Heat sign Autumn Champion
Published on June 29, 2006 under National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Arizona Heat News Release
June 29, 2006 - Tucson, ARIZ - The Arizona Heat of the National Pro Fastpitch league are proud to announce the signing of Arizona outfielder, Autumn Champion. Champion will join the Heat this weekend for their upcoming series with the USA National Team.
Champion, a member of the 2006 National Championship team at Arizona finished her senior season hitting .408 with 22 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a team leading 57 runs. She was also named to the All Pac-10 team for the third time in her career.
Autumn enjoyed a very prolific career at Arizona, leading the Wildcats to three College World Series appearances. She finished with a .416 career average to go along with 70 stolen bases. Champion currently ranks in the top 10 in the Arizona record books in career batting average, hits and runs. In 2004, she was named First Team All-American for the second time after batting .489 and swiping 26 bases.
The Heat will take on the USA National Team this weekend after returning from a match up with Texas last week. The Heat split the four-game series with the Thunder and stands at 7-9 on the season. The series will start Friday and go through Sunday with a doubleheader on Saturday Night. Friday's and Sunday's games will start at 7 pm with Saturday's doubleheader starting at 6 pm.
Autumn will be wearing #14 this weekend before switching to her familiar #00 for the remainder of the season.
The Heat had to release Jeanette Rincon to make room on the roster for Champion. Rincon had primarily been used as a pinch runner and was hitting .133 on the season.
Team USA will be playing their first games since the team was chosen last Monday. They will be led by University of Arizona Head Coach Mike Candrea and will return several familiar faces. Alicia Hollowell and Caitlin Lowe will both be suiting up for the National Team after winning the National Championship a few weeks ago. Also returning to Tucson will be ex-Wildcat stars Jennie Finch and Lovie Jung. Finch and Jung are joined by nine other 2004 Olympic Gold Medal winners including NCAA Career Strikeout leader Cat Osterman and Tucson native Tairia Flowers.
For more information on the Arizona Heat or to purchase tickets, contact 520-296-9595. Additional information is available on the team by visiting www.arizonaprofastpitch.com. Special group packages are also available by calling the Heat office.
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