Four Former Tide Greats Continue Softball Careers
6/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 21, 2011
NPF Website
Dunne Interview
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Four former Alabama softball All-Americans are continuing their respective careers with the start of the 2011 season of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. Kelly Kretschman, Charlotte Morgan and Kelley Montalvo return for another pro season while Kelsi Dunne starts her rookie campaign.
Kretschman and Morgan return for the defending NPF champions, USSSA Pride, while Montalvo will suit up once again for the Akron Racers. Dunne, the first overall pick of the 2011 draft, will log innings for the NPF Diamonds.
Kretschman has played in eight games thus far in 2011, hitting .188 with a RBI and five walks. In 2010 she led the USSSA Pride to a national championship, leading the way in several offensive categories, with a team high of 25 RBI and six home runs. She played in 47-of-57 games, starting primarily in right field.
Kretschman began her NPF career playing for the Akron Racers in the 2005 season, earning the championship title for that year. From there, she played for the Connecticut Brakettes in 2006, the Washington Glory in 2007, again winning the championship title for that season, before joining the Pride in 2009.
Morgan is batting .267 with a double and three RBI in six games this season. In her first year in the NPF, where she was the first overall draft pick, she led the way for the Pride rookies with a .263 batting average, .414 slugging percentage, and 23 RBI. She played 41 out of 67 games as the DH and at first base. Morgan also won the home run derby contest at the NPF Championship Series in Sulfur, La.
Montalvo has played in all eight games for Akron thus far this season, batting .217 with a double, RBI and seven walks. In her rookie season in 2010, Montalvo played in 33 games, collected 12 hits, scored nine runs and drew nine walks.
Dunne has appeared in two games, including one start thus far. The former All-American has allowed one earned run on four hits, while striking out 10 in nine innings. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 0.78 ERA. Dunne is coming off her senior campaign at Alabama where she was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season and earned All-American honors for the fourth time.
