Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF): Inaugural Season Ends with Texas Smoke as Champs

The inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) league wrapped up on Sunday as the Texas Smoke defeated the USSSA Pride 14-2 behind pitcher Autumn Pease—the league’s Pitcher of the Year—and Janae Jefferson—the league’s Player of the Year to take home the Schiffhauer trophy.

The Smoke actually trailed 1-0 going into the 5^th inning but exploded for seven runs and then scored one in the 6^th inning and six more in the top of the 6^th to seal the victory.

The winning team had four home runs in the title-deciding Game 2, a pair of them from Madysen Grimm, who went 3-for-4 and also drove in four runs, and solo shots by Shelbi Suneri (2-for-3 with a walk) and Alyssa Rivera.

Just still not over these monster mashes from the final game of the season😳💣@thetexassmoke pic.twitter.com/fGwsQfrXhD

— Women's Professional Fastpitch (@wprofastpitch) August 15, 2023

Pease showed why she was the WPF’s top pitcher as she went all seven innings and gave up five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Jefferson capped off a great 2023 campaign by going 4-for-4 in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship including a home run late in the contest to give the Smoke the 5-4 win. The former Texas Longhorn star then went 1-for-4 with a walk in the championship-clinching Game 2.

She was named the Championship Series MVP and in her team’s five playoff games hit .500 on nine hits and finished the season with a 4.38 batting average and an on-base percentage of .580—both of which lead the league.

Here’s the complete game for those who’d like watch it:

Texas Smoke Player Roster

• AnaMarie Bruni (OF)
• Sahvanna Jaquish (C/IF)
• Charla Echols (IN)
• Marta Gasparotto (C)
• Madysen Grimm (IF)
• Jordan Dail (LHP)
• Ciara Bryan (OF)
• Morgan Howe (OF)
• Janae Jefferson (UT)
• Alyssa Rivera (OF)
• Autumn Pease (P)
• Samantha Show (P)
• Shelbi Suneri (P/UT)

Texas Smoke Coaching Staff & Management

• Head Coach: Tori Tyson
• Assistant Coach: Monique White
• Pitching Coach: Cat Tarvin
• Owner: Brandon Phillips
• General Manager: Eric Mays
• Assistant General Manager: Courtney Hawkins
• Assistant to General Manager: Sarah Pauly

*****

Last week, the league also honored players who received All-WPF Team recognition as well as individual honors… here’s a report of the winners:

Recap: 2023 WPF Awards Night

Published Aug. 9, 2023; click HERE to read the original article

Oxford, Ala. – The first-ever Women’s Professional Fastpitch Awards Night was hosted against the breathtaking backdrop of the Talladega Superspeedway in partnership with the City of Oxford, Alabama and the host-team, Smash It Sports Vipers.

This year’s event showcased the league’s best and brightest stars who have made significant contributions throughout the season.

The All-WPF team consisted of:

• eight (8) position players (5 infield, 3 outfield),
• four (4) pitchers,
• seven (7) at-large selections

The individual awards consisted of Coaching Staff of the Year, Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Stolen Base Leader.

All-WPF Team Recipients

• Fa Leilua, OKC Spark – INF
• Janae Jefferson, Texas Smoke – INF
• Ali Aguilar, USSSA Pride – INF
• Charla Echols, Texas Smoke – INF
• Sydney Sherrill, OKC Spark – INF
• Michelle Moultrie, OKC Spark – OF
• Morgan Howe, Texas Smoke – OF
• Kayla Kowalik, USSSA Pride – OF
• Sam Show, Texas Smoke – P
• Autumn Pease, Texas Smoke – P
• Ally Carda, USSSA Pride – P
• Hope Trautwein, USSSA Pride – P
• Baylee Klingler, Texas Smoke – AT-LARGE
• Jocelyn Alo, OKC Spark – AT-LARGE
• Makena Smith, Smash It Sports Vipers – AT-LARGE
• SilentRain Espinoza, USSSA Pride – AT-LARGE
• Suzy Brookshire, Smash It Sports Vipers – AT-LARGE
• Donnie Gobourne, OKC Spark – AT-LARGE
• Haley Lee, OKC Spark – AT-LARGE

Coaching Staff of the Year

• Texas Smoke

Player of the Year

• Janae Jefferson, Texas Smoke

Your 2023 WPF Championship Series Most Valuable Player: 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻⭐️ pic.twitter.com/nEtHqfwHXn

— Women's Professional Fastpitch (@wprofastpitch) August 14, 2023

Offensive Player of the Year

• Morgan Howe, Texas Smoke

Defensive Player of the Year

• Sydney Sherrill, OKC Spark

Pitcher of the Year

• Autumn Pease, Texas Smoke

Rookie of the Year

• Kayla Kowalik, USSSA Pride

Stolen Base Leader

• Kayla Kowalik, USSSA Pride