March 31, 2014
NPF Website | Akron Racers Website
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech senior shortstop Ashley Thomas was drafted by the Akron Racers in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Monday night as the 16th overall pick. Thomas is the sixth Yellow Jacket to play in the NPF.
“It’s a huge honor and blessing for me to be drafted by the Akron Racers,” Thomas said. “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and I’m so excited and grateful for this opportunity to play with the best of the best.”
“We are all so excited for Ashley and the opportunity she has in front of her,” Georgia Tech head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “Being one of only 20 players drafted tonight is a tremendous honor. Ashley has worked extremely hard on her game to make her dream come true and we are very proud of her.
“We know she will continue to be successful at the pro level and will represent Georgia Tech and our softball program with the utmost respect.”
The NPF regular season begins May 29 and runs through August 17 with the 2014 Championship Series held August 20-23 in Hoover, Ala.
Thomas was named the 2013 ACC Player of the Year and led the league last year with a .417 batting average. This season, she was selected to the 2014 USA Softball Player of the Year watch list.
The McKinney, Texas, native is ranked in the top five in three Georgia Tech career categories – second in stolen base attempts, third in stolen bases and fifth in runs. She is seventh in the ACC career record books in stolen bases (109).
Thomas and the Yellow Jackets are back in action Wednesday at No. 13/14 Georgia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. in Athens.
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.
