USSSA Pride Sign 2015 SEC Player of the Year Kelsey Stewart
June 3, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
USSSA Pride News Release
Kissimmee, FL - The USSSA Florida Pride is pleased to announce the signing of former Florida Gator Kelsey Stewart. Kelsey, who's arguably the most accomplished Florida Gator softball player of all time, was selected 12th overall in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) draft.
"I'm super excited and blessed to get this opportunity to play with the Pride. I'm looking forward to playing with all of these extremely talented and decorated ladies. How many people can say they got to play with their Olympian idols they looked up to as a kid?"
The 2015 SEC Player of the Year finished her career most notably with two back-to-back NCAA Championships (2014 & 2015) plus a long list of accolades and records.
The two-time NFCA First Team All-American and three-time Team USA member is one of only two players in NCAA history to post 30+ steals and 100+ hits in a single season, an accomplishment she reached twice in her career. Kelsey holds Florida's career records in batting average (.417) and on-base percentage (.476), total hits (293), triples (27), and stolen bases (98).
In her junior season, Stewart led the Gators in almost every major offensive category. Her .435 batting average ranked fourth in the SEC and she led the Florida offense in runs scored (71), hits (101), doubles (19), triples (11), total bases (148), and stolen bases (26).
"Kelsey Stewart brings a stellar offensive and defensive talent which will prove to be a real asset to this great mix of rookie and seasoned veterans," commented Don DeDonatis, General Manager. "Her experience at Florida under former Pride Head Coach Tim Walton, will give her a definite edge in the NPF and I look forward to watching her grow and develop her professional career."
Aside from her raw talent, Kelsey hopes to bring love and passion for the game to the Pride and hopes to learn something new from the greatest athletes in the game every single day.
Kelsey Stewart joins former Florida teammates Hannah Rogers and Kirsti Merrit for the 2016 season. Rogers, Merritt and Stewart were a part of the 2014 roster that led Florida to its first national title in school history. All three played under the guidance of Florida Head Coach Tim Walton, who coached the USSSA Pride in 2010 and 2011.
"I've never met a person that loves the game of softball more than Kelsey Stewart. She spends more time, she knows the history of softball, she knows the players of softball, she has a love for young kids in softball - her brand and what she brings is tremendous. With her playing for the Pride and playing for an organization that I had the great fortune and opportunity to coach with, I know what kind of a brand they have. I know it's not just about winning softball games for the Pride. It's about growing the USSSA brand, it's about growing the game of softball, it's about giving back to the game of softball and becoming a professional along the way that you can have a wonderful career and a wonderful life doing," commented Florida Head Coach Tim Walton.
The USSSA Pride and Stewart kick off the 2016 season in Houston, Texas against the Scrap Yard Dawgs on June 10th. Follow all of the action of Twitter, Facebook and www.usssapride.com!
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from June 3, 2016
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- USSSA Pride Sign 2015 SEC Player of the Year Kelsey Stewart - USSSA Pride
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