National Pro Fastpitch Official Website

MOBILE, Ala. – No. 22 University of South Alabama senior right-handed pitcher Farish Beard was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Dallas Charge on Wednesday.
 
Beard becomes the second South Alabama softball student-athlete selected in the draft and the second female in school history to be selected in a professional draft after former Jaguar standout Hannah Campbell accomplished  the feat a year ago when she was selected third overall at the 2014 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers.
 
"This is truly an honor, and it goes to show that hard work does pay off," Beard said shortly after the announcement. "[South Alabama head] Coach [Becky] Clark has helped me grow in my time here, both mentally and physically, and this honor brings much-deserved publicity to the Jaguar softball program."
 
A native of Fairhope, Ala., Beard owns a 56-11 career record at USA and is a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region selection. The 2014 top-25 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player-of-the-Year Award currently owns program records in Lowest Earned Run Average (1.34), Lowest Opponent Batting Average (0.144) and Most Strikeouts per Seven Innings (9.46).
 
"This is a great honor for both Farish and our program," Clark stated. "When you look at her body of work, it's obvious what she has meant to South Alabama softball and shows she is definitely deserving of being drafted. She is such a competitor and plays the game with so much heart. I am extremely proud of her and all of her hard work; she has definitely earned her success."
 
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.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).