Pennsylvania Rebellion Selects Eight Collegiate Stars in 2015 NPF Draft
April 2, 2015 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Pennsylvania Rebellion News Release
2015 NPF College Draft
(Pennsylvania Rebellion)
Washington, PA-April 2, 2015-The Pennsylvania Rebellion of the National Pro Fastpitch League selected eight outstanding collegiate athletes, including their number one pick pitcher Miranda Kramer from Western Kentucky, at the 2015 NPF Draft Wednesday night in Nashville.
Pennsylvania dominated the second round of the draft with three selections. After the franchise's first selection in Kramer, the Rebellion selected with their eighth overall pick, outfielder Shelby Davis from Oklahoma State University. Davis like Kramer became the first player in school history to be selected in the NPF Draft. The senior is having an outstanding year for Oklahoma State.
Through 35 games, Davis maintains an impressive .442 batting average and leads the nation in stolen bases (39). The Goddard, Kansas native has also been named to the All-Big 12 First-Team, the All-Defensive Team and the NFCA All-Midwest First Team.
"First of all, I'm incredibly thankful for the PA Rebellion and the organization's decision to select me in this year's draft," Davis said in a statement posted on Oklahoma State's Athletic Department. "Just the fact that I will have a chance to go on and play after college is amazing. I'm so grateful for everyone who believed in me and helped me get here."
With back-to-back selections, the Rebellion chose Florida State University infielder Maddie O'Brien with the ninth overall pick. O'Brien, who wears number seven at FSU for her idol Mickey Mantle, recorded one of the best seasons ever by a Seminole in 2014. The redshirt junior was awarded the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year and was a top 10 finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year as well as one of four finalists for the Honda Sports Award. The product of Palm Harbor, FL, set FSU single-season records in home runs (24), RBI (83), walks (56), slugging (.942) and had the second-best batting average (.424) and was tied for third-most in doubles (17) at Florida State.
In the third round of the draft, the Rebellion added utility specialist Cheyenne Cordes from California University. The number 14 overall pick by the Rebellion leads the Golden Bears offense with 10 home runs and is second in the nation with 51 RBI. She sits fourth overall in career slugging percentage at .596, fifth all-time with 40 home runs and her 156 blasts during her collegiate tenure is the fourth most of any California softball player.
"We were on the plane, so the anticipation of getting service back on your phone is always an exciting thing. I was very excited to see that I was drafted by the Pennsylvania Rebellion and start this new chapter of my life," Cordes said in an interview with the California Golden Bears.
The Rebellion nabbed another utility player in the fourth round by selecting Arkansas University's Devon Wallace. As a freshman with the Razorbacks, Wallace was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and a first-team All-SEC Selection, which made her the first player to receive either honor. Wallace leads the NCAA with an on-base percentage of .627 and her patience at the plate allows her to sit in eighth place in NCAA history with 198 career walks.
Pennsylvania added two more pitchers in the fifth round. The Rebellion chose NC State ace Emily Weiman, who was pitching in a game tonight, with their 22nd choice. The two-time First Team All-ACC Selection recently broke the program's record for strikeouts in a single game with 18 in the second game of a doubleheader against Lipscomb. Weiman etched her name atop the NC State record books with her 91st career victory, the second-most among active Division 1 pitchers, in a game versus Georgia Tech. With the 25th overall pick, the Rebellion selected Kent State pitcher Emma Johnson. Johnson became the first Golden Flashes player to be taken since 2007. The Groveport, OH native ranks third in program history with 616 strikeouts, fifth in career wins (50), fifth in innings pitched (560.2) and seventh in complete games (58). So far this season, Johnson owns a 10-3 record and a 1.14 ERA. She has tossed six shutouts in 13 starts and has accumulated 146 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings.
University of North Carolina senior Amber Parrish was the final selection for the Rebellion in the draft. Parrish, a versatile catcher and infielder, has started 161 career games and counting over her time at Chapel Hill in the ACC. Parrish, from Wilson, NC, ranks third on the Tarheels home run list and was an All-ACC selection in 2013. In 2015, she has 11 home runs, 38 RBI and a .756 slugging percentage.
The Rebellion opens its 2015 season against the Chicago Bandits at CONSOL Energy Park on Friday, May 29th. Individual tickets for the Rebellion will go on sale Monday, April 6 at 9:00 a.m. For more information on season ticket packages and/or general questions, call the team's front office at 724-250-9555 or visit www.pennsylvaniarebellion.com. You can also find the Rebellion on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PARebellion and follow them on Twitter @PARebellion.
Images from this story
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from April 2, 2015
- USSSA Pride Select Lauren Chamberlain as #1 Pick in 2015 NPF College Draft - NPF
- Individual Tickets for the Wild Things and Rebellion Go on Sale - Pennsylvania Rebellion
- Pennsylvania Rebellion Selects Eight Collegiate Stars in 2015 NPF Draft - Pennsylvania Rebellion
- Pennsylvania Rebellion Select Miranda Kramer with their First Overall Pick - Pennsylvania Rebellion
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