NPF COLLEGE SENIOR DRAFT
NASHVILLE – National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and its four-affiliate teams will hold the 2010 NPF Senior Draft on Wednesday February 10, 2010 at 8PM EST. The broadcast will be live from the Heritage Key Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. This will be the second consecutive year the NPF will broadcast the Draft live but the first time on MLB.com.
“The College Senior Draft is a much anticipated event for the entire League. We are always looking forward to the next talented group of outstanding athletes who will undoubtedly contribute positively the future of the NPF,” stated NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf. The NPF draft is sponsored by Miken.
The 2009 Draftees made a huge impact during the NPF Season. Those players included Kaitlin Cochran (Akron) and NPF Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year Tammy Williams (Chicago).
Each team has at least three selections in the five-round draft. The USSSA Pride, the host of the 2010 Draft, will hold six of the 20 overall picks due to a 2009 draft-day trade with the Akron Racers. The order of the Draft is as follows:
First Round:
1 1. USSSA Pride
2. Tennessee Diamonds
3. USSSA Pride from Akron Racers – 2009 trade
4. Chicago Bandits
Second Round:
5. USSSA Pride
6. Tennessee Diamonds
7. Akron Racers
8. Chicago Bandits
Third Round:
9. USSSA Pride
10. Tennessee Diamonds
11. Akron Racers
12. Chicago Bandits
Fourth Round:
13. USSSA Pride
14. Tennessee Diamonds
15. USSSA Pride from Akron Racers – 2009 Trade
16. Chicago Bandits
Fifth Round:
17. USSSA Pride
18. Tennessee Diamonds
19. Akron Racers
20. Chicago Bandits
Visit www.profastpitch.com on February 10th for the LIVE link to watch the DRAFT!
SWAC PRE-SEASON HONORS
BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2010 preseason softball honors Thursday, with
Southern’s Audrey Phillips and Mississippi Valley State’s Lisa Jansen claiming top honors. The teams were voted on by
the schools’ coaches and sports information departments.
Phillips – a 5-foot-4 sophomore shortstop – has been named the 2010 Preseason Player of the Year. Phillips had an
exceptional freshman campaign in 2009 for the Jaguars. She ranked eighth in the conference and second on her team
with a .370 batting average. The Mansfield, TX native also finished the season ranked first in the SWAC in triples (8), third
in hits (54), sixth in doubles (11) and eighth in runs scored (33). Her efforts helped guide the Jaguars to a number one
seed in the Western division for the Conference tournament as well as a spot in the 2009 championship game. Along with
being named to the 2009 SWAC First-Team, Phillips garnered SWAC Freshman of the Year accolades.
Jansen – a 5-foot-9 senior from Dietzenbach, Germany – has been selected the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. In 2009,
Jansen ranked first on her team and second in the SWAC with a 2.64 earned run average. She also led the SWAC in wins
(15), opposing bating average (.216) and batters struck out (144). Jansen’s performance helped the Devilettes to a 17-0
conference record in 2009 and a sixth consecutive SWAC softball title. For her efforts, Jansen was named the 2009
SWAC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year and a first-team honoree.
In the predicted order of finish, Southern and Mississippi Valley State have been selected to win its respective divisions in
2010. The two teams have met in the conference tournament championship game five times over the past six years with
the Devilettes emerging the victors in each game. MVSU has claimed the last six conference titles, while SU last won the
title in 2003.
In the Western division, Southern collected 11 first-place votes en route to 77 voting points. Grambling State (two firstplace
votes) was second with 57 points while Arkansas-Pine Bluff (one first-place vote) was third with 47 points. Texas
Southern (one first-place vote) registered 43 points and Prairie View A&M (two first-place votes) tallied 31 to round out the
Western division.
In the Eastern division, six-time defending champion Mississippi Valley State was chosen first with 14 first-place votes as
it received 82 points. Jackson State (three first-place votes) accumulated 65 points for second place while Alcorn State
with 44 points was picked third. Alabama State (49 pts) and Alabama A&M (25 pts) close out the Eastern divisional list.
Mississippi Valley State led the way with seven players chosen for preseason honors – four on first team. Southern had
five representatives on the preseason team, while Alabama State had three selections and Jackson State and Grambling
State each had two. Alabama A&M, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern all had one player on the preseason squad.
COMMITMENTS
Chelsea Whittle – Class of 2010 Georgia Fire 18 Gold (Neglia) Position: LHP/1st to Augusta State University DII
Tallahassee Community College 2010 commitments
Jessica Smith- South Carolina Elite
Jessica Cavallero-Nor Cal Assault
Lauren Deaton-Southern Force (IL)
Dallas Towns-Team North Florida gold
Gabby Bedard-Atlanta Vipers Vallery
Alexis Anderson-Georgia Knockouts gold
Andrea Monayarjia- Central Fla. Sting Black
Megan Oster- Team DeMarini
Ellen Roberts- NSW,Australia
Emily Smethurst- Victoria,Australia
Alanna Leasau- San Jose Lady Sharks-Piper
Devin Kochergen-Victory USA gold (CA)
Kirsten Grant-Ontario, Canada
Ally Ledenham-Florida Pride
Tallahassee Community College players moving on:
Allie Jest- University of Central Florida
Hannah Ojeda- Radford University
Mikaela Strickland- Pfeiffer University
Haley Stueckler- Towson University
Destinea Schneider-Francis Marion University
