Three Softball Players Selected in NPF Draft
2/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2007
DENVER, Colo. --- Baylor softball players Lisa Ferguson, Chelsi Lake and Ashley Monceaux were drafted by the expansion Washington Glory of the National Pro Faspitch league the league office announced on Wednesday. Ferguson was taken in the second round with Lake going to Washington in the third while Monceaux was a fourth round selection of the Glory.
Only top-ranked Tennessee had as many players selected in the draft as Baylor as Norrelle Dickson (Oklahoma), Ashley DeBuhr (Nebraska), Megan Willis (Texas) and Sharonda McDonald joined the trio of Lady Bears as the only Big 12 Conference players selected in the draft.
The four-round draft of the NCAA elite college softball athletes was held on Tuesday morning as players selected in the NCAA draft will be permitted to pursue any available roster spot on their assigned team after completing their college season.
"The NPF showcases the nation's best softball players. The NPF Draft gives us the opportunity to tap into the elite softball talent from the college level and bring it to our fans," said newly appointed NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf. "We are excited at the prospect of adding the hottest college players to our teams and bringing even more electricity to our 2007 season."
Should the trio choose to play for a NPF squad next season, they would join former Baylor players Kelly Osburn, Stephanie Pomes and Cristin Vitek as participants in the professional league.
Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete is not eligible to sign with her respective franchise until her 2007 college season is finished.
Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of National Professional Fastpitch in the category of women's professional fastpitch softball. The partnership, which began the fall of 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help Major League Baseball and the 30 Major League Clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). The league was acquired by team owners in January of 2005 from the Cowles family, founders of the league.
Ferguson, Lake, Monceaux and the rest of the Lady Bears will return to action on Friday, Feb. 16, when the Lady Bears face Mississippi at 11:30 a.m. to open the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational.
Following is a list of college players in order of selection:
Round One:
Chicago Bandits - Lindsay Schutzler - Tennessee - Shortstop
New England - Eileen Canney - Northwestern - Pitcher
Philadelphia Force - Brianne McGowan - Oregon State - Pitcher
New England - Garland Cooper - Northwestern - First Base
Chicago Bandits - Kristie Fox - Arizona - Shortstop
Akron Racers - Norrelle Dickson - Oklahoma - Utility
Akron Racers - Kellie Middleton - Georgia - Outfield
Philadelphia Force Ashley DeBuhr - Nebraska - Pitcher
Round Two:
Philadelphia Force - Leslie Klein - LSU - Outfield
Chicago Bandits - Megan, Willis - University of Texas - C/Utility
Chicago Bandits - Stephanie Brown - Notre Dame - Outfield
*Washington Glory - Monica Abbott - Tennessee - Pitcher
Akron Racers - Kasi Carroll - Georgia - Pitcher
Washington Glory - Amber Jackson - Univ. of Maryland - Utility
Washington Glory - Lisa Ferguson - Baylor - Pitcher
*Pick traded from Chicago Bandits
Round Three:
Rockford Thunder - Abbie Sims - North Carolina State - Pitcher
Rockford Thunder - Audrey Rendon - Louisville - 3B
New England Riptide - Alex Sutton - California - Outfield
Akron Racers - India Chiles - Tennessee - Outfield
Washington Glory - Chelsi Lake - Baylor - Infield
Philadelphia Force - Emily Turner - LSU - Pitcher
Round Four:
Philadelphia Force - Megan McAllister - Georgia - Infield
Rockford Thunder - Cassidy Scoggins - Southern Illinois - Pitcher
Philadelphia Force - Sharonda McDonald - Texas A & M - Outfield
Akron Racers - Britteny Robinson - Kent State - Pitcher
Washington Glory - Ashley Monceaux - Baylor - 1B
Philadelphia Force - Mia Longfellow - Oregon State - Utility
