Feb. 16, 2006

Four Big Ten student-athletes, representing four conference squads, have been given the opportunity to play professional softball after being selected in the annual National Pro Fastpitch League Senior Draft on Feb. 15. Three of the four draftees were All-Big Ten selections in 2005. The conference will be sending three pitchers to the professional levels in 2006.

Michigan pitcher Jennie Ritter, the 2005 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-Conference selection, was the first league standout drafted as she went to the Akron Racers in the first round with the sixth overall pick. Ritter led the Wolverines to their first Women's College World Series title in school history as U-M finished the season with a 65-7 overall and 15-2 Big Ten record. A 2005 NFCA first-team All-America honoree, Ritter boasts a career 1.10 ERA with 754 strikeouts in 562.1 innings pitched 67 wins.

Two-time All-Big Ten team member and 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Stacy May was drafted by the Chicago Bandits in the second round of four. The Iowa shortstop has tallied 200 hits in 591 at-bats for a .338 batting average while scoring 103 runs and driving in 88 in three years at Iowa. She joins former Iowa teammate Kristen Johnson as the second Hawkeye to be a member of the league as Johnson plays for the Akron Racers.

Courtnay Foster was the second league pitcher to be drafted yesterday as the Wildcat was selected by expansion team Philadelphia Force in the fourth round. Foster, who boasts All-Big Ten and All-America accolades has notched career marks with a 1.44 ERA, 56 wins, 771 strikeouts and 23 shutouts. Penn State's Missy Beseres, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season, was also drafted in the fourth round and will join May in Chicago this summer. On the mound she has compiled a 1.97 ERA with 512 strikeouts and 34 wins in thus far in her career.

Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete may not sign with her respective franchise until her 2006 college season is finished. For players selected in the Senior Draft, they will be permitted to pursue any available roster spot on their assigned team after completing their college season.

National Pro Fastpitch was created to give elite female athletes the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport. It has operated since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).

Big Ten Softball

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