USSSA Pride Makes 2012 NPF Draft selections

Brittany Mack (pictured), Andrea Harrison, Kristyn Sandburg, Nikia Williams, Valarie Arioto, Michelle Moultrie, and Christi Orgeron were all selected by the USSSA Pride at the 2012 NPF Draft, held in Memphis, Tennessee on March 7, 2012.

Louisina State University Pitcher and overall SEC standout Brittany Mack was selected as the first overall pick by the USSSA Pride in the 2012 NPF Draft.

Mack should feel right at home with the leadership of her new team as Beth Torina, the head coach of the Pride, has also been Mack’s head softball coach at LSU since June 2011.

“First off, I am extremely excited for the chance to play professional softball this summer,” Mack said. “I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for the coaching staff and my teammates at LSU. It is such an unbelievable feeling to be honored with the opportunity to compete at one of the highest levels in the sport, and I’m hoping that I will be able to contribute to help expand the NPF’s greatness throughout the country. Until then, I have unfinished business at LSU. My heart and my mind are focused on the path towards returning LSU to the Women’s College World Series and winning a national championship.”

The USSSA Pride selected utility player Andrea Harrison as the fourth pick overall in the first round of the draft. The UCLA Senior And NFCA First Team All-American now has the opportunity to play alongside fellow former UCLA All Stars and new teammates Andrea Duran and Natasha Watley for the first time.

Kristyn Sandburg was the USSSA Pride’s third pick.  Sandburg, a senior catcher and infielder at the University of Georgia, is expected to bring both offensive and defensive power to the Pride in 2012.

First-and-third baseman Nikia Williams, selected fourth by the Pride, will join former University of Washington teammates Ashley Charters, Jenn Salling, and Danielle Lawrie, all of whom were a part of the Husky’s 2009 Women’s College World Series Championship team in William’s freshman year.

Three of the players that the Pride selected in the 2012 NPF Draft previously played together on the 2011 US Women’s National Softball Team: Valarie Arioto, Michelle Moultrie, and Christi Orgeron.

In the eighth pick in the second round of the 2012 NPF Draft, the USSSA Pride selected senior Valarie Arioto, first baseman and pitcher at the University of California, Berkley.
Michelle Moultrie was selected as the fourth round of the draft by the USSSA Pride. The senior and University of Florida outfielder will be reunited with former teammates Francesca Enea and Kelsey Bruder on the Pride in 2012.

Christi Orgeron, who plays utility for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns, was selected 20th overall in the 2012 NPF Draft. A 2011 USA Women’s National Team member, Orgeron led the nation in RBI in 2011 with 101.

The Pride in their regular season opener against the Chicago Bandits on June 7th.

By Caitlin Schwartz

 

About USSSA Florida Pride:

The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.

About NPF:

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. 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 of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.

About USSSA:

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!