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topicnews · July 18, 2025

Aus is the latest swing with a professional softball – and it continues to grow after 3 sales in Rosemont

Aus is the latest swing with a professional softball – and it continues to grow after 3 sales in Rosemont


The Bandits Pitcher Devyn Netz seeped away the left field to end the sixth inning in a game on July 7th against Volt in Rosemont. The fans of the sold-out Parkway Bank Sports Complex applauded volts Pitcher Rachel Garcia when she went off the field and brought a no-hitter to seventh place.

While the bandits Garcia's no-hit bid in the last inning and her 5-0 deficit lowered 5: 3, the flood ended with Garcias ninth strikeout. A volts flag near Home Plate stretched over a section of the fans when the team secured its fifth win of the season.

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It was the first of back-to-back-back sellers in the baseball stadium with 2,000 seats for the athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUS), the latest swing at Professional Softball.

“Can you imagine that a player Jennie Finch has this kind of platform in your day and how big the softball's game would be at the moment?” AUSCHOMISTARE KIM NG. “This is what we try to do. We try to expand the sport and give it access, deserve a continuation of the NCAA platform.”

The season was opened on June 7th with the four teams of the league bandits, Volt, Talons and Blaze-, who play two player series in Rosemont and Wichita, Kane. None of the red seats were returned on Tuesday and Wednesday during the six days in which the league played in Rosemont.

The 56 -year -old NG leads the league with tips that were experienced from her time in Chicago. She acquired a public order from the University of Chicago and at the same time played softball for the maroons as Middle Infieldder. Could a younger NG keep pace with the AUS competition today?

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“Not even close,” she said with a laugh. “The comparison with them does not give justice that they earn. These women are incredible athletes and they receive more appreciation for who they are.”

She leads the out with many historical moments under her belt. After NG had completed the U. of C. from C., the White Sox hired her as an intern and later promoted her to the deputy director of baseball operations. In 1998 she became deputy general manager of the New York Yankees-the youngest assistant GM in MLB history and the second wife who had this title and the Yankees, who was guided by Derek Jeter, won three in a row from 1998 to 2000.

NG later joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same role and was MLB from 2011 to 20 Senior Vice President. She pursued her goal of becoming a GM with a big league, but her run was bumpy. Interviews with the Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and New York Mets ended in rejection.

“There is a certain humility when asked to interview so early in your career,” said NG, who got a GM interview in LA for the first time. “I had incredibly privileged, (but) to be requested as the interviews, it became frustrating.”

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One thing remains in every job market: it helps to know people. In 2020, NG received a call about the GM position with the Miami Marlins. The interview was with Marlins CEO and partial owner Jeter, who was “the same person” as in his Yankees who played days.

Ng was the first female GM in one of the four great North American leagues MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL and under their watch the Marlins made the late season for the fourth time in franchise history with an 84-78 record in 2023.

The journey from NG was a motivation for current Auslayers. Her smiling portrait took place in addition to those of Finch, Rugby star Ilona Maher and other sports teams on a sign “Women Inspired” in the Rosemont Ball Park.

“To see what (ng) did to raise and support them was incredible,” said the Blaze -infield Aubrey Leach. “She continues to raise the bar for what can be professional softball.”

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The final thesis of NG in U. of C. from C. was on title IX, the Federal Law of 1972, which prohibited discrimination due to gender in an educational program or an activity that receives federal financing. Among other things, the law opened the door for women to take part in College. She always wanted to pass on women's sports and now she has found her chance.

“It is a cultural movement in which people recognize and recognize how incredible the athletes are and how incredible these sports are,” said NG. “That was that of two drivers for me to return to the softball.

“No. 1 was my love for the game. I only feel this incredible guilt and gratitude towards the game after I grew up and played. No. 2 (Was) saw where the sport was of women and to know that this was a train that left the train station, and I did not want to (miss it). When we collect and escalate, I wanted this sport forward, I wanted one of the contributions to this effort to this effort Efforts, for this effort. “

MLB has teamed up with the Aus to help the softball League stay on it. The pairing includes marketing efforts, joint sales and outfield on MLB.com and MLB Network.

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“The investment of Major League Baseball in the Aus offers an opportunity to support the long-term growth of softball and to expand our commitment to these outstanding athletes and their fans,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement.

There is no time stamp for the future, but NG has a clear vision for the softball league.

“Long -term (I would) love that we are the MLB of softball,” she said. “Ultimately, this is the (place) where we are, this enormous process creates more softball fans.”

The game grows and NG will be the first to tell you that you shouldn't miss it.

“If you are a baseball fan and turn on a softball game, you will be amazed at the action and pace in which it happens,” she said. “If you think you can beat a fast ball in the softball, you read wrong.”