Thunder Adds Five Players Through Senior Draft
February 17, 2009 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Rockford Thunder News Release
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) held its 2009 Senior Draft on Tuesday night in Akron at the Cambria Suites with the Thunder using its first pick and No. 3 overall to select University of Houston outfielder Laurie Wagner.
Wagner finished her 2008 junior season second on the Univ. of Houston team with a .401 batting average, which helped place her on the NFCA All-American Third Team and Conference USA First Team. She also recorded team-highs during her junior season in several offensive categories, including doubles (14), homeruns (19), RBIs (57) and on-base percentage at .498
"We entered the draft without an outfielder on the roster, so adding quality depth at that position was key to our draft success," stated Thunder GM Aaron M. Moore. "Laurie had her best collegiate season in 2008 and we believe she will continue to build on her successes. She has the ability to hit for both power and average."
With its second pick in the draft and the No. 6 overall selection, the Thunder turned its attention to the infield and drafted University of Arizona third baseman Jenae Leles.
"Jenae is one of the top five infielders we feel in the college game," said Moore. "She has incredible power and a great deal of experience playing third base. She's learned the game from one of the best programs in the country, so she'll be ready to go right away."
Leles had solid power numbers for the Wildcats in 2008 as she led the team with 17 homeruns and 49 runs batted in. She also recorded team-highs in slugging percentage at .757 and on-base percentage at .479. Her 15 hit-by-pitches led the Pac-10.
In the third round the Thunder stayed in the Pac-10 when they selected Ashley Charters from Washington with the No. 11 overall pick. Charter missed the entire 2008 college season due to an injury, but is back with the Huskies for her 2009 senior season.
During her first three seasons at Washington, Charters played in every game possible and was named to All-American teams following the 2006 and 2007 seasons. As a junior in 2007, she led the team in at-bats (202), triples (4) and stolen bases with 36. Her 36 stolen bases were fourth best in the Pac-10.
"Ashley is going to be able to help the team immediately," stated Moore. "We may ask her to make the move over to second base this season and we feel she can make that transition a smooth one. She is a very gifted athlete and it will be fun to have her in Rockford."
Rockford's final two picks came in the fifth round at No. 21 and No. 24, respectively. With the No. 21 pick the Thunder selected Alabama's Ashley Holcombe, a player highly regarded for her abilities behind the plate. She was a second team All-SEC selection in 2008, as well as a member of the SEC All-Defensive team, as she started and captained all 65 games for the Crimson Tide.
Defensively she had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in SEC games and a .988 overall percentage. She gunned down 7-of-20 would be base stealers and picked off eight others. During her junior campaign she hit a career-best .294 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBIs.
"Holcombe is a player we've liked since we started preparing for this seasons draft," said Moore. "Having Megan Willis and Holcombe behind the plate gives a very good 1-2 punch of defensive-minded catchers that will help control the running game and captain the defense. A presence like hers is something we were missing in 2008 behind the plate.
With it final selection in the 2009 Senior Draft the Thunder selected North Carolina outfielder Breanna Brown. Brown is an outfielder for the Tar Heels where she is a career .327 hitter. She set career-highs in several offensive categories during the 2008 season, including runs scored, hits, extra base hits and slugging percentage. Her 48 runs scored were tops in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"Breanna is a very talented outfielder, both at the plate and in the field," stated Moore. "We know she has a possible conflict with school this summer, but we're hoping she'll be able to join us in Rockford. She is a player that could help the team out in several areas."
Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete is not eligible to sign with her respective franchise until her 2009 season is completed.
Each team had at least three selections in the five-round draft, with the Akron Racers holding eight of the 25 overall picks. The Pac-10 and SEC conferences led the way in this season's draft with six and four picks, respectively. Sacramento State, Oklahoma University, Stanford University, University of Florida, and University of Houston each had two players taken from the draft.
Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of National Pro Fastpitch in the category of women's professional fastpitch softball. The partnership, which began the fall of 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help Major League Baseball and the 30 Major League Clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from February 17, 2009
- Thunder Adds Five Players Through Senior Draft - Rockford Thunder
- Akron Racers selects Cochran from Arizona State for No. 1 Pick - NPF
- Bandits keep talent close to home for 2009 NPF Draft - Chicago Bandits
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