University of Minnesota Athletics
Groenewegen Taken Second In NPF Draft
4/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sara Groenewegen was selected as the second overall pick by the Akron Racers in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) College Draft on Monday evening.
Seniors in college do not declare for the NPF 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.
Seven former Gophers have played in the NPF: Shannon Beeler, Amber Hegland, Stephanie Klaviter, Wendy Logue, current pitching coach Piper Ritter, Sara Moulton and Kaitlyn Richardson. Both Moulton and Richardson played last season. Moulton has won back-to-back championships with the Chicago Bandits the past two years.
Groenewegen is a two-time NFCA All-American (first-team in 2016, second-team in 2015). She is one of only three players in the history of the Big Ten to win B1G Freshman, Pitcher and Player of the Year awards. She is a three-time All B1G and three-time NFCA All-Region honoree and is a two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award top-10 finalist.
The Gophers have reached new heights in Groenewegen's time. She was part of two Big Ten Tournament championships including the team's first one since 1999 and helped the Maroon and Gold reach their first ever NCAA Super Regional.
This season the Gophers have reached their highest ranking ever at No. 5 in the country and are 43-3 overall. Groenewegen is 22-2 with a 0.52 ERA and 203 strikeouts.
Groenewegen and the Gophers have five more home games left on the schedule. They take on North Dakota State for a midweek doubleheader Wednesday with first pitch set for 4 p.m. This weekend they take on Purdue for another B1G series. Make sure to get tickets ahead of time here.
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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.
