FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday, August 1, 1998   WPF COMES TO CHATTANOOGA! America's Pro Fastpitch League Brings Regular Season Action To Tennessee   What:Women's Professional Fastpitch - Georgia Pride vs. Carolina Diamonds When: Tuesday, August 18, 1998 Where: Jim Frost Stadium at Warner Park Time: 7:00 p.m. DENVER, JULY 30 ­ Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF), America's Professional softball league for women continues its effort to spread its games across the United States with the announcement of a regular season game in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Georgia Pride and the Carolina Diamonds will play Tuesday, August 18 at 7 p.m. at Jim Frost Stadium. Tickets will be available for $8.00 (chair-back seating), $6.00 (grandstand bleacher seating), and $5.00 (outfield bleacher seating) beginning Monday, August 3 at the Greater Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee, or by calling 423-756-8689. When discussing the event, Chattanooga City Councilwoman Marti Rutherford said, "This is wonderful! It is a pleasure to have this type of event for our community. It is great that the different organizations such as The Sports Committee and Parks and Recreation can come together to bring a game like this to town. Jim Frost Stadium is already paying dividends." Sports Committee Chairman Dr. Ronald Blankenbaker said, "We want Chattanooga to be recognized as the center of athletics for certain sports. Softball is one of them. This event could lead to a professional softball team in Chattanooga. If that happens, we are one step closer to being the center of softball activity for the southeast and maybe the nation." Chattanooga is being considered for an expansion market for WPF as early as 1999. "WPF is excited about bringing a regular season game to the Chattanooga market. It allows the league to gauge the city as a potential team market." WPF is currently in its second season, with six teams located in Hampton, VA; Durham, NC; Charlotte, NC; Columbus, GA; Orlando, FL; and Tampa, FL. The league announced June 30 that Akron, Ohio will be an expansion team for the 1999 season. WPF plans to expand the league to an 18-team coast-to-coast league within five years. The Georgia Pride had the best overall record in WPF after 41 games, compiling a 26-15 record. The Pride fell just short of winning the league's first half championship, losing to Carolina by one game on the final day of the first half. Georgia is one of the top contenders for the league's second half title, and a chance to play Carolina for the 1998 WPF Championship. The Pride has scored more runs and hit more home runs than any other WPF team. Georgia is led on offense by outfielder Patti Benedict, shortstop Crystal Boyd and outfielder Pat Dufficy. Michele Hawkins has been the anchor of the Georgia pitching staff, but has received plenty of support from teammates Kristy Fuentes and Wendy Logue. The Carolina Diamonds won the first half of the 1998 WPF season, winning the title on the final day of the half. Monica Aremendarez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Diamonds a 3-1 over Durham and clinch the half. The Diamonds will play in the 1998 WPF Championship Series. Carolina had eight All-Stars at the 1998 WPF All-Star Game, the most of any WPF team. Armendarez is part of Carolina's potent, but balance, offensive attack. Sonya Bright leads all WPF hitters in batting average, and 1998 WPF All-Star Game MVP Brandy Arthur is among the league leaders in runs batted in. Amy Kyler and Jill Most the two aces in the Diamonds' rotation. The title sponsor of Women's Pro Fastpitch is AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. is the largest digital wireless carrier in the United States and also provides messaging, wireless data and aviation communications services. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. has more than 2.4 million Digital PCS customers and more than 8.6 million total wireless customers on a proportional count. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp. (NYSE;T), the world's leader in telecommunications services and technology. # # #   For more information and/or media credentials contact: M. Scott Smith Director of Communications 423-756-8689 http://www.chattanoogasports.org   For more information on WPF, contact: Bruce Wolfe 303-316-7800 http://www.womensprofastpitch.com