Dallas Charge

Dallas Charge
League National Pro Fastpitch
Location McKinney, Texas and Arlington, Texas
Ballpark Craig Ranch (McKinney) and Allan Saxe Field(Arlington)
Year founded 2015
League championships 0
Coach Jennifer Rocha
Manager Kevin Shelton

The Dallas Charge are a women's professional softball team based in Dallas, Texas. The team began play as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) with a game on June 3, 2015.[1][2]

Inaugural season

When the Dallas team was publicly announced, NPF also revealed its general manager would be Kevin Shelton, who has years of experience heading the Texas Glory youth program.[3]

The Charge hired former Olympian Jennifer McFalls to be their first head coach.[4] Later, Chez Sievers was added as an assistant coach.[5]

Jolene Henderson signed with the Charge in January 2015, becoming their first player.[6]

Other transactions included signing former Texas Longhorns shortstop Taylor Thom,[7] and the Charge trading their fourth round pick in the 2016 NPF Draft to the Chicago Bandits for catcher Kaylyn Castillo.[8] Later, infielder Natalie Villarreal became the first player from the Dallas area to join the Charge.[9] 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.[10] The club then added five-year veteran Angeline Quiocho.[11] Texas Tech's all-time home run leader, outfielder Mikey Kenney,[12] and pitcher Bailey Watts[13] were next to join. Texas native and catcher Molly Fichtner,[14] and pitcher Sarah Purvis[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18] 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.[19] Kathy Shelton, formerly of Baylor and general manager Kevin Shelton's daughter, was next to sign.[20]

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 utilty 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).[21] Before opening day, the Charge signed draftees Ashley Burkhardt,[22] Kahley Novak,[23] Kaitlyn Richardson,[24] Danielle Henderson,[25] and Renada Davis.

Other free agents who signed with the Charge included Renee Erwin of West Texas A&M,[26] Nadia Taylor of Texas and Akron Racers,[27] and Victoria Valos of George Washington.[28]

The Charge finished their inaugural season in fourth place at 17-31.[29] The Charge then lost in the 2015 NPF Championship semifinals to to the USSSA Pride.[30]

Second Season

For the 2016 season, Jennifer Rocha was named head coach succeeding Jennifer McFalls.[31]

Roster

Dallas Charge roster
Active roster
(YYYY = Final season of player contract)		 Inactive roster Coaches

Pitchers

Catchers

  • 27 Kaylyn Castillo (2017)
  • 44 Vicky Galasso (2017)

Utility players

  •    Chelsea Forkin (2017)
  •  1 Kylee Lahners (2016)
  • 13 Ashley Burkhardt (2016)

Infielders

  •  2 Kahley Novak (2016)
  •  5 Renada Davis (2016)
  •  6 Nadia Taylor (2016)
  •  7 Kaitlyn Richardson (2016)
  • 84 Danielle Henderson (2017)

Outfielders

  • 23 Brianna Cherry (2017)
  • 26 Mikey Kenney (2016)
  •    Nikia Williams (2018)
Unsigned Draftees
(Year Team's Rights Expire)
  • Caitlyn Attfield (2017)
  • Taylor Gadbois (2017)
  • Cheridan Hawkins (2017)
  • Alyssa Gillespie (2017)
  • Janie Takeda (2016)
  • Ally Carda (2016)
  • Kaitlyn Thumann (2016)
  • Farish Beard (2016)
Head Coach
  • Jennifer Rocha
Assistant Coaches
  • Rich Wieligman
  • Kristen Zaleski
Legend
  • * Franchise Player Tag
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

Roster updated May 01, 2016
→ All NPF rosters

References

  1. ↑ "NPF Announces New Team in Texas for the 2015 Season". National Pro Fastpitch.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Former Longhorn Sievers named to coaching staff of NPF's Dallas Charge". TexasSports.com. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Jolene Henderson Becomes First Player Ever to Sign with NPF Dallas Charge". CalBears.com. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Former Softball standout Thom signs with NPF’s Dallas Charge". TexasSports.com. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Dallas Charge trade for veteran catcher Kaylyn Castillo". Heart of Texas Sports Network. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  9. ↑ 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. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Dallas Charge Add Veteran Arm with Megan Melloh". Heart of Texas Sports Network. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) veteran Angeline Quiocho Signs with Dallas Charge". DallasCharge.com. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Kenney Signs Professional Contract With Dallas Charge". TexasTech.com. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Former Cougar Bailey Watts Signs with Dallas Charge". Houston Cougars. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  14. ↑ University of Alabama Athletics (3 March 2015). "Volunteer Assistant Molly Fichtner Signs With NPF's Dallas Charge". RollTide.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  15. ↑ John Kosater (10 May 2015). "Purvis ready for shot at pro softball". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "Dallas Charge Sign Australian National Team Pitcher". DallasCharge.com. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Japanese Veterans Sign with Dallas Charge". DallasCharge.com. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Dallas Charge Sign Texas Native Nicole Morgan". DallasCharge.com. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  19. ↑ "Brianna Cherry Signs with the Dallas Charge". DallasCharge.com. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ "Oklahoma's Chamberlain No. 1 Pick in 2015 NPF Draft Presented by Bownet". National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Charge Sign Draftee Ashley Burkhardt". DallasCharge.com. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "Charge Sign Kahley Novak". DallasCharge.com. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "Richardson Signs With NPF's Charge". GopherSports.com. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "Charge Sign Draftee Danielle Henderson". DallasCharge.com. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  26. ↑ "Charge Sign Texas Native Renee Erwin". DallasCharge.com. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  27. ↑ "Former UT standout Taylor signs with NPF’s Dallas Charge". TexasSports.com. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "GW Softball Graduate Victoria Valos Signs with Pro Team". GWsports.com. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "Charge Drop Season Finale to Bandits". Dallas Charge. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "Charge Inaugural Season Ends With Loss to Pride in Semi-Finals". Dallas Charge. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "Jennifer Rocha to Lead the Charge in 2016". Dallas Charge. Retrieved 19 April 2016.

External links

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