Houston, Texas, is one of my favorite cities, but because of scheduling, I did not make it there this year. National Pro Fastpitch’s recent announcement of an expansion team in Houston guarantees I will make it there in 2016.

I fell in love with Houston when my sister’s family lived there. Every year, I made several trips and saw many sporting events there. The Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs will be added to that list of Houston sports teams. Houston is a hotbed for softball, and the Scrap Yard Sports complex is a fantastic facility. The premier sports facility in the Houston area houses 17 all-turf fields for baseball and softball tournaments and other sports.

The Dawgs have an immediate intrastate rival in the Dallas Charge, last year’s expansion team. Both teams should benefit from the proximity. The NPF as a whole will benefit from the added competition, exposure and reduced travel.

The biggest winners will be Houston-area businesses. I am already lining up hotel reservations as well as planning visits to my favorite Houston eateries. My mouth is already watering for Texadelphia, Kenny & Ziggy’s, the Goode Co., Little Woodrow’s and other great spots. I’m especially looking forward to joining my Chicago Bandits on a road trip to Houston (and then Dallas).

The Bandits won the 2015 NPF championship, and they are out to repeat. I must admit, I never expected to be this excited about women’s pro softball, but over the last few years, I have joined the growing number of fans. Thanks to the Scrap Yard Dawgs, that number is expected to grow even more.

— John Wroblewski, online contributor