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NPF Chicago Bandits

Bandits Select Collegiate Player of the Year in NPF Draft

April 1, 2015 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Chicago Bandits News Release


Pitcher Lacey Waldrop of Florida State University
Pitcher Lacey Waldrop of Florida State University
(Chicago Bandits, Credit: Steve Moakley)

ROSEMONT, Ill. - With the third overall pick in the 2015 NPF Draft presented by Bownet, the Chicago Bandits have selected 2014 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, pitcher Lacey Waldrop out of Florida State University.

"This is a great move for the Bandits organization," said GM Aaron M. Moore. "Lacey is a pitcher we've had our eyes on for some time and we're excited about the possibility of having her in a Bandits uniform when the NCAA season concludes."

The Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement in softball and is considered by many to be the most prestigious honor in Division I softball. For those who have followed Waldrop throughout her collegiate career, the Player of the Year honor came as no surprise.

"Any time you can add a player with the resume that Waldrop has you have to jump on it," continued Moore.

"We really think that she will fit nicely into our pitching rotation and will be someone that gives us a chance to win each and every time she takes her turn in the circle."

A right handed pitcher out of Chester, Va., Waldrop has built an impressive resume during her time with the Seminoles. She finished her freshman season with a record of 19-5, while leading the team with a 1.33 ERA. Waldrop became just the third freshman pitcher in program history to achieve All-ACC accolades after she was named to the second team in 2012.

Not falling into the cliché of the sophomore slump, she continued her dominance in collegiate softball and the Athletic Coast Conference (ACC). She finished her sophomore campaign with a 24-10 record and an ERA of 1.53. She also recorded 259 strikeouts, while holding her opponents to a .191 batting average. Waldrop became the first All-American at FSU since 2009 with her NFCA Third Team honors following her sophomore season.

During the 2014 season, the now 22-year-old Waldrop earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors seven times, setting a new conference record. The record setting continued as she established a new FSU single-season record in wins with 38, which also led the entire NCAA. Waldrop was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and she helped lead the Seminoles to the Women's College World Series for the first time in ten years before earning the title of Player of the Year.

Waldrop earned her 100th career win as a Seminole with a complete game shutout over the University of Pittsburgh on March 28. Bandits fans can get their first view of Waldrop on Sunday, April 12 when FSU faces Louisville on ESPNU at 6 p.m. CT. Waldrop is having another standout season for the Seminoles as she enters tonight with a record of 20-3 to go with her miniscule ERA of 1.01. Opponents are hitting just .147 against the right-hander.




Images from this story

Pitcher Lacey Waldrop of Florida State University
Pitcher Lacey Waldrop of Florida State University
(Steve Moakley)		   

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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