2019 NPF Executives of the Year: Aussie Peppers

After a 2019 campaign that saw them host nearly 10,000 fans at Caswell Park in North Mankato, Minn., the front office members of the Aussie Peppers of Minnesota are Softball America's NPF Executives of the Year.

The franchise, which possesses a partnership between Softball Australia and the Mankato Peppers, a youth softball organization, joined the NPF in 2018.

A driving force behind the work the team's front office members did this season was their concern with the advancement of gender equity in sport. The organization exudes that concern through its mission statement.

"Promoting diversity and equality for the professional female athlete, while inspiring, building confidence and building self-esteem in girls via the growing sport of fastpitch softball locally, nationally and globally."

The 2019 Aussie squad featured several members of the Australian women's national softball team, in their efforts to prepare for the Asia/Oceania Softball Olympic Qualifier, which will take place next month.

"Currently, our community is discussing gender equity and the large gap that exists between baseball and girls' fastpitch," Peppers general manager Matt Mangulis wrote in an email to Softball America. "Our community realizes that more investments in a girls' fastpitch-only complex are not only necessary to accommodate the sport's growth, but it's time that a gender equitable investment is made."

The team's front office members are listed below.

Matt Mangulis - General Manager
Mike Brielmaier - Chief Operating Officer 
Alyssa Carver - Assistant General Manager 
Dan Nessler - Special Liaison to Softball Australia

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