2015 ACC Player of the Year Signs with USSSA Pride
May 26, 2015 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
USSSA Pride News Release
Kissimmee, FL - The USSSA Florida Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league announce the signing of rookie Emilee Koerner to a two year contract. The former Notre Dame centerfielder was recently named the 2015 ACC Player of the Year. The speedy outfielder from Tustin, California was the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NPF Senior Draft.
"I was very excited to get the chance to play at the professional level and also be a member of a team with such incredible talent. I couldn't believe I would be able to call some of my childhood hero's teammates."
The 2015 ACC Player of the Year became one of seven Notre Dame softball players to be named a two-time NFCA All-American. Koerner entered her senior season for the Fighting Irish with the highest career batting average (.401) among Notre Dame players with at least 300 career at-bats. She is the program's all-time leader in doubles (61) and slugging percentage (.695) and was the only player in Notre Dame history to hit 20+ doubles in a single year, something she accomplished in back-to-back seasons. Her .439 average as a sophomore was the highest among all Irish batters in a single season in the program's 25-year history. Koerner also became the only player in Irish softball history to be named a Top 10 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.
"Emilee Koerner is a great athlete who gives us a tenacious defender in the outfield and a lefty with speed and power at the plate. We had a huge hole to fill in the outfield with the retirement of Caitlin Lowe and we think Emilee will help with that. She had a solid career at Notre Dame and showed she consistently got better each year," said Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis.
Koerner finished the 2014 season as the NCAA leader in doubles with 28, (the 2nd most in NCAA history) and was nationally ranked in sacrifice flies (7) and runs per game (1.20). She led the ACC in doubles and runs scored and was ranked among the top five in hits (74), total bases (141), batting average (.433), slugging percentage, and on-base percentage (.495). She also withheld a perfect fielding percentage two seasons in a row.
"I am looking most forward to challenging myself at the highest level and playing with the most elite athletes in the country. I look forward to building softball up in communities and inspiring young athletes to follow their dreams!" said Koerner.
Koerner was a standout on and off the field at Notre Dame. She was awarded NFCA All-America and All-Region honors three out of four seasons at Notre Dame and received ACC first and second team accolades from 2013-2015. Last week, Koerner graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in marketing.
The USSSA Pride and Koerner kick off the 2015 season in McKinney, Texas against the Dallas Charge on June 6th. Follow all of the action of Twitter, Facebook and www.usssapride.com.
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from May 26, 2015
- 2015 ACC Player of the Year Signs with USSSA Pride - USSSA Pride
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