Florida senior All-American centerfielder Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) had another door of opportunity open recently, as the former Gator walk-on was selected by the National Pro Fastpitch's USSSA Florida Pride (Orlando) in the fourth round of the 2012 NPF Senior Draft in Memphis, Tenn., with the opportunity to continue her softball career professionally when her collegiate eligibility is up.
Moultrie was the 12th overall pick in the draft as the fourth pick in the third round of the 2012 Senior Draft. Should she sign a contract with the USSSA Pride, Moultrie would join former Gators Francesca Enea and Kelsey Bruder on the squad. In addition to Enea and Bruder, former Gators Megan Bush (Akron Racers), Kristen Butler (Chicago Bandits) and Aja Paculba (Akron Racers) also play within the NPF organization.
A 2012 pre-season All-SEC selection and 2012 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award candidate, Moultrie, who was already named to the 2012 USA Softball Women's National Team, has led the 2012 Gators to a 26-2 overall record, 7-1 mark in SEC play so far. She's reached base safely by either hit or walk in all but four contests this season and has recorded a hit in 109 of 135 Gator games since her sophomore year to present, including a hit in 19 of 28 games this year. In addition to her team-leading stats, Moultrie ranks first in the Southeastern Conference in runs scored (34) and triples (4) while checking in at second in stolen bases, with her 16.
A 2011 All-American and All-Southeast Region selection, Moultrie is additionally a two-time All-SEC selection, a SEC All-Defensive Team pick and has won two Gold Medals as a member of Team USA at the World Cup of Softball and the Pan American Games, both in the summer/fall of 2011. After working from walk-on in 2009 to a breakout junior year last season, she was named the co-Most Outstanding Player at the 2011 Women's College World Series as a member of the WCWS All-Tournament Team after leading all participants in hits, doubles, homers, total bases and stolen bases, while matching WCWS records with four homers and 13 hits.
Moultrie has started every game since her sophomore year and set Florida single-season records for batting clip, on-base percentage, hits, triples, stolen bases and attempts in 2011. She still has the second-longest hit streak in UF history, a 19-game strand in 2011. The Mandarin High School product has helped lead UF as the Gators have competed for the national championship two out of the last three years, including three straight trips to the WCWS under her talents, four straight overall as a program.
