University of Minnesota Athletics
Richardson Named All-NPF In Rookie Season
8/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Coming off one of the most decorated Gopher softball careers in history, Kaitlyn Richardson wasted no time putting her stamp on the big leagues earning All-NPF honors as a rookie, the NPF announced Thursday.
"It was a humbling experience to be able to have my name next to players that I have admired for many years," Richardson said. "I look forward to my future in the NPF."
Richardson was selected fifth by the Dallas Charge, a new NPF franchise in 2015, on April 1. 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.
Richardson later signed with the team on May 26. In a press release right after signing Richardson, General Manager of the Charge Kevin Shelton said he believed Richardson's versatility and consistent left bat would make an impact in the team's lineup. "Kaitlyn was a highly sought after player prior to the draft. A majority of the teams in league were interested in her services. Kaitlyn fits our Dallas Charge mold. We're looking forward to seeing what she can do in a Charge jersey."
Richardson would not make a fool out of Shelton leading the team in batting average with a .304, connecting on 31 hits which sits her third on the team and adding 8 RBI. She also fielded a .996 starting 34 games at first base. Her .304 batting average was eighth in the league and second highest for the first base position.
Richardson is catching fire at the right time as well hitting two home runs in two straight days this week as the team gets ready to head into the Championship Series. The Charge will take on the regular season winners, USSSA Pride, at 8 p.m. CT tonight. The other game will be between the Chicago Bandits, former Gopher Sara Moulton's team, and the Akron Racers with the Final Series set to be played Sunday at 2 p.m. CT and concluding either Monday or Tuesday.
Click here to read the full NPF Awards Banquet press release.
When Richardson's NPF season was just getting started we caught up with her for a summer update. Click here to read what she had to say.
ABOUT NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) 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 and has been since 2002
