Three Ducks Taken in NPF Draft
04/15/16 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon softball seniors Geri Ann Glasco, Cheridan Hawkins and Alyssa Gillespie were each selected in Thursday's National Pro Fastpitch draft, which aired live from Nashville on CBS Sports Network.
Glasco went to the Akron Racers with the 20th overall pick, Hawkins was picked by the Dallas Charge with the 29th overall choice and Gillespie also went to the Charge with the 38th selection.
Glasco, Hawkins and Gillespie join Janie Takeda (26th pick, 2015), Courtney Ceo (6th, 2014), Alexa Peterson (11th, 2014), Jessica Moore (6th pick, 2013), Neena Bryant (12th, 2010), Sari-Jane Jenkins (19th, 2009), Jenn Poore (9th, 2004) and Anissa Meashintubby (40th, 2004) as Oregon players taken in the NPF draft.
“With the contributions of our seniors to our success over the last few years, we certainly expected a few would be drafted,” said head coach Mike White. “I'm excited to see the NPF growing with six teams now as the popularity of softball increases every year.”
Ceo is still on the roster for the USSSA Pride in Kissimmee, Fla., while Peterson, who was third in the NPF with nine doubles last season, plays for the Pennsylvania Rebellion.
Takeda chose to play for Team USA instead of the NPF last summer, as has Moore since she graduated from Oregon. Starting this season, however, some Team USA players will be on NPF rosters for the first time.
Glasco, Hawkins and Gillespie will finish their senior seasons with the Ducks before joining their respective NPF teams for the professional season, which starts May 31. Players on teams competing in the Women's College World Series in early June join the NPF after their season ends.
There are currently six teams in the NPF – the USSSA Pride, the Chicago Bandits, the Akron Racers, the Dallas Charge, the Pennsylvania Rebellion and new this year, the Scrap Yard Dawgs in Houston, Texas.
