1995 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1995 held at Decatur, Illinois at Borg-Warner Field on August  11-19.


Champion – Redding Rebels, Redding, California (38-4)
Runner Up – California Commotion, Woodland Hills, California (39-5)


Michele Smith had 31 scoreless innings to end the tournament, including 1-0 championship game victory, giving up only 1 hit, striking out 6 and drove the game’s only run, she went 3-4 in the game and also led the tournament in runs scored with 7. Lisa Fernandez was the losing pitcher as she gave up Smith’s run scoring triple. She was then relieved by Lori Harrigan, who finished the game for the Commotion). Lori Sippel was the other pitcher for the Rebels and she was 1-1 with a shutout. For good measure, Smith also had 2 HR in the tournament.

Brakettes came to the National with a 52-1 record, finished 3rd (5-2) and 57-3 on the year.

The tournament was played under the same format as 1994, only the losers bracket was not reversed. There were 28 teams total and they were broken up into two 14 team brackets, double elimination format. The Bracket A champ would play the Bracket B champ in a one game championship. This year, the Bracket A Champ was the California Commotion who defeated the Raybestos Brakettes via a 1-0 shutout by Lisa Fernandez, she out dueled Brackettes hurler Cheri Kempf.

The Bracket B Champ was the Redding Rebels, who had to defeat the Southern California Jazz twice. Michele Smith pitched 3-0 and 4-0 shutouts, beating Heather Compton and Desarie Knipfer.


  • MVP – Michele Smith, Redding Rebels
  • HR Leader – Susie Gaw, Phoenix Sunbirds – 3
  • Batting Leader – Dionna Harris, Southern California Jazz – .611
  • Bertha Tickey Pitching Award – Michele Smith, Redding Rebels
  • Erv Lind Defensive Award – Dot Richardson, California Commotion

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Michele Smith, Redding Rebels (6-0, 61 K, 45 IP, 0 ER, 5 Shutouts – 31 scoreless innings)
P – Lisa Fernandez, California Commotion (3-1, 21 IP, 25 K)
P – Heather Compton, Southern California Jazz (3-1, 23 IP, 34 K, no-hitter)
C – Suzy Brazney, Phoenix Sunbirds
1B – Sheila Cornell Douty, California Commotion
2B – Chris Zboril, Southern California Jazz
3B – Chris Parris-Washington, Redding Rebels
SS – Dot Richardson, California Commotion
OF – Dionne Harris, Southern California Jazz (11-18, .611)
OF – Suzie Gaw, Phoenix Sunbirds
OF – Yvonne Gutierrez, California Commotion
OF – Mindy Jenkins, Decatur Lady Pride
DH – Jennifer McFalls, Redding Rebels
UTIL – Priscilla Rouse, California Commotion
UTIL – Jodi Rathbun, St. Louis Classics

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Cheri Kempf, Raybestos Brakettes (4-1, 2 shutouts)
P – Amie Stewart, Riverside Hurricanes
P – Lori Harrigan, California Commotion (2-0, 16 IP, 24 K)
C – Michelle Gromacki, Redding Rebels
1B – Kelly Jackson, Redding Rebels
2B – Keri LaMasters, Riverside Hurricanes
3B – Cathy Wylie, Decatur Lady Pride
SS – Tina Kramos, East Peoria Avantis
OF – Kellyn Tate, St. Louis Classics
OF – Barbara Jordan, Redding Rebels
OF – Jennifer Brundage, Redding Rebels
OF – Jill Justin-Coffel, California Commotion
DH – Suzanna Fairhurst, Decatur Lady Pride
UTIL – Kathy Stahl, Redding Rebels
UTIL – Kyla Hall, Illinois Illusions


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Redding Rebels, Redding, CA (7-1)
2. California Commotion, Woodland Hills, CA (5-1)
3t. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (5-2)
3t. Southern California Jazz, Bellflower, CA (4-2)
5t. Riverside Hurricanes, Riverside, CA (4-2)
5t. Decatur Lady Pride, Decatur, IL (3-2)
7t. St. Louis Classics, St. Louis, MO (3-2)
7t. Activity As’s, Newport Beach, CA (3-2)
9t. East Peoria Avantis, Peoria, IL (2-2)
9t. Dekalb Illusion, Dekalb, IL (3-2)
9t. Topton VIPs, Topton, PA (3-2)
9t. Phoenix Sunbirds, Phoenix, AZ (3-2)
13t. Mason City Iowans, Mason City, IA (2-2)
13t. Decatur Breeze, Decatur, IL (1-2)
13t. Buffalo Shamrocks, Buffalo, NY (2-2)
13t. Sacramento Lynch Mob, Sacramento, CA (1-2)
17t. Montclair Majestics, Montclair, NJ (0-2)
17t. Fresno Force, Fresno, CA (1-2)
17t. Lisle Powerhouse, Lisle, IL (1-2)
17t. Celina Suns, Celina, OH (0-2)
17t. Memphis Saints, Memphis, TN (0-2)
17t. Allentown Pates, Allentown, PA (0-2)
17t. Pekin-lettes, Pekin, IL (0-2)
17t. Michigan Cruise, Ann Arbor, MI (1-2)
25t. Twin City Jammers, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
25t. St. Louis Jazz, St. Louis, MO (0-2)
25t. MCM Sports, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
25t. Lady Hearts, Bloomington, IL (0-2)


NOTE: Two separate 14 team double elimination brackets were played with the two winners playing for the title.


L-R, top row- Co-Manager John Stratton, Doreen Denmon, Crystal Boyd, Marty Laudato, Eileen Schmidt, Pat Dufficy, Cheri Kempf, Michelle Bolster, Michelle Collins, Patti Fernandes, JoAnn Ferrieri, Jackie Cipolloni, Tricia Popowski, Co-Manager Andy Van Etten. Kneeling- Missy Nowak, Patti Benedict

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