AKRON RACERS PITCHER MEGAN BETSA WINS NPF ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

**Akron Racers pitcher Megan Betsa was named the NPF Rookie of the Week last week. Read the press release, via the Akron Racers below**

NASHVILLE, TN – Akron Racers pitcher Megan Betsa (Michigan) was named the NPF Rookie of the Week, for the week of June 19-25, the league announced today.

Betsa made her only appearance for the week in a start on Thursday, June 22, leading the Racers to a 2-1 victory over the Beijing Shougang Eagles, for her first career win in the NPF. It was also Betsa’s first complete game, in which she struck out a career-high nine hitters.

The victory was the second of three wins Akron (7-8) had in sweeping the home opening series against Beijing. Betsa allowed only one run on one hit and three walks, and she retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.

At one hit in seven innings, Betsa had the lowest hit per inning ratio in the league this week and tied for the most strikeouts looking this week in the NPF with four.

With the win, Betsa picked up her first decision of her career. Betsa leads the Racers’ pitching staff with 20 strikeouts, which ties her for seventh most in the NPF this season.

Betsa and the Racers will be back in action at Firestone Stadium all this week, as the Chicago Bandits come to Akron for a three-game series beginning Tuesday, June 27 and running through Thursday, June 29. Following the series with the Bandits, the Racers will host the Texas Charge for a three-game series over the weekend from Friday, June 30 to Sunday, July 3 to conclude the first homestand at Firestone Stadium in the 2017 season. For information or to order tickets for any game in the 2017 season contact the Racers ticket office at 330-376-8188.

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About the Akron Racers: The Akron Racers, headquartered in Akron, OH, are the oldest existing team in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. The Racers will celebrate their 16th season of play in 2017. The Racers competed in the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) for two seasons in 1999 and 2000 and in the NPF since 2004. Historic Firestone Stadium is home to the Racers and numerous amateur events at all levels of play.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success. The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Akron Racers, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Scrap Yard Dawgs, Texas Charge and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2017 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.