University of Minnesota Athletics
Richardson Taken Fifth in NPF Draft
4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Minnesota softball senior Kaitlyn Richardson was selected as the fifth overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) College Draft, held at CMA Theatre inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. Wednesday night. The Dallas Charge selected the Phoenix, Ariz. native with the final pick of the first round.
Seniors in college do not declare for the NPF Senior Draft, but are eligible to be selected by a franchise. That franchise then holds the rights to the player until she has exhausted her collegiate eligibility, at which point she is able to sign with the team and compete for an available roster spot.
Six former Gophers have played in the NPF: Shannon Beeler, Amber Hegland, Stephanie Klaviter, Wendy Logue, current pitching coach Piper Ritter and 2014 senior All-American Sara Moulton. Richardson was the second-ever pick made by the Charge, a new franchise in 2015. Moulton currently plays for the Chicago Bandits.
Richardson, a two-time All-American, has twice been named to the top-50 pre-season watch list for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award and was a top-25 finalist for the award last year. She is second all-time at Minnesota in career batting average at .397 and career doubles with 57. She leads the school in career slugging percentage (.698) and walks (121).
The senior slugger is a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, a two-time all-region first team member and is a top-30 candidate for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award. She was the 2014 Big Ten Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Richardson and the Gophers, off to a program-best 29-5 start with a 5-1 mark in the conference, are scheduled to host No. 4 Michigan Friday through Sunday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in their home-opening series.
About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. 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 of Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fastpitch softball since 2002.
