Virginia's Field Selected In Pro Softball League Draft

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Dec. 16, 2003

MONTGOMERY, Texas – University of Virginia fourth-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) has been selected by the Sacramento Sunbirds in the fourth round of the 2004 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft which was held December 6 at the Del Lago Resort. Field was the 30th player chosen in the NPF Senior Draft.

In addition to the 40 players selected in the Senior Draft, an Elite Draft was held for players who have completed their collegiate eligibility. Forty players were picked in the Elite Draft. In addition to Sacramento, the other seven teams in the league will be located in Akron, Ohio, Lowell, Mass., Houston and San Antonio, Texas, Denver, Colo., Tucson, Ariz., and the greater New York/New Jersey area.

Field, who is a 2004 UVa softball team captain along with classmate Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty), was a 2003 ACC All-Tournament team selection. Field hit .339 as a third-year in 2003 with 16 doubles, three triples and six home runs. She scored 44 runs while driving in 32 more. Field led the team with 35 walks, registered 104 total bases and started all 63 games in 2003. Field was named to the 2003 Tar Heel Invitational All-Tournament Team.

The .347 career hitter, was a second-team All-Southeast Region pick in 2002. Field has 197 hits, 39 doubles, nine triples and 14 home runs in her career. She has 104 RBI and scored 118 runs to go along with 89 walks and 46 stolen bases. Field has played in and started 198 of 199 possible games during her first three seasons at Virginia.

The revamped eight-team National Pro Fastpitch league runs from June 1 through August 31 and includes 56 regular season games as well as playoffs. NPF is the only professional women’s fastpitch softball league in the United States. The league has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Professional Softball League (WPSL).