California Sunbirds

{{Short description|American softball team}} {{Infobox softball team | name = California Sunbirds | logo = 200px | league = National Pro Fastpitch | cap_logo = | logo_caption = | division = | location = Stockton, California | stadium = United Sports Complex | founded = 2004 | folded = | nickname = | former_names = | former_ballparks = | league_champs = 0 | series = Regular Season | series_champs = 0 | colors = | owner = | manager = | mascot = | season = | record = | playoffs = | affiliations = | division_champ_type = | division_champs = | series2 = | series2_champs = | former_leagues = | berths = | retired_numbers = | general_manager = | president = | media = | website = | management = | coach = }} The '''California Sunbirds''' were a women's professional softball team based in Stockton, CA. They were one of the founding members of National Pro Fastpitch in 2004. The team folded shortly after the 2005 season concluded.

==Franchise history== The California Sunbirds were originally named the Sacramento Sunbirds. Their agreement to play at Freedom Park at McClellan Park in Sacramento fell through, so they made arrangements to in Stockton at the United Sports Complex. After that, they changed their name to the California Sunbirds.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Andrew Diluccia|title=Sunbirds ready to take flight|url=http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/sunbirds-ready-take-flight|website=Auburn Journal|accessdate=2 July 2015|date=31 May 2004}}</ref> However, they continued to use the URL https://web.archive.org/web/20100401111252/http://www.sacramentosunbirds.com/ for their team website.

The Sunbirds were coached by Tim Kiernan, one of the most prolific coaches in Northern California community college history. At Sacramento City College, Kiernan had won more than 800 games, three state championships, and a national championship.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Kevin Kage|title=California Dreamin'—Pro Style|url=http://www.thesoftballchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=16&Itemid=36&limitstart=20|website=The Softball Channel|accessdate=4 July 2015|date=29 March 2012}}</ref>

In 2005, the Sunbirds only played a partial NPF season in 2005, losing all 16 games they played. There were hopes of returning to the league full-time in 2006, but it never happened and the team folded.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Paul LaTour|title=NPF moving forward without California|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-109452CD5F91016C.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224233822/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-109452CD5F91016C.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2016|website=Naperville Sun|accessdate=4 July 2015|date=10 February 2005}}</ref>

== Season-by-season == {{Start NFL SBS}} |- |2004 || 15 || 43 || 0 || 6th place National Pro Fastpitch || Did not qualify |- |2005 || 0 || 16 || 0 ||colspan=2|Played only a partial schedule, they were not included in NPF standings |- !Totals || 15 || 59 || 0 |colspan="2"| {{S-end}}

==References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20021121135108/http://www.profastpitch.com/ National Pro Fastpitch]}} * [http://www.thesoftballchannel.com The Softball Channel]

{{DEFAULTSORT:California Sunbirds}} Category:Softball teams in the United States Category:Defunct National Pro Fastpitch teams Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 2004 Category:2004 establishments in California Category:Defunct softball teams in the United States Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in California Category:Softball in California Category:Women's sports in California Category:Stockton, California