USSSA Pride Trade Shipman and Del Ponte for Draft Picks

Kissimmee, FL—The USSSA Florida Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) announce the trade of Madison Shipman and Brigette Del Ponte to the Scrap Yard Dawgs in exchange for 2016 and 2017 NPF College Draft picks. The Pride acquire the rights to the 13^th overall pick in the 2016 draft and Scrap Yard’s first pick in the second and third rounds of the 2017 NPF College Draft.

“Coming into the 2016 season, we lost some key veteran players and added a new coaching staff. After evaluating the roster with our new staff and the roles of each player, we felt this move was the best thing for these players and their careers as every day players,” said Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis.

The 2016 NPF season will be the inaugural season for the Scrap Yard Dawgs franchise as they become the sixth NPF affiliate team. This is something DeDonatis took into consideration with the trade. “I feel this trade is a win-win for everyone. It helps these individual players, it helps the future of the Pride by adding high draft picks, and most important to me, we are helping a new franchise with the addition of two experienced players who will contribute right away.”

Shipman, the second overall pick in the 2014 NPF Draft, earned Rookie of the Year honors in her first season. The former Tennessee Volunteer and SEC Player of the Year hit .344 in 2014 with 28 RBIs and 21 runs scored. Last season, the shortstop hit .198 with one homerun and 10 RBIs.

Del Ponte will enter her fourth year in the NPF having spent her rookie season with the Akron Racers and the last two seasons with the Pride. The athletic Del Ponte saw time in both the infield and outfield and provided a powerful right-handed bat off the bench. She had 19 hits in 78 at-bats last season with 4 homeruns and 15 RBIs.

With the trade, the Pride now own five of the first 18 draft picks in this year’s draft.

First Round

2^nd Overall (acquired in trade with Dallas Charge in 2015 draft)

5^th Overall

Second Round

12^th Overall

Third Round

13^th Overall (acquired from Scrap Yard)

18^th Overall

Fourth Round

25^th Overall

Fifth Round

32^nd Overall

Sixth Round

39^th Overall

The 2016 NPF College Draft presented by Bownet will take place on April 14^th in Nashville. For the second straight year, the draft can be watched live on CBS Sports Network at 8:00 PM est. Fans can purchase tickets to the draft on www.profastpitch.com.

The Pride open their 2016 season against the Scrap Yard Dawgs on June 10^th in Conroe, TX. For all information, check out the Pride’s website at www.dev.usssapride.com and follow the Pride on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About USSSA Florida Pride: The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.

About USSSA: USSSA is headquartered in Osceola County, Florida. USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA.

About National Pro Fastpitch: National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. 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.