft, The Force selected  Lillian Hammond, an outfielder from the University of Tennessee.  A feared “slapper,” and speedster.


Prior to her senior year, Lillian has a career .362 average, .396 slugging %, and a .409 on base %.  Last year for the Lady Volunteers, she was chosen as a first-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American, and All-District IV choice for the second consecutive season.  Her numbers were very impressive, with a .349 average (4th on the team), a .958 stolen base percentage (tops on the team, minimum 15 attempts), 17 multi-hit contests, a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (55 chances), and posted a team-best and career-high 12-game hitting streak.


 “Lillian is one of those players that we feel was under the radar in this year’s Draft.  As I said tonight, I believe Lillian will help fill the void of the Force’s All-Star Outfielder, Sharonda McDonald as she has decided to retire.  Lillian is going to be a lethal weapon for any NPF team that plays against us.  She can slap, bunt, or hit the ball in the gaps.  Lillian reminds me of a 2006 Force player, Sarah Fekete, also a Tennessee product,” said Statmore.



 Danielle Kinley, an outfielder for Penn State University was the 16th selection by the Force, the 1st pick of the 4th round.  Danielle is a 3-year captain for the Nittany Lions, and has a career .346 batting average, 37 Doubles (as of 2/13/09), 9 home runs,  75 RBIs, .487 Slugging %,  and is on track to break the all-time doubles mark at Penn State, which is 44.


 In her Junior year, she led the team in runs (30), hits (58), doubles (13) and stolen bases (9),  and was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team, earned the team Offensive MVP Award, and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.


 During Kinley’s sophomore year she led PSU in batting average (.384) and in hits (56), and set a school record by going a perfect 5-5 in a game.  Danielle’s 18 doubles tied the teams single season doubles record, and nationally ranked her 4th with .35 doubles per game.


 “Kinley is one of the those athletes that gives you 100% each and every day she steps on the field.  After overcoming an off-season injury in 2008, she has set her mind to it and is months ahead of schedule in returning to the field.  Coach Petrini has been working with her to play some first base for PSU this season.  She will help fill our hole at First Base after losing Kellie Wilkerson and Jenna Hall to retirement,” Statmore said.


 Statmore had this to say about the 2009 Draft: “Overall this has been a very successful 2009 Draft for the Philadelphia Force.  The NPF and the Force are making huge strides to give the opportunity to these young athletes to continue their career in softball.  This year was the first time we had a LIVE Draft and we believe it was a huge success. Reagan, Hammond, and Kinley we believe will fit nicely into our push for a 2009 Championship.”


Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete is not eligible to sign with her respective franchise until her 2008 season is completed.


Tickets are now available for the 2009 Season.  Please call 215-875-2800 to purchase today.


To view the complete National Pro Fastpitch 2009 Schedule to to http://profastpitch.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/DOWNLOADS/2009%20NPF%20Schedule.pdf


 For a recap of the 2009 draft you can visit www.profastpitch.com.


 


 NPF PREVIEW —


LOSS OF RIPTIDE TAKEN IN STRIDE BY THE LEAGUE


(From the National Pro Fastpitch website edited:)


National Pro Fastpitch League Commissioner/President Cheri Kempf said  that the League will field five teams during the 2009 season, including the 2008 NPF regular season and Championship Series Champions, Chicago Bandits, the Akron Racers, the Rockford Thunder, the Washington Glory and, of course,  the Philadelphia Force (formerly the New York New Jersey Juggernaut).  The New England Riptide has withdrawn from the NPF and will not compete in the 2009 season, citing economic duress.  A new schedule has been released to reflect this latest development.


The Force will open the season with five games against the Chicago Bandits and return home for five games with the Banditas June 10 at ECB Bicentennial Field in Allentown — their home field, where they have played successfully for two years, winning 12 games in 2006 and improving to 24 wins in 2007.


The Riptide was one of the original six teams that joined the revamped Women’s Pro Softball League in 2004 which changed names shortly thereafter to the current League known as National Pro Fastpitch.  With the re-structure of the League, Riptide owners, Joe and Lauri Adlman were instrumental in forming a league management group consisting of team owners in early 2005, and the Riptide captured NPF Championship honors in 2006.  The New England Riptide finished the 2009 season with a record of 22 wins and 26 losses.


“It is with a very heavy heart that we have made this decision,” said the Adlmans.  “We would like to thank the community of Lowell, our sponsors, staff and especially our players for their support and contribution over the years.  We hope to leave the door open, however, for a return to the league in 2010, after we have had time to pursue additional opportunities with sponsors, gain additional support for the Riptide from the local community and improve our stadium to fit within the league’s professional standards.” 


“I applaud Joe and Lauri Adlman for their very vital part in taking over NPF operations, along with the other owners in 2005,” commented Kempf.  “New England has been a market that NPF players were proud to play in, and each season, the Riptide has put a competitive team on the field. I am sorry that the Riptide tradition will not continue in New England, however, we will continue moving forward with professional fastpitch and we will insure that the New England players get a fair opportunity to be picked up in other markets.”


The current players of the New England Riptide roster are officially free agents and can be picked up by any of the remaining five NPF squads. Four players on the New England roster were named to the 2009 All NPF team: Pitcher Eileen Canney; first baseman, Lyndsey Angus; and outfielders, Gina Carbonatto and  Lisa Modglin.


The 2009 schedule will include all NPF teams competing against each other a total of 10 games (5 home and 5 away match-ups) for a 40 game total that will determine regular season standings.  The top four teams will move onto the Championship Series August 19th – 23rd, in Akron, Ohio.


The openings left by the New England Riptide will most likely be filled by eager National Teams from foreign countries who tour the U.S. every summer and are always hopeful to land exhibition games in the world’s most competitive professional fastpitch League.


“In spite of the loss of the New England market, the NPF continues to move forward and upward as a viable professional sports option for women. The League Teams have dedicated ownership who have committed a great deal in support of their respective ball clubs, and who continue to strive for new and better ways to make the sport, the League, and its players a more attractive option for sponsors.


Although it is disheartening to lose a team, I urge everyone to continue to keep an eye on the NPF. It is a League that is on the move, with a sport that has exploded in popularity over the last decade.  NPF will continue to broaden awareness of the League and to increase the audience that will surely be impressed by the extraordinary talent and performances of our athletes,” Kempf added.


Major League Baseball – Official Development Partner
Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of National Pro Fastpitch in the category of women’s professional fastpitch softball. The partnership, which began the fall of 2002, is part of The Commissioner’s Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help Major League Baseball and the 30 Major League Clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.

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Greenburgh Establishes Job Clearing House for the Unemployed Adds to County Serv

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. Westchester County Department of Communications. February 18, 2009 UPDATED February 19, 2009: Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is encouraging all residents to advise him of job openings that they become aware of. Feiner has been maintaining a list of residents out of work and has been advising unemployed Greenburgh residents of job openings –as he learns of them.  So far – Feiner has been successful in matching some out of work residents with businesses looking to  hire.


Westchester County continues to provide extensive information and facilities for the unemployed. According to Donna Greene of the Westchester County Department of Communications, “The ONE STOP  (at the Department of Labor, 120 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains),  is the place to get info on jobs and job training… http://www.westchestergov.com/onestopemploymentcenter/


In addition, our Human Resources Department’s web site has info about job openings and civil services exams (not just county government but other municipalities as well at www.westchestergov.com/hr


Feiner said that on the BOTTOM OF ALL E MAILS SENT FROM HIS OFFICE AT TOWN HALL – he is posting a request that people contact him if they learn of openings. He is also inviting residents who want to be advised of job openings to email him at [email protected].

Although the economy is bad – there are still jobs out there that have to be filled. Greenburgh residents can help neighbors by contacting the personnel offices where they work, ask them if there are any job openings in their organizations. The leads can be helpful to neighbors out of work. It’s important that neighbors help neighbors who are experiencing difficulties during this horrible economy.


The following will appear on all e mails sent from Feiner’s office:


 Greenburgh: Named by MONEY MAGAZINE in 2008 as “ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE” IN AMERICA (#80)


JOB E MAIL LIST—I am trying to help unemployed Greenburgh residents find work. If your company/business has any job openings please e mail me at [email protected]. If you are out of work and want to be advised of job openings please advise.


 

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City Assessor Sees All-Time Record in Reassessments Based on Roll Challenges

 


 


WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2009: The City Assessor, Lloyd Tasch, reported progress in the Board of Assessment Review efforts to adjudicate the over 800 challenges to city assessments filed in January. Based on preliminary judgments, the Assessor told WPCNR there would be an “all-time record” in assessment adjustments based on preliminary evaluation of the challenges to the 2009 Assessment Roll, indicating a further costly erosion of the assessment roll.


 


Asked for the additional negative impact on the Roll, currently sitting on $288.4 Million, Tasch said “It’s too early to tally up. Call me on March 1.”


 


Tasch said the three person Board of Assessment Review has disposed of 75% of the challenges, and they have until February 27 to complete the process.


 


Lloyd Tasch, the City Assessor reported to WPCNR in January,  that grievances filed with the Assessor’s Office over this year’s assessments totaled 858 properties. He said last year 500 grievances were filed, of which 179 were residential. This year, of the 858 grievances about 450 were residential homeowners, and the rest commercial.


The preliminary feeling the City Assessor confirms the softening of real estate prices in White Plains where the average median price of a home based on actual real estate sales has eroded to $680,000 as of the end of December, up from $650,000 at the close of November according to city-data.com. In Westchester County the average price of a home (the mean) has declined 16.7% since December of 2008.


 


The prospect of further softening of the Assessment Roll compounds the conundrum the School District faces which has to make up the $1.7 Million already by increasing the tax rate – if they keep the school budget at the present $184.4 Million.  The City Assessment Roll is slightly different from the school district, based on who the city gets to tax as opposed to the school district tax customers. The Common Council may wish to ask some questions about that at their budget briefing Thursday evening.


 


Presently, just to set the stage for you the school district  faces this problem:


 


 


Should the assessment figure remain at the $288.4 (rounded off here from $288,371,173)  Million figure, the decline to $288.4 Million  creates a  current $1.7 Million revenue shortfall (projected) in district revenues which in and of itself increases the tax rate from $503 to $510 per $1,000 of assessed valuation just to pay the current budget level of $184.4 Million.


 


If property owner challenges lower assessments more as Mr. Tasch is indicating, the shortfall will necessitate further increases in the school tax rate — putting extreme pressure on their budget cutters. They better be crossing their fingers that a ton of ObamaBucks will be heading White Plains way.


 Relation of Assessments to Tax Rate.


For those unfamiliar with the formula of how Assessments drive the tax rate: Here is a simple explanation:


This budget year 2008-2009 assessments were at $291.8 Million for the School District In the new Budget Year 2009-2010, the Assessor as of Jan 1 pegs them at $288.4 This year’s Tax Rate was $503.01


 


How was it figured? Here’s how:


One thousand dollars divides into $291.8 Million, 291,800 times. 291.8 times the present school tax rate $503.01 equals $146.8 Million – this year’s 2008-2009 tax levy.


Since preliminary assessments are down 3.4 Million (from $291.8) this means that at this year’s tax rate you only generate $145.1 Million in levy, leaving a shortfall of $1.7 Million in revenue. By adding $7 to the tax rate the district makes up that shortfall. ($510 x 288.4 produces $147 Million dollars. ) Sooooooooo, the school district needs to cut the budget  BELOW $184.4 Million to $182.7 Million to generate a zero tax increase this year.

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Do we need a Parking Stimulus?

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. February 17, 2009: Do you find yourself going more to CVS, Stop and Shop, and free parking lots, rather than driving into downtown? Do you put off going downtown to eat because of the parking hassle? Do you avoid The Westchester, The Pavilion, and the White Plains Mall and Galleria because of the parking machines you can’t figure out? Do you skip the St. Patrick’s Day Parade because you don’t want to get a $15 ticket on parade day? Could the White Plains draconian parking rates, viscious ticket fines, and Parking Enforcement Stalkers get you down? Is that what’s driving down Parking Ticket revenue?


Well, here’s your chance to sound off at the City Hall Parking Bandits. Would you go downtown to shop more if on street parking hours were increased? Parking was not a $1 an hour and you did not have to think out a parking strategy just to go downtown? Well tell them in the survey at the right.

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