Ellis signs Pro Softball Contract

[Papa_Bull]

PRO FASTPITCHER: This week, Leigh Ann Ellis of Barboursville, who graduated from the University of South Florida in May with a degree in interdisciplinary social science and psychology, attained her childhood dream of playing professional softball by signing a contract with the New England Riptide of the National Pro Fastpitch League. The team is located in Lowell, Mass., and they opened their season Tuesday. Leigh Ann finished her collegiate sports career by receiving several top awards. Starting with the most prestigious honor, she was selected last week as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All American. As a southpaw pitcher on the USF softball team, Leigh Ann was selected Conference USA pitcher of the year, a member of the all-Conference USA team, a member of the NCAA all-southeast region team, and was a six-time C-USA pitcher of the week honoree this season. Leigh Ann’s pitching record was 43-8, which ranked No. 3 in the nation, and her earned run average was 0.93. Leigh Ann, a 2000 graduate of Cabell Midland High School, is the daughter of Jim and Barbara Ellis of Barboursville.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2004/June/04/LNcol1.htm

[Apis Bull]

I didn't even know there was pro softball.  :-[

[BullDoug]

I didn't even know there was pro softball.  :-[

Men's pros have been around for a long time.

[bulls96go]

WTG!

good luck

[Papa_Bull]

Ellis gave up one earned run and two hits in her first outing, but she still got the loss:

Juggernaut Sweep Opening Homestand With 2-0 Win Over Riptide

 

June 3, 2004 - Montclair, NJ- The NY/NJ Juggernaut opened up the season with a three game sweep of the New England Riptide which was capped off by tonight’s 2-0 win.

NY/NJ starting pitcher Amanda Scott got all the run support she needed in the first inning when second baseman Cari Leto scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Kellie Wilkerson. Leto was walked by Riptide pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis to lead off the inning, stole second on the next pitch, and then advanced to third on a passed ball.

Up until the seventh inning, New England had only managed one hit off of Scott. However, in the seventh inning, the Riptide strung together three singles by catcher Jessica Allister, left fielder Ashley Moore, and designated hitter Meg Young to load the bases and threaten the Juggernaut 2-0 lead. Scott quickly ended the rally and the game by striking out centerfielder LaDonia Hughes. Scott struck out six, allowed no runs, four hits, and two walks over a complete seven innings.

The Juggernaut pushed across an insurance run in the sixth when catcher Lindsey Collins led off the inning with a single to right. Collins was the only Juggernaut with multiple hits on the night, going 2-for-3. Pinch runner Sarah Hershman advanced to third on a wild pitch and fielder’s choice, and then scored on another wild pitch by Ellis. Ellis allowed one earned run on two hits, three walks, while striking out five over six innings.

The Juggernauts will now go on the road for a week to take on the Arizona Heat and the Texas Thunder.

[Papa_Bull]

Here was the press release on her team at the start of the season:

New England Riptide Open 1st Season

 

May 31, 2004 - LOWELL, Mass. (May 31, 2004) – The New England Riptide don’t play your father’s slow pitch, barroom league softball. They are the best of the best women professional softball players, officially opening the inaugural National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league season tomorrow night (Tuesday, June 1) against the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut at Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, New Jersey.

The Riptide, owned by Joe and Lauri Adlman, of Andover (MA), start their 60-game season with their first 12 games on the road before their June 16 home opener against the California Sunbirds at Martin Field, Lowell.

New York Yankees great and Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the Juggernaut-Riptide season-opener. Two-time Olympic gold medal winning pitcher/first baseman Michele Smith (Oklahoma State), who played for New England Riptide manager Ralph Raymond on the 1996 & 2000 Team USA champions, leads the Juggernauts.

Right-handed pitchers Jocelyn Forest, Megan Matthews and Dana Sorensen, along with newly signed southpaw Leigh An Ellis, give The Riptide a strong pitching staff. Forest pitched Cal Berkeley to its first national softball title in the 2002 NCAA World Series, completing the post season with a perfect 8-0 record, capped by a championship game victory against defending champion Arizona. Her catcher at Stanford was Courtney Scott, who now plays for the NY/NJ Juggernaut. Matthews was a two-time Div. 1 All-American pitcher for the University of South Carolina in 1998 and 1999. Sorensen, recently named a 2004 Div. 1 All-American, hurled Stanford to the College World Series, posting a 34-11 record with a 1.41 ERA and 358 strikeouts in 303 innings pitched. Ellis was also named to the 2004 Div. 1 All-American team. She posted back-to-back single season records at South Florida for most wins with 34 last season and 43 this year.

The infield has been strengthened by the recent additions of All-American shortstop Tara Knudsen, of Georgia Tech, Illinois State first baseman Emily Krueger, and Stanford catcher Jessica Allister. Knudsen led Georgia Tech this past season in all offensive categories, holds six school single-season records, and graduates as the Yellow Jackets and ACC career home run champion (46). Krueger batted .392 for the Redbirds and led the team in nearly every category, including single season school and Missouri Valley Conference records for most home runs with 18. Allister caught Sorensen all season at Stanford and was named second team All-American. She led the Cardinals this season with most home runs (12) and RBI (55), along with a .345 batting average.

Rounding out the infield are Arizona State second baseman Nichole Thompson, Missouri third baseman Rachael McGinnis, and Maine catcher Sara Jewett, of Haverhill (MA), who also will play in the outfield when not behind the plate. Thompson was a member of the 2004 U.S. Elite Team that captured the prestigious Canada Cup. McGinnis, third-team All-American selection in 2003, holds the Missouri all-time career high batting average at .364. Jewett holds 10 school records at Maine and she also played for national champ Stratford (CT) Brakettes. Sara was a four-time America East selection and its Player of the Year in 2000.

Patrolling the outfield are Virginia right-fielder Meg Young, Shrewsbury (MA), Auburn’s Ashley Moore, LSU centerfielder LaDonia Hughes, Kentucky’s Lyndsey Angus, of Leominster (MA).

Young started and played in every inning for four years at Virginia, where she was an All-ACC player and holds school records for most career games played (261), hits (285), at-bats (881), total bases (408), runs (149), doubles (51), triples (24) and stolen bases (51). In 2001, Moore became Auburn University’s first softball All-American player, where she set 15 school records, including the single-season home run mark of 17 in her senior season and career hits (261). Hughes was a second-team All-American this past season. She batted .350, scored 53 runs and stole 28 bases, increasing her total amount of thefts to 52 in two seasons. Angus, a valuable utility player, was a three-time Southeastern Conference all-star at the University of Kentucky, leading the SEC in batting with a .429 average in conference play.

Raymond, of Worcester, is one of the most celebrated managers in softball history having guided Team USA to gold-medal performances in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. His longtime assistant, Shirley Topley, and Burlington High head coach Mary McGinn, are members of his coaching staff.

National Pro Fastpitch is comprised of six teams: New England Riptide, New York/New Jersey Juggernaut (Upper Montclair, NJ), California Sunbirds (Stockton) Texas Thunder (Houston), Akron Racers and Arizona Heat (Tucson).

New England Riptide season tickets are priced at $175 for 30 home games. Four-game Flex-Packs are $28.00 and individual games only $8.00. All seating is general admission at Martin Field. Go to www.neriptide.com or call 866-4RIPTIDE to purchase non-group rate tickets. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities also are available.

[smazza]

there is a league

do they show games on ctv?