February 14th, 2020
From the Mankato Sports Commission
Mankato, Minn. – After a landmark trade brought Ries back to Mankato a year ago to date for the Aussie Peppers inaugural season in the National Pro Fastpitch, the Aussie Peppers and Coley Ries have agreed to terms on a one-year contract agreement, team officials have announced Wednesday afternoon.
Ries and the Aussie Peppers enjoyed a successful season having record attendance of nearly 10,000 fans that finished with watching Softball Australia go undefeated and qualify for the 2020 Olympics in the Asia Oceana Qualifier in late September following the National Pro Fastpitch season.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to continue my career here in Mankato,” said Ries “I feel so fortunate to still be playing the game I love and it’s just the cherry on top [for me] to be home. The Aussies are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met and I’m thankful they are allowing me to be a part of their journey.”
Ries joins an impressive pitching staff for her fourth season in the NPF, spending her first season with the Texas Charge after being picked up as a free agent. Chicago added the Mankato native to their roster in 2018 before being traded to the Aussie Peppers for the 2019 season. In 2018, Ries was awarded with the 805 Stats Player of the Year Award for a defensive play made while pitching for the Bandits at a series held in Mankato.
“We are beyond thrilled to have Coley back with us for the 2020 season,” commented Aussie Peppers AGM, Alyssa Carver. “Coley is an asset not only to our pitching staff, but she is also a great connection to our local fan base. With Coley being arguably one of the best pitchers to ever come out of Mankato she is an amazing role model for the youth here in Minnesota on and off the field. We couldn’t be happier to have her back on the team this year.”
Ries and the Aussie Peppers will return to Minnesota this season as the squad use the high level of NPF competition as a springboard into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Aussie Peppers are preparing to host multi-team series events as part of the new structure of the National Pro Fastpitch for 2020. Team officials plan to announce particulars of the schedule in the coming weeks.
To see a complete list of players signed for the Aussie Peppers in 2020 please visit www.pepperspro.com/meet-the-team.