A new franchise comprised of the Canadian national softball team will begin play with the National Pro Fastpitch in '19, with the league announcing the "addition of the Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois," according to ESPN.com. The Wild will become the sixth team for the '19 season, joining the Aussie Spirit, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets and USSSA Florida Pride. The Wild will "call Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois, home" (ESPN.com, 10/30). In Illinois, Les Winkeler noted the Wild's games will be played when the independent Frontier League Southern Illinois Miners are "on the road." The NPF "played a series of exhibition games at Rent One Park" in '16. The games were "well-received, drawing more than 1,000 fans apiece." Rent One Park was "one of three venues being considered as home base" for the Wild. Team reps "visited Marion in September." They also visited Southern Illinois Univ., which will "house the team and allow the Wild to use its training facilities." NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf said that broadcast rights are "currently being bid." She added that NPF games have been "carried on a variety of platforms" (SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN, 10/31). FLOSOFTBALL.com's Chez Sievers noted NPF will be "entering their 16th season" in '19 (FLOSOFTBALL.com, 10/30).
