Carey Drafted By New England Riptide
12/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Dec. 9, 2003
MONTGOMERY, Texas - Senior Jamie Carey (Pendleton Heights, Ind./Pendleton) was drafted in the sixth round of the 2004 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Senior Draft by the New England Riptide this past weekend in Montgomery, Texas. The NPF Senior Draft was held at the National Fastpitch College Association (NFCA) Convention in Montgomery Dec. 5-6.
"Jamie's selection in this year's draft is a reflection upon our softball program here at Miami, as well as the quality of softball programs in our conference," said head coach Angie Jacobs. "This shows our current and future players that there are opportunities to continue playing after college. I am proud of Jamie for earning this opportunity."
A prototypical lead-off batter, Carey guided Miami in stolen bases (12) and runs scored (25). She also led the team in hits (64) and at-bats (157), while batting a school-record .408. A solid defensive player, Carey remains the RedHawks' starting centerfielder, but was drafted as a utility player with her ability to play infield as well. Along with being named second-team all-region, she was selected to the all-MAC second team and all-MAC All-Tournament squad.
An official development partner of Major League Baseball, the NPF restarts in 2004 after folding following the 2000 season. The new-look NPF features eight teams playing 56-game schedules during the summer months of June-August. Besides New England, teams are located in Akron, New York/New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Sacramento, San Antonio and Texas.
Carey was one of two Mid-American Conference players drafted at the NFCA Convention, following Ohio's Tiffany Bolton. Bolton was taken during the NPF Elite Draft in the second round by Akron.
"I know that Jamie will continue to excel in the NPF league, and I am looking forward to watching her compete at the next level," added Jacobs.
Jacobs and assistant coaches Dawn Wuthrich and Jenny Jimenez each played in the NPF. Jacobs played in 1997 and 1998, winning the league championship with the Florida Wahoos in '98. Members of the 2000 Wahoos championship team, Wuthrich played with three other teams in four seasons in the league and Jimenez played for three seasons with three teams. Jimenez also was a member of the all-star team that spawned the league and played against Jacobs in the league's inaugural all-star game.
The RedHawks ended last season one game short of the program's first MAC Tournament Championship. This season, coach Jacobs returns Carey, along with 2003 MAC Tournament MVP Jackie Poggendorf and all-region second-team honoree Becca Garcia. The Red and White kicks of its season at the Triangle Classic against George Mason in Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 13 .
