Feb. 16, 2006

PHILADELPHIA, Penn.-Just two weeks after being selected in the inaugural PFX Tour Draft, Baylor's Harmony Schwethelm was drafted by another professional league as the National Pro Fastpitch league announced the senior outfielder was selected by the Philadelphia Force with the fourth selection (13th overall) in the second round of the Senior Draft on Wednesday.

The selection of Schwethelm marked the first time in school history a Baylor player has been tabbed to play in the professional fastpitch league.

The Force was one of seven teams that participated in the annual draft as Schwethelm was one of five collegiate players selected by the expansion team. Schwethelm, a NFCA All-America selection last season after establishing a new school record with 81 hits, was one of five Big 12 Conference players selected in the draft, joining Cat Osterman of Texas (1st overall pick, Connecticut), Kristin Vesley of Oklahoma (4th, New England), Serena Settlemeier of Kansas (14th, Texas) and Tina Boutelle of Texas (28th, Texas).

Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete may not sign with her respective franchise until their 2006 college season is finished. For players selected in the Senior Draft, they will be permitted to pursue any available roster spot on their assigned team after completing their college season. Senior draft rights expire August 31, 2006.

Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of National Professional Fastpitch in the category of women's professional fastpitch softball. The partnership, which began the fall of 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help Major League Baseball and the 30 Major League Clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).