Six Huskers to Play Professional Softball Next Summer

Montgomery, Texas - Four former Huskers signed with teams in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league this fall, while two current players were selected in the NPF Senior Draft on Dec. 6.

Kim Ogee (Omaha, Neb., 2000-03) and Amber Burgess (Littleton, Colo., 2000-03), signed with the NPF Denver Altitude in mid-October. Amanda Buchholz (Ogallala, Neb., 2000-03), signed with Texas in early December. Leigh Ann Walker (2002) also signed a professional contract with Arizona.

Seniors Peaches James (Papillion, Neb.) and Nicole Trimboli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) were selected at the 2004 National Pro Fastpitch Draft, Dec.6, in Montgomery, Texas.

Now a student-assistant for the Huskers, Ogee earned third-team All-America honors in 2002 after leading Nebraska to its seventh NCAA Women’s College World Series appearance. The Nebraska native is ranked in the top 10 in 10 different career records for the Huskers, including 115 walks, 100 stolen bases, 369 total bases, 113 RBIs, 48 doubles, 182 runs scored, 263 hits, 258 games played, 795 at bats, and a .331 batting average.

Burgess appeared in 52 games for Nebraska last season. The native Coloradoan compiled a career .262 batting average, with 128 RBIs and 196 hits. The former catcher was third on the team last year in fielding percentage, (.986) and committed just five errors in 368 chances.

In 2002, Buchholz anchored the Huskers infield at shortstop to help NU earn a bid to the NCAA Women’s College World Series. Last season Buchholz started all 56 games for Nebraska and finished with a .297 batting average. The Nebraskan was first on the team with 41 runs, 12 homers and 41 RBIs.

Walker was also instrumental in the Huskers' NCAA Women's College World Series appearance in 2002. In that season she went 28-5 with a 1.78 ERA, including 12 shutouts. For her career, Walker set a school record in career strikeouts with 858, and ranks second all-time at NU with 81 wins and a .764 winning percentage.

In the second round of the College Senior Draft, James went to Texas, with the 15th overall pick. The right-handed pitcher had a 1.55 ERA last season. James is ranked third overall for strikeouts in a single-season for the Huskers with 250 strikeouts in 2003.

Trimboli was selected 20th overall by Colorado in the College Senior Draft The outfielder started all 56 games for Nebraska last season and batted .277 with 32 RBIs and 25 hits.

Eight NPF teams selected players in a four-round Elite Draft and a six-round College Senior Draft. The draft was held in conjunction with the 2003 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Convention, Dec. 3-6, at the Del Lago Resort in Montgomery, Texas. Prior to the draft, tryouts were held for players who have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. James and Trimboli, who both have one year left of eligibility, will sign their contracts after end of the 2004 season.

The NPF is the only professional women’s fastpitch softball organization in the United States, with headquarters located in Denver, Colo. The league consists of teams located in Akron, Ohio, Denver, Colo., Houston and San Antonio, Texas, Sacramento, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., Lowell, Mass., and Parsippany, N.J. Each team will play a 56-game regular-season schedule that runs from June 1 to August 31, 2004.