PRO SOFTBALL CARRI LETO MARTIN & SAVANNAH BROWN
NPF: HERE SAVANNAH BROWN Rockford Thunder Link: HERE CARRI LETO MARTIN New England Riptide Link: HERE GIRLS + ATHLETICS = CLICK HERE NPF 2004-08 ARCHIVES HERE

NORSEMEN IN THE PROS
Valhalla High is the lone high school in the nation with two alumni playing in National Pro Fastpitch -- Rockford Thunder rookie catcher Savannah Brown (left) and New England Riptide all-star second baseman Carri Leto Martin. Brown was recently traded to the Force.
Carri Leto Martin New England Riptide	Savannah Brown Philadelphia Force

© East County Sports.com
LOWELL, Mass. (2-6-09/REVISED 2-9-09) – CARRI LETO MARTIN, a 3-time All-Star in National Pro Fastpitch, has been declared a free agent along with all of her teammates after the New England Riptide withdrew from the 2009 season due to economic duress. NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf made the announcement.

The second baseman is free to sign with any of the five remaining NPF franchises. Leto Martin could also rejoin the Riptide should the ballclub return for the 2010 season. A new schedule has been released to reflect this latest development.

However, Leto Martin may call it a career following her recent promotion on the Harvard University women's softball coaching staff.

"Because of my promotion to first assistant coach at Harvard – and the summer recruiting commitments that come along with it – I will not be playing in the league this year," Leto Martin exclusively told East County Sports.com.

In addition to her coaching responsibilites, Leto Martin plans to take classes toward her Master's degree this summer. With such a busy schedule, little time remains to play the game at the professional level.

Although Leto Martin did not officially close the door to her playing career, she added, "It was a good run."

It was also a nice run for the Riptide, one of the original six teams that joined the revamped Women’s Pro Softball League in 2004 which changed names shortly thereafter to the current league known as National Pro Fastpitch.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we have made this decision,” said Riptide owner Joe Adlman. “We would like to thank the community of Lowell, our sponsors, staff and especially our players for their support and contribution over the years."

Four other members of the Riptide (22-26 last season) were named to the 2008 All NPF team: pitcher Eileen Canney; first baseman, Lyndsey Angus; and outfielders Gina Carbonatto and Lisa Modglin. The franchise won the Cowles Cup championship in 2006.

Leto Martin captured a Cowles Cup in 2004 with the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut, then stayed with the franchise for two additional season after it moved and became the Philadelphia Force. She join the Riptide for the 2007 and 2008 campaigns.

© East County Sports.com
LANCASTER, Pa. (12-4-08) – Saddled as the third member of a 3-person catching corps, one of two options would change the National Pro Fastpitch career of Rockford Thunder backstop SAVANNAH BROWN (Valhalla HS).

Either the Thunder would trade one of their first two catchers and go with the youthful Brown to remain under the salary cap. However, since all NPF salaries – except for the top stars – are relatively the same, the Thunder instead traded Brown to the Philadelphia Force this morning (Dec. 4).

The price on the highly-touted Brown was anything but cheap. The former Georgia Tech standout was traded to the Force for All-NPF shortstop Chelsea Spencer, along with a 5th-round draft pick. Rockford also included a 4th-round selection with Brown.

Brown, having just completed her first professional season, batted .206 (13-for-63) with three home runs and 12 RBI in 22 games for the Thunder.

“Ever since I saw Savannah play on Team NPF in Oklahoma City and catch Katie Burkhart, I knew I had to add her to our roster," said Tom Kleinman, Owner/GM of the Philadelphia Force. "Not only is she one of the premier catchers in the league, but her hitting stats will become even greater in a more regular role as a starter."

Rockford drafted the 22-year-old catcher with its first selection (5th overall) in the 2008 NPF senior draft. The Rancho San Diego resident holds the Atlantic Coast Conference and Georgia Tech record with 194 career RBI and ranks third with the Yellowjackets and fourth in the ACC with 45 career home runs.

Spencer, a four-year NPF veteran out of Cal-Berkeley, had another solid offensive season with the Force in 2008, leading the team with 26 RBI (5th in NPF), 28 runs scored and 152 at-bats.

Spencer provided a nice balance of power and speed in the Force lineup, drilling four home runs while also swiping eight bases. In 2008, she recorded 42 hits on the campaign, ranking third on the Force and maintained a .276 batting average after leading the ballclub with a .333 batting average in 2007.

"I am very excited that I am now a part of the Thunder. When I was 14, I came to this town for my first (ASA) nationals and have great memories of the city,” said Spencer.

The Force opens the 2009 season on Wed., June 3, in Chicago against the defending NPF-champion Bandits.

Angie Woznuk Her US Soccer Page

WPS will open on March 29, 2009

© East County Sports.com
ST. LOUIS (11-23-08) — ANGIE WOZNUK, the two-time Parade prep All-American soccer star from University of San Diego High, has been drafted by the St. Louis Athletica of the new Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league, which debuts this April.

Woznuk, an El Cajon resident, was the first pick in the third round (15th overall) in the WPS general draft.

Woznuk's standout career included am NCAA national championship with the University of Portland. She also captured the FIFA U-19 World Championship for Team USA, winning the Silver Ball award at the second most valuable player and the Bronze Foot award as the tournament's third-leading scorer.

At USDHS, Woznuk was tabbed the Gatorade Californian state player of the year. Now 23, Woznuk joined the U.S. Women's National Team in 2005. The new league is the forerunner to the WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association), which included the San Diego Spirit.

In 2009, WPS franchises will be: Los Angeles Sol, St. Louis Athletica, FC Gold Pride (San Jose), Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers, Washington (D.C.) Freedom and Blue Sky FC (New York/New Jersey). Joining in 2010 will be teams in Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia.

AND SHE'S OFF...

Roz Savage has started her 3-year mission to row solo across the Pacific Ocean from the USA to Australia. BLOG

Savage reaches Hawai'i LINK