Pro Softball Series Offers Unique Experience for Young Female Athletes

MYRLE BEACH, S.C. (July 26, 2016) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are excited to bring National Pro Fastpitch softball to Myrtle Beach beginning this Thursday. The team will be hosting two games between the Pennsylvania Rebellion and the Texas-based Scrapyard Dawgs, both of which are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, July 28-29.

NPF showcases the top softball talent in the United States over a four-month schedule, drafting and signing the best players directly out of college. Pelicans GM Andy Milovich had a chance to host NPF games in the past, and worked to get games in his hometown of Myrtle Beach.

"I was fortunate to host the NPF Back To School Series in Charleston, West Virginia several years ago and was blown away by the quality of the athletes and the enthusiasm of our fans," Milovich said.

Some of the league's teams, including the Rebellion, travel to different locations along the East Coast to try and build the brand of the sport. In order to get the Rebellion to Myrtle Beach, Milovich got in contact with the team's GM, Steve Zavacky, who he knew through their time in professional baseball.

"Steve and I have been working over the last two years with the goal of introducing NPF to the Grand Strand," added Milovich. "The explosive growth in Sports Tourism has created an opportunity for the Pelicans to elevate our role in the community by providing wholesome family fun that minor league baseball provides for sports tourism families."

Zavacky and Milovich have both been able to make their respective Minor League baseball teams a key part of their local communities. However, NPF has provided a new opportunity for young girls to experience the highest level of their sport.

"Hosting National Pro Fastpitch this week allows us provide an incredible experience for softball teams in town with the Jennie Finch Tournament Series at The Ripken Experience, and for Triple Crown Sports' East Coast Summer Nationals Fastpitch," said Milovich. "On a personal level, I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to showcase world class professional female athletes to my daughters and young girls throughout the region."

Thursday and Friday's NPF matchups will be the first ever played in Myrtle Beach. Tickets for both games can be purchased online at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com or by calling (843) 918-6000.

The 2016 season is the 18th season for the Pelicans franchise and second as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last five seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last five years and the best in the Carolina League for five straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].