Chamberlain, Pendley Go 1-2 in NPF Draft

NORMAN – Oklahoma softball seniors Lauren Chamberlain and Shelby Pendley made history Wednesday night as they became the first teammates in the history of the National Pro Fastpitch draft to be taken with the first two picks.

The USSSA Pride selected Chamberlain with the No. 1 overall pick, making her the first player in Oklahoma history to be taken first in the draft. Previously, DJ Mathis was the highest Sooner chosen when the Akron Racers took her second overall in 2009.

The Pride wasn't done yet, though, with Oklahoma as they chose Pendley with the second pick.

“Lauren, obviously, with one swing is a gamechanger,” USSSA Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis said on the broadcast. “Pendley is probably one of the best athletes that ever played. Together, there was no sense breaking them up. They're going to win championships (at Oklahoma), and they're going to win championships with the Pride.”

In her career, Chamberlain has been a three-time All-American and was a finalist for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. With 87 career home runs, Chamberlain is just three home runs away from tying the all-time NCAA home run record. She also currently owns Big 12 records for runs scored (244), total bases (528) and walks (179).

A two-time All-American, Pendley was the 2013 Big 12 Player of the Year. Pendley isn't far behind Chamberlain, ranking 10^th all-time in career home runs with 74. In addition, Pendley has climbed to 11^th in career runs batted in with 244.

Oklahoma has now had 20 players drafted to the NPF league since its inaugural draft prior to the 2004 season.

The 2015 draftees join Sooner alums Keilani Ricketts, Jessica Shults, Michelle Gascoigne, Brianna Turang, Amber Flores, Samantha Ricketts, D.J. Mathis, Savannah Long, Susan Ogden, Lauren Eckermann, Norrelle Dickson, Heather Scaglione, Kami Keiter, Christina Enea, Erin Evans, Christy Ring, Leah Gulla and Kristin Vesely who were all drafted by the league.

The NPF College Draft featured four rounds of five selections, one round of six and one round of seven picks for a total of 33 overall draftees in the 2015 rookie class. Drafting an athlete gives an NPF affiliate team rights to that athlete for two full seasons.

Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete may not sign with her respective franchise until their 2015 college season is over.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. 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 of Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fastpitch softball since 2002.