Kissimmee, FL– August 17, 2016- Kelly Kretschman has made NPF history becoming the first Pro Fastpitch player to earn the prestigious Triple Crown award in her 11th year in the league.
At nearly 37 years of age, Kretschman led the NPF in batting average (.466), home runs (13) and RBI (45) to earn the league’s first ever Triple Crown title this summer.
“It’s an honor and an accomplishment that I never expected to be the one to get,” said Kretschman. “There is no question that hitting behind Wiggins and in front of Pendley has enabled me throughout the season.”
Kretschman’s accomplishments don’t stop there. The Pride veteran also led the NPF in hits (62), tied with Sami Fagan, runs (42), on-base percentage (.563) and slugging percentage (.827), a steep feat in a league rich with prestigious players. With so much to be proud of, Kretschman never falls short of crediting her teammates for the success she’s achieved professionally and her continual dominance at the plate undoubtedly led the Pride to their fifth regular season title.
The 2015 NPF Player of the Year currently holds two all-time NPF-best records in RBI (223) and hits (400), recently surpassing former teammate Natasha Watley’s career hits record of 383, but the Pride outfielder has a lot more to accomplish with the 2016 NPF Championship Series right around the corner.
Currently the only player on the 2016 roster to have played in the Pride’s inaugural season back in 2009, Kretschman has certainly been a key part of USSSA’S success over the years that cannot and should not be limited to her performance this summer.
“This franchise was built around Kelly 8 years ago” states USSSA Florida Pride’s General Manager, Don DeDonatis, “her success both on and off the field, her leadership, well it couldn’t have worked out any better for both USSSA and the Pride. I feel so strong about her dedication to the sport and the team that I just signed Kelly to a new 3 year contract making her the first player in NPF history to be committed to playing until 40 years of age. And then, once she retires, I told her she will have a full time position waiting for her in the USSSA organization”, announced DeDonatis.
It all begins this Friday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Watch Kelly and the USSSA Pride finish off the 2016 season at none other than the University of Alabama where the Triple Crown winner herself put Roll Tide softball on the map. Get your tickets at profastpitch.com today!
Follow Your Pride!
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: The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), 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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