Dec. 8, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern senior infielder Carri Leto was drafted in the second round of National Professional Fastpitch's draft by the San Antonio Armadillos. Leto was the 16th player selected in the college senior draft and was the first of only two players selected from the Big Ten Conference.
Leto, a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection, is the first Northwestern female student-athlete to be drafted by a professional franchise.
"I'm really excited. There are so many talented softball players, I am just honored to have been drafted," Leto said. "I don't know exactly what to expect, but I am ready to take on another adventure."
Leto garnered first-team All-Midwest Region honors as a freshman. As a junior, she batted .343 and tied NU's single-season record for doubles in a season with 13. Leto was instrumental in the Wildcats run to the NCAA Tournament last season, posting a .302 batting average and an on base-percentage of .344. She was one of only two players from the Big Ten invited to tryout for the United States National Team this summer.
Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan is excited for Leto to extend her playing career beyond college.
"I am very proud of Carri," said Drohan. "From the moment she stepped on campus, she has been an extremely hard worker and I am excited that her dedication is paying off. This will only add to her confidence as she enters her final season at Northwestern."
San Antonio owns Leto's draft rights but due to NCAA rules, she is not allowed to sign a contract until the conclusion of her senior season. NPF, the only professional softball league in the United States, has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch and Women's Professional Softball League. The league consists of eight teams that play a 56-game regular season schedule followed by a best-of-three Division playoff and a best-of-five Championship Series.