Chicago Bandits draft stars from NU, DePaul

Posted February 17, 2009 10:00 pm

From Daily Herald News Services

With six selections in Tuesday night's National Pro Fastpitch Draft, the Chicago Bandits grabbed a pair of talented infielders with local connections.

Shortstop Tammy Williams from Northwestern and third baseman Amber Patton from DePaul were chosen by Bandits President Bill Sokolis in the 2009 NPF draft. Players, however, can't sign with NPF teams until their college season is completed.

The Akron Racers took Katie Cochran of Arizona State as the first overall pick of the 2009 draft.

The Bandits used their top pick (and fifth overall) to get pitcher Brandice Balschmiter of the University of Massachusetts. Balschmiter is a three-time Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year.

After Balschmiter, the Bandits selected:

• Williams, who holds NU's single-season batting average record with a .440 average;

• Jamie Schloredt, a catcher for Sacramento State who was the 2008 Pacific Coast Softball Conference Player of the Year after hitting .408 with a slugging percentage of (.737) and 12 home runs;

• Jessica Valis, a University of Houston infielder and two-time First Team All-Conference USA;

• Patton, a standout third baseman for DePaul who was voted the Big East tournament's Most Outstanding Player; and

• Izmena Cabrera, a Sacramento State outfielder and First Team All-West Region player who batted .375, and led the team in hits (63), doubles (14) and RBIs (53).

2009 NPF Senior Draft Round 1 1. (1) Akron Racers: Kaitlin Cochran, outfielder, Arizona State 2. (2) Akron Racers: DJ Mathis, pitcher, Oklahoma 3. (3) Rockford Thunder: Laurie Wagner, outfielder, Houston 4. (4) Philadelphia Force: Brette Reagan, infielder, Baylor 5. (5) Chicago Bandits: Brandice Balschmiter, pitcher, Massachusetts Round 2 1. (6) Rockford Thunder: Jenae Leles, infielder, Arizona 2. (7) Akron Racers: Brittany Weil, pitcher, Iowa 3. (8) Washington Glory: Kim Waleszonia, outfielder, Florida 4. (9) Philadelphia Force: Lillian Hammond, outfielder, Tennessee 5. (10) Chicago Bandits: Tammy Williams, infielder, Northwestern Round 3 1. (11) Rockford Thunder: Ashley Charters, infielder, Washington 2. (12) Akron Racers: Samantha Ricketts, infielder, Oklahoma 3. (13) Washington Glory: Stacey Nelson, pitcher, Florida. 4. (14) Chicago Bandits: Jamie Schloredt, catcher, Sacramento State 5. (15) Chicago Bandits: Jessica Valis, infielder, Houston Round 4 1. (16) Philadelphia Force: Danielle Kinley, outfielder, Penn State 2. (17) Akron Racers: Melissa Pura, infielder, Cal Poly 3. (18) Akron Racers: Micaela Minner, utility, Missouri 4. (19) Akron Racers: Sari-Jane Jenkins, outfielder, Oregon 5. (20) Chicago Bandits: Amber Patton, infielder, DePaul Round 5 1. (21) Rockford Thunder: Ashley Holcombe, catcher, Alabama 2. (22) Akron Racers: Missy Penna, pitcher, Stanford 3. (23) Washington Glory: Maddy Coon, infielder, Stanford 4. (24) Rockford Thunder: Breanna Brown, outfielder, North Carolina 5. (25) Chicago Bandits: Izmena Cabrera, outfielder, Sacramento State