CONNECTICUT BRAKETTES SELECT OSTERMAN FIRST IN NPF DRAFT; ANDREA DURAN, ADRIENNE ALO, AIMEE MINOR, STEPHANIE HILL CHOSEN

February 15, 2006 - The Connecticut Brakettes selected Cat Osterman as the No. 1 pick in the 2006 National Pro Fastpitch League Draft Wednesday. Osterman, the two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year at the University of Texas, was one of five players tabbed by the Connecticut Brakettes who are making their debut in NPF this year.

Joining Osterman on the Brakettes’ selection list were UCLA third baseman Andrea Duran, the third pick overall; outfielder Adrienne Alo of Oregon State University, second round; outfielder Aimee Minor of the University of Washington, third round; and first baseman Stephanie Hill of Louisiana State University, fourth round.

"We’re very pleased with our draft," said Manager John Stratton. "While everyone knows what Cat has accomplished, the resumes of our four other draftees are quite impressive."

Osterman, who is 3-0 this season, has a 101-21 career record at Texas. A member of the 2004 USA Olympic Team, Osterman has been a National Team player since 2003. The 6-foot-2 left-handed pitcher from Houston, TX, has 1,676 career strikeouts and a 0.53 ERA in 136 appearances and 838.2 innings pitched. Cat has been on the Brakettes roster for the past five years.

Duran, of Selma, CA, is a four-year starter for the Bruins, who finished runner-up in last year’s NCAA College World Series. Named as a Third-Team All-America last year, Duran hit .317 with 10 doubles, eight triples and six home runs with 27 RBI as the team’s lead-off hitter. In addition to her defensive prowess at third base, Duran is a speedster on the base paths and she led the club with 10 stolen bases as a junior. She was the first of three Bruins picked in the first round with catcher Emily Zaplatosch chosen seventh by the Texas Thunder and second baseman Caitlin Benyi picked eighth by the Akron Racers.

Alo, the 11th player chosen, played right field for Oregon State last year. The Carson, CA, native has started all but two of 187 games in her collegiate career. While hitting for a .273 average with 32 RBI as a junior, Alo led the team with 42 runs scored and 13 home runs against a plethora of talented Pac-10 pitchers.

Minor played centerfield for the Washington Huskies and put up some huge offensive numbers in 2005. While hitting .291, the San Jacinto, CA, standout belted 17 home runs and drove in 53 runs. She also scored 34 times and had a slugging percentage of .682. Minor has played in two College World Series and she is a three-time all-region selection.

Hill is a three-year starter at LSU and she earned Third-Team All-America laurels last year. As a junior, Hill, of Harahan, LA, tied for the team batting title with a .367 average. She has collected 18 doubles and 20 home runs with 87 RBI the past two years. The 5-foot-8 Hill ranked second in fielding percentage by Southeastern Conference first baseman last year.

NPF Senior Draft Selections

1st Round:
Connecticut, Cat Osterman, P, Univ. of Texas
Philadelphia, Stephanie VanBrakle, P, Univ. of Alabama
Connecticut, Andrea Duran, 3B, UCLA
New England, Kristin Vesley, OF, Univ. of Oklahoma
Arizona, Alicia Hollowell, P, Univ. of Arizona
Akron, Jennie Ritter, P, Univ. of Michigan
Texas, Emily Zaplatosch, C, UCLA
Akron, Caitlin Benyi, 2B, UCLA
Chicago traded with
New England, Kristi Durant, 3B/C, Univ. of Tennessee

2nd Round:
Philadelphia, Sarah Fekete, OF, Univ. of Tennessee
Connecticut, Adrienne Alo, IF/OF, Oregon State
New England trade from 1st round with
Chicago, Stacy May, 3B/SS, Univ. of Iowa
(Chicago also gets New England’s 4th round pick next year)
Philadelphia, Harmony Schwethelm, OF/IF, Baylor
Texas, Serena Settlemier, P, Kansas University
Akron, Sara Larquier, 3B, Univ. of Virginia
Chicago, Amanda Williams, OF, Marshall University (West Virginia)

3rd Round:
Philadelphia, Haley Woods, C/1B, Cal Berkeley
Connecticut, Aimee Miner, OF, Univ. of Washington
New England, Tiffany Stewart, OF, Univ. of S. Florida
Arizona, Desiree Serrano, P, Arizona State
Texas, Krystal Lewallen, P, Univ. of Louisiana (Lafayette)
Akron, Lindsay James, OF, Cal Berkeley
Chicago traded with
New England, Lisa Allen, C, Oregon State

4th Round:
Philadelphia, Courtnay Foster, P, Northwestern
Connecticut, Stephanie Hill, IF/OF, LSU
New England trade from 3rd round with
Chicago, Missy Beseres, P, Penn State
Arizona, Lauren Lappin, IF/C, Stanford
Texas, Tina Boutelle, OF, Univ. of Texas
Akron, Ashley Smith, C, Univ. of South Carolina
Chicago, Jessica Williams, SS, Marshall University (West Virginia)

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