SFU SOFTBALL COACH SABRINA LANE NAMED TO PHILADELPHIA FORCE STAFF

LORETTO, Pa. (May 12, 2008) – Saint Francis University head softball coach Sabrina Lane has been hired by the National Pro Fastpitch’s Philadelphia Force as an assistant coach for its 2008 season. Lane joins head coach Jennifer Teague, assistant coach Jeff Franquet, and pitcher/coach Jodie Cox on the Force staff.

Lane will continue in her duties as head coach of the Red Flash, but will take on the additional responsibilities with Philadelphia during the summer months.

The Philadelphia Force plays most of its home games at ECTB Stadium at Bicentennial Park in Allentown. The Force won 24 games last season, nearly doubling their win total from their inaugural season in 2006.  

Lane, who was named the Northeast Conference 2008 Softball Coach-of-the-Year, is coming off a highly successful second season as head coach of the Red Flash. She improved the team’s overall wins by seven games over her first season, and helped SFU turn a 3-15 2007 NEC last-place campaign into an 11-6 third-place finish this season.

She guided SFU to its first NEC postseason berth since 2002, and went 1-2 in the conference tournament with an upset of No. 2 Robert Morris. She returns 17 of 19 letterwinners in 2009.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me personally and professionally,” Lane said. “It will be a great challenge to coach some of the best players in the game, and I look forward to learning more about the game from coaches at the professional level.”   

The Force open their season on May 29th against the Washington Glory, and conclude the regular season on Aug. 16th against the Akron Racers. The NPF has six teams, including the Force, Glory, Racers, New England Riptide, Rockford Thunder and Chicago Bandits.