NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Florida State pitcher Jessica Burroughs was the No. 1 overall draft pick by the USSSA Pride in the 2017 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) College Draft presented by 2XU on Monday evening. Burroughs became the first Seminole to be drafted No. 1 by NPF and joins Paul Wilson (1994 – MLB) and Jameis Winston (2015 – NFL) as FSU No. 1 overall picks in any sport.

 

Minnesota pitcher Sara Groenewegen was selected second by the Akron Racer. The Chicago Bandits drafted LSU catcher/infielder Sahvanna Jaquish and Cal Poly pitcher Sierra Hyland with the next two picks. Outfielder Bailey Landry of LSU rounded out first round going to the Texas Charge.

 

Arizona led the way with four selections, three of which were in the second round- third baseman Katiyana Mauga (Texas Charge), pitcher Danielle O’Toole (Chicago Bandits), infielder Mo Mercado (USSSA Pride). Florida State (Burroughs and Alex Powers), LSU and Michigan (Megan Betsa and Kelly Christner) each had two student-athletes drafted.

 

Jaquish and Landry were the first two selections from the Southeastern Conference, which produced a draft-best nine picks.

Seniors in college do not declare for the NPF Draft, but are eligible to be selected by a franchise. That franchise then holds the rights to the player until she has exhausted her collegiate eligibility, at which point she is able to sign with the team and compete for an available roster spot. 

First Round

1. USSSA Pride – Right-handed Pitcher Jessica Burroughs (Florida State)

2. Akron Racers – Right-handed Pitcher Sara Groenewegen (Minnesota)

3. Chicago Bandits – Catcher and Infielder Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU)

4. Chicago Bandits – Right-handed Pitcher Sierra Hyland (Cal Poly)

5. Texas Charge – Outfielder Bailey Landry (LSU)

 

Second Round

6. Texas Charge – Third Baseman Katiyana Mauga (Arizona)

7. Akron Racers – Right-handed Pitcher Megan Betsa (Michigan)

8. Chicago Bandits – Left-handed Pitcher Danielle O’Toole (Arizona)

9. USSSA Pride – Infielder Alexis “Mo” Mercado (Arizona)

10. USSSA Pride – First-baseman Alex Powers (Florida State)

 

Third Round

11. Akron Racers – Utility Chloe Miller (Wisconsin)

12. Scrap Yard Dawgs – Left-handed Pitcher Delanie Gourley (Florida)
<Gourley was traded to Texas Charge for the No. 13 and No.25 picks>

13. Scrap Yard Dawgs – Infielder Ali Aguilar (Washington)

14. Texas Charge – Left-handed Pitcher Haley Chambers-Book (SIU-Edwardsville)

15. Akron Racers – Outfielder Megan Geer (Tennessee)

 

Fourth Round

16. Akron Racers – Outfielder Sydni Emanuel (Georgia) 

17. Scrap Yard Dawgs – Infielder Hannah Flippen (Utah)

18. Scrap Yard Dawgs – Infielder Nikki Udria (Oregon)

19. USSSA Pride – Outfielder Mandie Perez (Arizona)

20. USSSA Pride – Outfielder Kelly Christner (Michigan)

 

Fifth Round

21. Akron Racers – Outfielder Nicole Schroeder (Arkansas)

22. Texas Charge – Utility Lindsey Cargill (Baylor)

23. Akron Racers – Infielder Maddy Grimm (Kent State) 

24. Akron Racers – Left-handed Pitcher Alexis Silkwood (Mississippi State)

25. Scrap Yard Dawgs – Infielder MJ Knighten (Nebraska)

26. Scrap Yard Dawgs – Utility Morgan Zerkle (Marshall)

 

— Information provided by NPF