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National Pro Fastpitch's season ended as an ugly, soggy shambles, fingers raised not skyward to celebrate a championship but instead pointed accusingly in every direction.

The National Pro Fastpitch season ended without a champion for the first time in the league's nine-year history because of weather delays and what the league cited as scheduling conflicts for players on both teams.

Monica Abbott was her usual brilliant self in the pitcher's circle for Chicago on Saturday. But it was the Bandits' catcher, Shannon Doepking, who was the star in the opener of the NPF championship series.

The Akron Racers beat the USSSA Pride 8-7 in the National Pro Fastpitch playoffs to force a Saturday Game 3 in their series.

Kristen Butler found her missing stroke. Her long home run sparked the defending-champion Bandits to a romp in their NPF playoff opener.

The four NPF teams are set for their playoff tournament this weekend in Chicago. Here is all you need to know about the teams and players battling for the title.

The Carolina Diamonds have been added as a franchise by The National Pro Fastpitch League, the league announced Tuesday.

North Carolina commit Diamond DeShields disliked losing so much that it turned her off to basketball for years, but she returned to her first love and built herself into a McDonald's All American.

Georgia stars Diamond DeShields, a North Carolina commit, Kaela Davis, a Georgia Tech commit, and Lexie Brown, a Maryland commit, headline the list of Morgan Wootten Player of the Year finalists.

Kalani Brown became the first member of her family to win a state title when she led Salmen (Slidell, La.) to a last-second win in the Class 4A title game. Top prospects Diamond DeShields, Kailee Johnson and Asia Durr also celebrate state titles.

Diamond DeShields, the headliner in North Carolina's top-ranked recruiting class, is named the 2013 Naismith Girl's High School Player of the Year.

North Carolina recruits Diamond DeShields, Stephanie Mavunga and Jessica Washington and Duke recruits Oderah Chidom, Kendall Cooper and Rebecca Greenwell headline the 2013 WBCA High School All-America Game selections.

Diamond DeShields, Allisha Gray, Jessica Washington and Stephanie Mavunga plan to bring their elite basketball skills as well as an uncanny chemistry to the North Carolina women's basketball program.

Mercedes Russell, Diamond DeShields, Kaela Davis, Taya Reimer, Linnae Harer and Rebecca Greenwell are among the stars expected to sign as the early signing period for girls' high school basketball begins.

With Diamond DeShields, Allisha Gray, Jessica Washington and Stephanie Mavunga, North Carolina leads the 2013 recruiting class race at the halfway point of the recruiting season. Notre Dame and Virginia round out the big three.

Tar Heels' remarkable haul