NPF Announces Addition Of California Commotion

On Wednesday, National Pro Fastpitch officials announced the addition of the California Commotion to the league for the 2020 season.

Wednesday's addition of the Commotion marks the first time since 2005 that the NPF has had a West Coast affiliate team.

The team is owned by entrepreneur and UCLA graduate Damon Zumwalt. It will feature former college stars as well as players who have ties to the West Coast.

"I am pleased to have the ability and opportunity to contribute to enabling these talented young women to pursue softball at the professional level in the NPF, and I am specifically committed to promoting the addition of West Coast teams, so that we can have a complete cross country competition," Zumwalt said, according to a press release. "There is plenty of talent to create a very, very strong league, and women's softball is fun to watch with a great deal of action."

The team's general manager for the 2020 season will be Deb Hartwig, the former Events Director for the NPF.

"Adding a West Coast team to the NPF is such a proud moment for the league, and doing it in a year where softball will also have the Olympic spotlight shining upon it, is special," NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf said in a statement. "This is a capable ownership in Damon Zumwalt, with a passionate commitment to the sport of softball and the players who play it. I am sure Damon and his assembled staff will put together a highly competitive team to represent the deep-rooted success that has always lived in West Coast softball."

The last California team to exist in the NPF was a squad called the California Sunbirds, which competed in the league during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The Commotion previously existed as a top team in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) from 1992 to 1999.

The NPF will begin its 17th season in 2020.

What You Need To Know About NPF's New Schedule Format

NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf discussed the league's new schedule format with Softball America.