FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOUSTON TRADES FIRST ROUND PICK TO ARIZONA
DENVER - The Houston Thunder announced today that they have traded the draft rights of their first-round selection Mackenzie Vandergeest to Arizona in exchange for three players.
The University of Arizona star was drafted by the Thunder as their first selection in the 2004 Senior Draft. In exchange for Vandergeest, the Arizona Heat has traded the draft rights of Liz Bouck (DePaul), Amanda Jensen (Olivet Nazarene) and Rosette Rough (Long Island) to Houston.
Bouck, a three-time all-conference selection and 2002 Conference USA Player of the Year was the first round selection, and fourth overall of the Heat in the 2004 Elite Draft. Jensen was a 2003 NAIA, NCCAA and NFCA first-team All-American at Olivet and was selected 12th overall by Arizona. Rough, the fourth player in the deal was a three-time first-team All-Northeast Conference selection at Long Island. She was selected in the third round, as the 20th overall selection in the Elite Draft.
Because Vandergeest is still competing for the U of A she may not be signed to a player's contract until the conclusion of the 2004 NCAA season. Bouck, Jensen and Rough have all completed college eligibility and are eligible to receive contract offers from the Thunder.
The NPF consists of eight teams located in Akron, Ohio, Denver, Colo. Houston and San Antonio, Texas, Sacramento, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., Lowell, Mass. and Upper Montclair, NJ. The eight NPF franchises will play a 56-game regular season that begins June 2004.
The 2004 NPF season will run from June 1 through August 31 and includes an all-star game, a best-of-three Division Playoff and a best-of-five Championship Series, as well as the 56-game regular season.
National Pro Fastpitch is the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. The league is headquartered in Denver, and has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) - Phone (720) 891-0093
Aaron Moore, Manager of Communications
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