San Antonio Armadillos (2004 NPF team)

The San Antonio Armadillos were a women's professional softball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They were part of the founding roster of National Pro Fastpitch teams in 2004.

San Antonio Armadillos
Information
LeagueNational Pro Fastpitch
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
BallparkSAISD Spring Sports Complex
Year founded2004
OwnershipSuzi Stauffer
ManagerPhil Koehler

History

The Armadillos's owner was Suzi Stauffer.[1] The Armadillos were assigned to the NPF's West Division, along with the Colorado Altitude, Arizona Heat, and California Sunbirds. The East Division included NY/NJ Juggernaut, New England Riptide, Akron Racers and Texas Thunder.[2]

The team announced in February that they had an agreement to lease San Antonio Independent School District's Spring Sports Complex for their games.[3]

Veteran softball coach Phil Koehler was named the Armadillos' coach, to be assisted by Charles Dismuke of the San Antonio Fastpitch Academy and former Texas A&M softball player Gina Perez.[4] By 2015, Koehler had more than 35 years of softball coaching, including 1989-96 as head coach of St. Edward's University[5]

In March 2004, NPF released its inaugural schedule for the year and did not include the Armadillos and the Altitude. Sources reported that NPF felt the San Antonio ownership ""came in late and really just couldn't get everything together in time," while Stauffer, calling the process a "nightmare," claimed she had a stadium and sponsors signed up, but NPF doubted her ability to support the team and increased her fee substantially, on top of a dispute over whether the league owned the team name and logos.[6]

Shortly thereafter, a letter of the team's website indicated that the Armadillos, with new owners, would apply to be an NPF expansion team in 2005.[7] However, the only 2005 expansion team was the Chicago Bandits, and after the Texas Thunder moved to Rockford, Illinois, the NPF would not have a team in Texas until the Dallas Charge began play in 2015.

Players

The Armadillos participated in NPF's inaugural Elite Draft and Senior Draft. The following players were drafted by the Armadillos:[8]

Player

Position

College

Draft Position

NPF Experience[9]

Stacey Phillips1BMichigan StateElite Draft: Round 1, pick 1 - SignedNever played in NPF
Kathy MortonOFSouthwestern LouisianaElite Draft: Round 1, pick 7 - SignedNever played in NPF
Lea MishlanSSSouth FloridaElite Draft: Round 2, Pick 9Never played in NPF
Stormy HansonCIndianaElite Draft: Round 3, Pick 17Never played in NPF
Jessica WheelerSSSan Jacinto CollegeElite Draft: Round 4, Pick 25Never played in NPF
Carri LetoIFNorthwesternSenior Draft: Round 2, Pick 16NY/NJ Juggernaut (2004–05), Philadelphia Force (2006), New England Riptide (2007–08)
Tara KnudsenSSGeorgia TechSenior Draft: Round 3, Pick 24Arizona Heat (2005)
LaDonia HughesOFLSUSenior Draft: Round 4, Pick 32Arizona Heat (2005–06), Washington Glory (2007–08), USSSA Pride (2009)
Anissa MeashintubbyPOregonSenior Draft: Round 5, Pick 40Never played in NPF
Meghan Clark1BMercerSenior Draft: Round 6, Pick 48Never played in NPF

The following players also appeared on the team's roster, acquired via means other the draft (free agency, trade):[10]

Player

Position

College

NPF Experience[9]

Robyn King2BBoston UniversityNever played in NPF
Tobin Echo-Hawk3BNebraskaOrlando Wahoos (1997–98), Akron Racers (1999-00, 2005)
Becky MansonUTCentral MichiganNever played in NPF
Alicia SmithOFHofstraNY/NJ Juggernaut (2005)
Monica TrinerPSouth FloridaTampa Bay FireStix (1999-00), Arizona Heat (2004)
Tarrah BeysterPOregon State UniversityNPF All-Stars (2003), Arizona Heat (2004), New England Riptide (2006–07)
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References
  1. "Stauffer buys professional softball team". New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. 20 December 2003. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. "Teams". profastpitch.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. "Armadillos Announce Selection of the Stadium Location". www.saarmadillos.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  4. David King (15 March 2004). "Former Lady Cajun to play in San Antonio". Ragin' Pagin'. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. "COACHES". Austin Storm. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. W. Scott Bailey (28 April 2004). "S.A. women's pro fast-pitch softball team goes belly up". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. Suzi Stauffer. "The Armadillos Status". SAArmadillos.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. "2004 Draft". SAArmadillos.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  9. "Historical Rostgers". ProFastpitch.com. June 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. "Team". SAArmadillos.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
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