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Force sign three after WCWS finals

June 11, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Philadelphia Force News Release


Allentown, Pa. - Now that the NCAA Women's College World Series is completed, the Philadelphia Force have officially signed their first two draft picks as well as a free agent. Arizona State pitcher Katie Burkhart, Texas A&M pitcher/first baseman Megan Gibson, and Arizona State catcher Kristen Miller all signed on the dotted line to play professionally this summer in Allentown.

Burkhart, whose Sun Devils claimed the 2008 National Championship, compiled a 41-5 record with an 0.75 ERA. The San Luis Obispo, California native racked up 513 strikeouts in 315.1 innings of work. She held opponents to a .133 batting average in her 41 appearances. The number one overall pick in the 2008 NPF Draft, Burkhart, was a member of Team NPF, which recently competed against Team USA in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Force also inked the number two pick in the draft, Gibson. Hailing from Spring, Texas, Gibson led the Aggies to the championship series against ASU. In the circle, she posted a 41-4 record in 45 starts. Gibson struck out 344 batters in 303.2 innings pitched. She held opponents to a .176 batting average and posted a 1.20 ERA. At the plate, Gibson batted .339 and started all 67 games for the Aggies. She had team highs in home runs with 13, RBIs with 48, and doubles with 17. Gibson made her professional debut on Saturday by shutting out the New England Riptide by a score of 3-0. She also was a member of Team NPF.

Free agent Miller was Burkhart's batter mate at ASU. She started 55 games and batted .302. She smacked 16 home runs and drove in 56 runs during the Sun Devils run to the championship. Miller is from Diamond Bar, California.

All three players are expected to be in uniform on Wednesday night when the Force take on the Olympic contender, China, in a goodwill, exhibition series. The four-game series runs until Friday with single games on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m., Thursday at 7:05 p.m., and a day/night doubleheader on Friday with games times set for 1:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. All tickets for this series are just $8 for any seat in the house.

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