Taylore Fuller was one of four Gators selected on Thursday night.
Quartet of Gators Selected in 2016 NPF College Draft
Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Softball
UF seniors Taylore Fuller, Kirsti Merritt, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart were all selected during the 2016 NPF Draft on Thursday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Florida softball seniors Taylore Fuller, Kirsti Merritt, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart were all selected during the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) College Senior Draft on Thursday evening (April 14) at the CMA Theater in Nashville, located directly within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Key Resort.
Fuller was chosen by the Scrap Yard Dawgs, while Munro, Merritt and Stewart went to the USSSA Pride.
This group joins Kelsey Bruder (USSSA Pride, 2011-14), Megan Bush (Akron Racers, 2011-12), Kristen Butler (Akron Racers, 2006-09; Chicago Bandits, 2012-14), Francesca Enea (USSSA Pride, 2010-13), Lindsey Cameron (Philadelphia Force, 2006), Lauren Haeger (Dallas Charge, 2015-Present), Aja Paculba (NPF Diamonds, 2011; Akron Racers, 2012-13), Stacie Pestrak (Philadelphia Force, 2006-07), Hannah Rogers (USSSA Pride, 2015-Present) and Stephanie Tofft (Akron Racers, 2014) as Gators to be affiliated with a team in the NPF.
Haeger and Rogers are the only two former Gators still playing in the NPF and Rogers may be reunited with a few of her former teammates in the near future.
Munro and Stewart will be competing with the United States Women's National Team this summer, but will have the opportunity to compete with the USSA Pride next season (2017) if they so choose.
Head Coach Tim Walton:
On having four Gators picked in the National Pro Fastpitch draft:
"I'm really thankful for the opportunity that those in the NPF view our players as professionals and as players that can contribute to their organizations and to their brand."
Taylore Fuller – Scrap Yard Dawgs (Woodlands, TX), 6th Round (No. 34 overall)
- Taylore Fuller committed just eight errors last season after making the transition to third base and she has just two errors in 2016 at the hot corner.
- Fuller primarily played left field and catcher during her first two seasons.
- At the plate, Fuller is just one of eight Gators will multiple home runs this season and she has hit eight grand slams in her career, which ranks third in NCAA history.
Tim Walton on Taylore Fuller:
"I think Taylore Fuller is such a great competitor, athlete and worker. She's got a lot to improve on in her game, but I think that's the best part about her -- she's already a proven champion, and now she has an opportunity to help somebody else compete for a championship and get better along the way."
On Fuller playing for the Scrap Yard Dogs:
"I'm excited for Taylore to play for the Scrap Yard Dawgs. This is not only a great opportunity for her to play for a brand new and great organization, but for us again to just continue to grow our brand as Florida Gators."
Taylore Fuller on getting drafted by the Scrap Yard Dawgs:
"It's an honor to be selected by Scrap Yard Dawgs and to be able to say that I'm a pro athlete. In addition, the NPF has some of the best players in the world, and to be able to play among the elite is truly an honor."
Kirsti Merritt – USSSA Pride, 4th Round (No. 25 overall)
- Merritt's career is comprised of multiple honors, which include a 2015 NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team selection, All-SEC First Team Honors, 2014 NFCA All-Southeast Region Third Team Accolades, and a WCWS All-Tournament Team selection.
- Merritt's highlights at the plate include a walk-off home run in Game 3 of the 2014 NCAA Super Regional to beat Washington and becoming the first freshman to ever be named the SEC Tournament MVP in 2013.
- During her freshman season, Merritt was named to the 2013 SEC All-Freshman Team, the 2013 SEC All-Tournament Team, and the 2013 SEC First-Year Honor Roll.
- Now in her senior season, Merritt holds the Florida single-season (35, 2015) and career (69) records for getting hit-by-a-pitch. The mark of 69 also stands as a Southeastern Conference record. Auburn's Myesha Finney had previously owned the record with 67.
Tim Walton on Kirsti Merritt going to the USSSA Pride and what being drafted means for her:
"Kirsti is a tricky one because she is such a planner. She's planning to finish her degree at the University of Florida and continue on at physical therapy school. There aren't very many better athletes in the country, there aren't very many better competitors in the country and there aren't very many better center fielders in the game of softball. If she does decide to play, whether it be as a pinch runner, a pinch hitter or a defensive specialist, she's going to help the USSSA Pride get better."
Kirsti Merritt on getting drafted by the USSSA Pride:
"It's an honor to be selected by the USSSA Pride in the NPF Draft tonight. I will reassess whether I want to continue my playing career at the end of our season, but it truly is an honor to be picked tonight."
Aubree Munro – USSSA Pride, 6th Round (No. 39 overall)
- Munro, currently a member of USA Softball's National Team, has played a key role in the Orange and Blue's success in Oklahoma City these past two seasons. A constant threat for opposing base runners, Munro has was named a 2014 and 2015 WCWS All-Tournament Team selection at catcher.
- In 354 chances behind the plate in 2015, the Brea, Calif., native managed to play error-free defense. She remains one of nine Gators to record a perfect fielding percentage (minimum 50 chances). In fact, she hasn't made an error in 316 chances in 2016 either. Munro entered the 2016 season tied for 2nd all-time in program history in fielding percentage (859-70-3).
- Florida's senior catcher showed her defensive brilliance this past weekend at Ole Miss. The Rebels entered last weekend as the SEC leader with 106 stolen bases and an 86% success rate. In game one of the series, Munro caught two Rebels trying to steal and picked off a third baserunner -- all before the third inning. Ole Miss didn't attempt to steal a base the rest of the weekend.
- Opponents are just 3-of-9 on stolen base attempts against the Orange and Blue this season, which is by far the fewest allowed in the SEC and the fewest in school history through 41 games.
- Munro belted her first two home runs of the season this past weekend as well, notching solo bombs in game's one and two of Florida's series at Ole Miss.
Tim Walton on how Aubree Munro can contribute defensively and to a pitching staff:
"Aubree is one of those athletes that, as long as she wants to play, she's always going to continue to get better. She's very disciplined, she understands what she's really good at, she takes a lot of pride in her defense and any time she gains confidence, she hits. I think at first, playing professionally is going to be a humbling experience for Aubree, but as she continues to get better, as she continues to grow, as she continues to get stronger and gain confidence, she is one of those typical professional softball athletes that's only going to get better with age."
Aubree Munro on getting drafted by the USSSA Pride:
"It's very exciting to be recognized at the pro level and I'm excited for the opportunity to join the USSSA Pride. Obviously, I will be playing with the U.S. Women's National Team this summer, but to be recognized a great organization in the NPF like this is an honor."
Aubree Munro on playing with Hannah Rogers again:
"Playing with Hannah (Rogers) will be a lot of fun, as we would be on a totally different stage. Obviously, I played with a couple of years ago, so I'm still familiar with her and what she likes to do in the circle."
Kelsey Stewart – USSSA Pride, 2nd Round (No. 12 overall)
- Kelsey Stewart is a two-time NFCA All-American and last season's SEC Player of the Year.
- A three-year member on the USA Softball Women's National Team (2014-16), Stewart entered this season already first in Gator history for hits, triples and steals with records sure to fall before this season is over.
- She also owns two of the three 30+ steal and 100+ hit seasons in UF history.
- Now in her senior season, the Wichita, Kan., native has started and hit leadoff for Florida every game this year. Her .402 career batting average and .468 on-base percentage are the best in program history (minimum 200 at-bats).
Tim Walton on Kelsey Stewart:
"I've never met a person that loves the game of softball more than Kelsey Stewart. She spends more time, she knows the history of softball, she knows the players of softball, she has a love for young kids in softball -- her brand and what she brings is tremendous. With her and Aubree playing for the Pride and playing for an organization that I had the great fortune and opportunity to coach with, I know what kind of a brand they have. I know it's not just about winning softball games for the Pride. It's about growing the USSSA brand, it's about growing the game of softball, it's about giving back to the game of softball and becoming a professional along the way that you can have a wonderful career and a wonderful life doing."
Kelsey Stewart on getting drafted by the USSSA Pride:
"It's an honor be selected by the USSSA Pride. Playing in the NPF really presents a great opportunity to play against and with old teammates and friends from past teams."
Kelsey Stewart on playing with Hannah Rogers again:
"Hannah (Rogers) was one of those people that was always stoic in her demeanor, which made it a lot of fun to play behind her. She knew how to use her defense, plus it's Hannah Rogers. How can you not like playing behind her."
About the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League
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.
With TV coverage, broadcast viewership and game attendance on the rise, the NPF is poised to have a breakout year in 2016. The league's partnership with CBS Sports Network grew to a league-best 59 airings in 2015, with more expected this year. Game attendance was up more than 26 percent, highlighted by a single-game record of 12,175 set by the USSSA Pride at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
The expanding inventory of NPF assets, including its six franchises, 150 regular season games, CBS Sports Network broadcast schedule, NPF College Draft, NPF Back-to-School Tour and NPF Championship Series, is broadening national awareness for the league while presenting marketing opportunities for brands looking to connect with family audiences, especially moms and young females. The NPF also plans a major announcement soon detailing a partnership to live stream every game and league event.
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