(Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)
National Pro Fastpitch opens its 13th season on Tuesday night, but the nation's only professional women's softball league will have to wait for some of its new stars to make their debuts.
That's because the Women's College World Series starts on Thursday. Among the 36 players picked in the NPF Draft on April 14 are nine who will be battling for the NCAA softball title, including Alabama center fielder Haylie McCleney and Auburn second baseman Emily Carosone. The Chicago Bandits drafted Carosone, and the USSSA Pride picked McCleney.
On Thursday in the Women's College World Series at Oklahoma City, Auburn plays UCLA at 1:30 p.