12-15-2009

Nashville - National Pro Fastpitch announces the return of three high profile athletes to NPF competition. Former WCWS Champion and MVP, Taryne Mowatt, has signed with the Akron Racers. Former WCWS Champion and MVP, Katie Burkhart, has signed with theUSSSA Florida Pride. Also signing with the Pride, is former National Player of the Year Finalist and All American, Tonya Callahan. All three of these athletes have played in the NPF prior to 2010, but did not participate throughout the 2009 playing season.

Taryne Mowatt made her mark on the softball world in 2007, as her Arizona Wildcats captured the NCAA Championship at the Women’s College World Series. Mowatt was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and in recognition of her Series performance also garnered two ESPY awards. Mowatt was drafted in the NPF’s College Senior Draft by the Washington Glory in 2008, where she played for one season. In 2008, her rookie season with the Washington Glory, the team finished second in the NPF Championship Series. Mowatt returns to the NPF to the Akron Racers where she will join another college standout and decorated pitcher, Angela Tincher.

Katie Burkhart captured the attention of softball fans everywhere in leading her Arizona State Sun Devils to the 2008 WCWS Championship, while being named the MVP of that tournament. Burkhart also has some Team USA experience being named to various teams over the past 4 years. Burkhart was the number one overall draft choice going to the Philadelphia Force in the 2008 NPF College Senior Draft. She played one season in Philadelphia while earning the 2008 NPF Pitcher of the Year award. Burkhart also plays professionally inJapan. She will be joining All American and Olympic Silver Medalist,Monica Abbott, on the Pride’s roster.

Tonya Callahan led the nation in batting average in the collegiate season of 2008. In that season, she was a top three finalist for USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year. She was drafted in the NPF College Senior Draft to the Rockford Thunder where she played one season. Callahan returns to the NPF in 2010 to play for the USSSA Florida Pride. Callahan is the first player on the Pride roster to have participated in the USSSA youth fastpitch program.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. 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).