1997 WPF Draft

1997 WPF Draft
General information
Sport	softball
Overview
League	Women's Pro Fastpitch
1998 WPF Draft  →

The 1997 WPF Drafts are a pair of player drafts held as part of the launch of the inaugural season of Women's Pro Fastpitch softball league. The first, the 1996 WPF Amateur Draft, a draft of 120 softball players, was held in Minneapolis, MN Oct. 8, 1996. ^[1] The second, the 1997 WPF Senior Draft, a draft of 60 college seniors divided among the WPF's six teams, was held March 20, 1997. ^[2]

NewsOK.com reported on a 1995 WPF draft. It is unclear if the date is incorrect, or if the results of this draft had any relationship with the 1996 and 1997 drafts mentioned above, or if the draft was disregarded entirely. NewsOK reported that Olympians Michele Smith and Lisa Fernandez were drafted. NewsOK also listed draftees pitchers Kim Ward (sixth round), Dena Carter (10th round) and Amy Day (11th round) and outfielder Becky Burroughs (13th round). ^[3]

The tables below for the drafts are incomplete, but will be filled out as further research is completed.

The following players were reported as drafted, but the exact round and pick number unclear:

• Draftees Gena Weber and twin sisters Karla Kunnen-Wojtas and Kari Kunnen-Kossen reported to play for the Roadsters after the 1997 NCAA season finished. ^[4]
• Marty Laudato was selected in the 16th round of the WPF draft in October. ^[5]
• Molly Lackman, formerly of Immaculata, was picked two rounds two rounds after Laudato. ^[5]

Following are some of the selections from the 1997 WPF drafts: Position key:
C = catcher; INF = infielder; SS = shortstop; OF = outfielder; UT = Utility infielder; P = pitcher; RHP = right-handed pitcher; LHP = left-handed pitcher
Positions will be listed as combined for those who can play multiple positions.

#	Denotes player who has not played in the WPF, WPSL or the NPF [Draft note 1]

1996 WPF Amateur Draft

Round 1

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
1
2
3
4
5
6	Julie Smith [7]	2B		Fresno State

Round 2

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
7
8
9
10
11
12	Kim Maher [7]	OF/3B		Fresno State

Round 3

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
13	Shelly Stokes # [7]	C		Fresno State
14
15
16
17	Martha Norfsinger-O'Kelley # [7]	SS		Fresno State
18

Round 4

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
19
20
21
22
23
24

Round 5

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
25
26
27
28
29
30

Round 6

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
31
32
33
34
35
36

Round 7

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
37
38
39
40
41
42

Round 8

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
43
44
45
46
47
48

Round 9

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
49
50
51
52
53
54

Round 10

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
55
56
57
58
59
60

Round 11

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
61
62
63
64
65
66

Round 12

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
67
68
69
70
71
72	Christa Yorke # [7]	C		Fresno State

Round 13

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
73
74
75
76
77
78

Round 14

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
79
80
81
82
83
84

Round 15

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
85
86
87
88
89
90

Round 16

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
91
92
93
94
95
96

Round 17

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
97
98
99
100
101
102

Round 18

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
103
104
105
106
107
108

Round 19

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
103
104
105
106
107
108

Round 20

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
109
110
111
112
113
114

Round 21

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
115
116
117
118
119
120

1997 WPF Senior Draft

Round 1

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
1	Trinity Johnson [Draft note 2]	P	Virginia Roadsters	South Carolina
2	Jill Most [8]			Oklahoma
3
4
5
6

Round 2

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
7
8
9	Randi Berg [7]	SS	Georgia Pride	Fresno State
10
11
12

Round 3

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
13
14
15
16
17
18	Jennifer Clark # [7]	RHP	Carolina Diamonds	Fresno State

Round 4

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
19
20
21
22
23
24

Round 5

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
25
26
27
28
29
30

Round 6

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
31
32
33
34
35
36

Round 7

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
37
38
39
40
41
42

Round 8

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
43
44
45
46
47
48

Round 9

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
49
50
51
52
53
54

Round 10

Pick	Player	Pos.	WPF Team	College
55
56
57
58
59
60

Draft notes

1. Unless otherwise noted, this was verified against the Historical Roster on the NPF's website. ^[6]
2. Johnson opted to retain her amateur status and declined joining the Roadsters. ^[4] However, she did play for the Durham Dragons in 1999. ^[6]

References

1. "HISTORICAL TIMELINE". AkronRacers.org. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
2. "WPSL History". ProSoftball.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2000. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
3. "5 State Softballers Picked in Draft". The Oklahoman. 1 November 1995. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
4. REA MCLEROY (13 June 1997). "Roadsters Briefs: Collegiate Stars To Join Roadsters". Daily Press. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
5. Don Beideman (11 January 1996). "Pro Softball League Picks Two Area Women". Philly.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.^{[ dead link ]}
6. "Historical Rosters". ProFastpitch.com. 24 May 2016. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
7. "Fresno State Virtual Team Guide 2011-12 - Softball". Digital Editions. 1 January 2011. p. 39. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
8. "Jim Beitia Head Coach". UT Sports. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2016.