National Professional FastPitch Mock Draft Rounds Three and Four

#13 Scrap Yard Dawgs- Chelsea Wilkinson, P, Georgia

Having a great pitching staff is the most important part of being a successful team. Kevin Shelton knows that as he developed a solid staff last year with the Dallas Charge. Fortunately for the Dawgs one of the best pitchers in the SEC fell to them. The University of Georgia has a great track record of developing successful players and Wilkinson shouldn’t be any different. The highly accomplished pitcher from Georgia would immediately be able to come in and contribute right away.

#14 Pennsylvania Rebellion- Haylie McCleney, OF, Alabama

The only reason McCleney fell this far in the draft is because of her Team USA commitment. But her .465/.444/.436 hit line speaks for itself and it would be a welcome sight for the Rebellion. Although she will spend most of the year with Team USA we may see her for parts of the season. If she doesn’t show up to Pennsylvania the Rebellion have her rights and would be wise to try to sign her later. She also has the potential to be long term depth in helping the Rebellion rebuild.

#15 Dallas Charge- Bianka Bell, SS, LSU

Last season the Dallas Charge didn’t seem to have a lot of power. Drafting Bell would not only give them more power but it would give them the best shortstop in the draft. Bell does have a Team USA national team commitment but could still play part of the year. That is the only reason why a talented player like her would drop this far. If she doesn’t play this season the Charge would want to try to sign her next season. Her .347/.337/.415 hit line would be too good to pass up.

#16 Pennsylvania Rebellion (Acquired from the Racers) – Heather Stearns, P, Baylor

Allyson Fournier retired in the offseason. It would be smart of the Rebellion to get more pitching depth. Stearns should fit the bill, she would not only bring great depth to a solid Charge pitching staff but she would bring a great clubhouse presence. For the past two seasons she has been the leader of a young Baylor pitching staff. Her off-speed pitches would bring a new tempo to the Rebellion pitching staff as well.

#17 Chicago Bandits- Lilly Fecho, P, Purdue

The Bandits have had lots of success with local talent. Kirsten Verdun appears to not be returning since she wasn’t resigned and the Bandits need an arm to replace her. Fecho would give the Bandits a second left handed starter next to Monica Abbott (If and when they resign her). Fecho is the best strikeout pitcher in the draft and would fill the spot left by Verdun. Given the Bandits track record with local talent this has the potential to be a home run pick for them.

#18 USSSA Pride- Emily Carosone, 2B, Auburn

This pick is merely for depth purposes. This year’s second base class is way too deep for the Pride to skip the position. The Pride have Courtney Ceo and rookie of the year Shelby Pendley saw time over at second base as well. She may get a few looks at that position but she might be the designated player depending on how she does batting.

#19 Scrap Yard Dawgs- Stephanie Canfield, OF, Arkansas

Judging by her .381/.348/.320 she is a terrific hitter for average. That is something the Dawgs are going to need in order to be competitive this season. Canfield has the potential to help make the Dawgs outfield depth very deep.

#20 Akron Racers (Acquired from the Scrap Yard Dawgs)- Lexie Elkins, C, Louisiana-Lafayette

With Haley Outon’s future up in the air catching has become a need. Even though they have second year player Griffin Joiner they still need the depth. Fortunately for the Racers the best catcher in the draft has fallen into the fourth round. Joiner is good defensively but she struggled mightily with the bat hitting only .129. The Racers struggled to get the big hit and it plagued them all season and in the NPF championships. Elkins hit line of .288 /.388/.426 is going to be way too good for the Racers to pass her up. She would complement the line up well. Even if she doesn’t start at catcher she would be a great bat coming off the bench.

#21 Pennsylvania Rebellion- Koral Costa, OF, Oregon

The Rebellion are looking to add more pop to their lineup. Costa would solidify the depth in the outfield. Her .207/.355/.356 shows you she could be a good bat coming off the bench.

#22 Chicago Bandits (Acquired from the Charge) – Tiffany Howard, OF, Auburn

The Bandits have a need for more outfield depth. Howard would fit in because she brings a speed element to the lineup. Also, her .310/.277/.415 hit line is too good to pass up. Great contact hitter and her RBI total has gone up each season from eight and six to twenty five. This season her RBI total will surpass last year’s career high. She also hasn’t committed an error since 2014. Howard would help make an already fast Bandit line up even faster.

#23 Akron Racers- Andrea Hawkins, OF, Alabama

The Racers need a fourth outfielder. Hawkins would not only be a good one to have but she provides more speed. The Racers didn’t have any speed last year and Hawkins would help solve that problem. Hawkins would be great to use as a pinch hitter and runner to manufacture more runs.

#24 Chicago Bandits- Sami Fagan, INF, Missouri

The Bandits are going to need some more infield depth. Fagan is very versatile and she brings a great bat to the lineup. I see the Bandits using her at third base since Amber Patton retired. Although veteran Natalie Hernandez has played over there a little bit it wouldn’t hurt to have a completion for the position. It also wouldn’t hurt for the Bandits to add another power bat coming off the bench.

 

#25 USSSA Pride- Alaynie Page, OF, South Carolina

To solidify the outfield depth the Pride are going to go with Alaynie Page. Page was a major factor in turning the Gamecocks softball program around. Page would help replace the speed that the Pride are losing since Natasha Wately retired. She would be someone good to have come off the bench.

#26 Scrap Yard Dawgs- Rainey Gaffin, P/UT, Tennessee

Gaffin is the most versatile player in the draft. Not only can she play in the field but she can pitch as well. The Dawgs would be getting a “Lauren Haeger” like player if they draft her. Although she does have a Team USA commitment it wouldn’t be for the national team. Gaffin would have the opportunity to play most of the year. The Weekly’s have always developed great professional softball players I wouldn’t expect Gaffin to be any different.

National Professional FastPitch Mock Draft Rounds One and Two

The National Professional Fastpitch Softball League will be having its senior draft on April 14^th, at 7:00 PM at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. The 90 minute televised event will be broadcasted on the CBS Sports Network. This means the National Professional Fastpitch season is right around the corner. The draft itself is the first big event of the year for the NPF. The league uses it as an opportunity to showcase current and future stars of a sport that is gaining popularity. The six-team league will select 40 seniors from the collegiate level to possibly join the ranks of USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion, or the Scrap Yard Dawgs. Unlike most professional sports league the NPF only lets college seniors be drafted.

#1 Pennsylvania Rebellion – Sierra Romero, 2B, Michigan

As a team last year, the Rebellion managed to hit just .214, the only player who had a decent year hitting was Alisa Goler who hit .270. The second base position was also a platoon between Haruna Sakamoto and Sarah Prezioso. With the first pick, the Rebellion will go for the best player available and that is Romero. Romero holds most of the major offensive records in Michigan’s softball program history and would add way more pop to a weak Pennsylvania offense. There also isn’t a Team USA commitment making Romero and “must get” player for the Rebellion.

#2 USSSA Pride (Acquired from the Charge) – Allexis Bennett, OF, UCLA

Bennett is a very great hitter and solid outfielder from Los Angeles. The only outfielders on the Pride roster are Megan Wiggins and Kelly Kretschman. Those are also the only two players whose starting positions are a lock. Bennett is sharp defensively, has speed on the base paths, and a terrific bat. The other Pride outfielders Emilee Koerner and Bre’jae Washington are now on the expansion Scrap Yard Dawgs making outfield a huge need. Drafting Bennett would add to the Pride’s star-studded lineup, giving them another young future cornerstone player, and would give them much-needed outfield depth. She also has the potential to be long term depth in case Kretschman decides to retire in a season or two.

#3 Akron Racers – Alex Hugo, 2B, Georgia

With the loss of Jill Barrett, the Racers will probably move Ashley Thomas over to shortstop. With Thomas being possibly moved over drafting an everyday second baseman is most likely in Joey Arrietta’s plans. Hugo is a strong power hitter and is alright defensively. She would fit right into the Racers power hitting philosophy.

#4 Akron Racers (Acquired from the Bandits) – Jailyn Ford, P, James Madison

Pitching was the Racers Achilles heel last season. Last season they had a league worst 3.75 earned run average as a staff. Their problems with pitching won’t get any easier since Lisa Norris retired and Rachele Fico’s future is uncertain. This makes pitching more of a bigger need than it was before. Drafting Ford would give them the best left-handed pitcher in the draft. The Racers need a southpaw in that rotation which is filled with all right-handers.

 

 

#5 USSSA Pride – Lindsey Stephens, OF, Texas

Don Dedonatis is going to use this pick on another outfielder to bolster the depth. Stephens has proven to be a great power hitter. Stephens would give the Pride not only even greater outfield depth but another dangerous hitter to their lineup. She’ll have the opportunity to compete for a starting outfield spot.

#6 Scrap Yard Dawgs – Missy Taukeiaho, 3B, Cal State-Fullerton

The Dawgs have a need for a true third baseman. Since transferring from the University of Washington Taukeiaho has become a two time all American. She brings some power and is prolific RBI hitter. She would fill the hot corner need for the Scrap Yard Dawgs.

#7 Scrap Yard Dawgs – Shelby Turnier, P, UCF

Both Jaclyn Traina and Sara Nevins will be spending most of the year with Team USA. This leaves them with only Katie Cotta and Rachel Fox. Turnier would be a great addition because she could immediately fit into the system, and be a major part of getting this team off the ground.

#8 Pennsylvania Rebellion – Kelsey Stewart, SS, Florida

Kelsey Stewart does have a Team USA commitment. But with Team USA and the NPF working together we could possibly see the record-breaking hitter later in the season. In case, we don’t see her it would be worth it for the Rebellion to keep the rights for next year.

#9 Dallas Charge – Shellie Landry, OF, Louisiana-Lafayette

The Charge are in need of some outfield depth. Landry would not only add depth but she would add power to the lineup.

#10 Akron Racers – Kayla Bonstrom, UT, Stanford

The Racers have a huge hole to fill at first base. The great part about drafting Bonstrom is she is very versatile as a player. First base also happens to be her best position as she has been named All-American at that position. Not only can she play first base but she can play anywhere. She also brings a great bat to the lineup. She is stellar defensively and would be a day one starter.

#11 Chicago Bandits – Emily Crane, OF, Missouri

The only outfielders currently on the Bandits roster are Emily Allard and Brenna Moss. This makes drafting an outfielder the defending Cowles Cup champions’ biggest need. Crane is great defensively and would make them even faster on the base paths. With her .376/.389/.363 hit line she would fit in very well to the Bandits lineup.

#12 USSSA Pride – Cheridan Hawkins, P, Oregon

The Pride loves big name players and Cat Osterman retired. Hawkins Team USA commitment caused her drop this far which is great for the Pride. The difference though between her commitment and the national team is it wouldn’t be for as long. She would possibly still get to play for June and a fair amount of July and August. Drafting Hawkins would make an already good Pride pitching staff even better. With the Pride also hiring Lonnie Almeda who is terrific at developing pitchers Hawkins should thrive.