Reiss Selected in National Pro Fastpitch Draft
December 08, 2003 | Softball
University of Wisconsin softball player Meghann Reiss has been selected in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league draft by the Colorado Altitude. Reiss was selected by Colorado in the sixth round of the college senior draft with the 44th pick overall.
Reiss, a Simi Valley, Calif., native who plays first base and catcher, was one of just two Big Ten players to be selected in the draft along with Northwestern second baseman Carri Leto.
'I was really excited to get the opportunity,' Reiss said of getting drafted. 'This is a great opportunity to promote our sport on a national level and to represent the University.'
Reiss has been a team captain each of the past two seasons and will serve in the same capacity during the upcoming Badger season. She carries a career batting average of .265 with her best season coming in 2001 when she batted .305 with 26 RBI on her way to earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Colorado owns the draft rights to Reiss, but she is unable to sign a contract with the Altitude until the conclusion of the use of her collegiate eligibility.
In addition to Reiss, the NPF will have another connection to the Wisconsin softball program. Current UW assistant coach Brandee McArthur has signed a contract to play for the Akron Racers. McArthur, a pitcher, has previously played professionally for the Ohio Pride of the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). She led the league in strikeouts in 2000 and was an all-star selection in 1999 after graduating from University of Pacific.
National Pro Fastpitch is the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. The league is headquartered in Denver, and has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL).
The Wisconsin softball coaching staff has a rich history of playing professionally. Along with McArthur's experience, fellow UW assistant Tammy Lohmann played for the Carolina Diamonds of the WPSL and Head Coach Karen Gallagher was a member of the Connecticut Falcons from 1977-79, winning three World Series championships. In 1976, at age 17, Gallagher was drafted by the Chicago Ravens, becoming the WPSL 's youngest player.
The revamped NPF consists of eight teams located in Akron, Ohio, Lowell, Mass., Houston and San Antonio, Texas, Sacramento, Calif., Denver, Colo., Tucson, Ariz., and the greater New York/New Jersey area.
The 2004 NPF season runs from June 1 through August 31 and includes 56 regular-season games, an all-star game, a best-of-three Division Playoff and a best-of-five Championship Series.
