Kissimmee, FL-June 7, 2016- The USSSA Florida Pride is pleased to announce the signing of former James Madison University (JMU) catcher Erica Field to a two year contract. The Pride selected Field 18th overall in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft. Field and JMU teammate Jailyn Ford made history that night becoming the first JMU players ever to be drafted into the NPF.
“I’m very excited about joining the Pride. It has always been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to play in the NPF and experience the game of softball at the next level.”
Field became one of the most decorated players in JMU softball history as she etched her name throughout their record books. Field sits atop the JMU career leaderboards with 241 hits, 58 doubles, 149 RBIs and 1,324 putouts. She is a three-time First Team All-CAA selection (2014, 2016, 2016), a two-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year (2015 & 2016) and a All-Northeast Region selection (2015). In 2014, she was named co-Defensive Player of the Year and made the CAA All-Rookie Team in 2013.
In her senior season, Erica broke the JMU All-Time Career hits record (233). As a junior, Erica not only broke four JMU single-season records for batting average (.427), hits (85), doubles (21) and total bases (139), but she also set three JMU career records for doubles, RBIs and putouts.
“We welcome Erica directly from the Super Regionals where she once again proved herself to be a great defensive player and we are looking forward to what she does at this stage of play, commented General Manager, Don DeDonatis. She will be a great asset to our stellar core of catchers and I am proud to have our first JMU graduate join the Pride.”
During her four years at JMU, Field was a tremendous asset to the team’s overall success. Besides her offensive prowless, Field managed a pitching staff of two All-American pitchers in Ford, who was drafted third overall by the Akron Racers, and sophomore Megan Good.
“It was exciting for both of us to get drafted together. I wish Jailyn and I could remain teammates, but it will be really cool to form a little rivalry,” said Field.
Field said she looks forward to learning all that she can about the game while competing against the greatest players in the game. She was instrumental in building the JMU program into a national powerhouse and hopes to contribute that same winning mentality with the Pride.
“I am excited to see that people are appreciating what James Madison is bringing to the softball world,” commented JMU Head Coach Mickey Dean, “I’ve seen a lot of catchers and I think she’s the best in the country. You take the number of innings that she catches and she still hits the way that she does, I just don’t see anyone better out there.”
Tune in as the USSSA Pride and Field kick off the 2016 season in Conroe, Texas against the Scrap Yard Dawgs on June 10th. Follow all of the action on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and dev.usssapride.com!
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 (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success. The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series. The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.
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