Rebellion sign Hayward
The Pennsylvania Rebellion signed outfielder Victoria Hayward to a two-year contract. Hayward was the 19th overall pick by the Rebellion in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch Draft but elected to play with the Canadian National Team last summer.
Hayward is a six-year veteran of the Canadian National Team after making her debut at age 16. The native of Toronto has participated in the World Championships, Pan-American Games, and played in numerous international tournaments.
“We are looking forward to having Victoria join the Rebellion this season,” general manager Steven Zavacky said. “We knew when we drafted her last year the type of talent she can bring to the outfield and our lineup. She’s a tremendous player and we are expecting her to have a huge impact on our team.”
The outfielder is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she was a four-year starter. She was named All-Pac 12 in each of her four seasons. In her senior year, she led the conference in stolen bases, and was top five in batting average (.414) and on-base percentage.
In the offseason, Hayward also doubles as a volunteer assistant coach for Seattle Univeristy.
The National Pro Fastpitch will hold its college draft 9 p.m., Wednesday, April 1 in Nashville. For the third straight year, the draft will be held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
With the addition of the Dallas Charge, a league expansion team this season, the draft was expanded to six rounds and four additional bonus selections were awarded Dallas in the fourth and sixth rounds for a total of 10 overall.
The defending champion USSSA Pride will lead the Draft, having acquired the Nos. 1 and 2 overall picks, and also have their own at No. 4. Only the Chicago Bandits and the Dallas Charge will join the Pride in making first round selections.
The Rebellion will have eight selections in the draft, including three in the second round.
The site of the draft is moving from the 250-seat Ford Theatre to the new 800-seat CMA Theatre inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.