Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc., announced the fourth annual Rawlings Gold Glove Award® for Softball was awarded to Jessie Warren. Warren is a third baseman for the USSSA Pride, based in Viera, Fla.
A native of Tampa, Fla. Warren committed only one error in 99 total chances. She finished the season with 64 assists and four double plays turned.
“The Gold Glove, at its best, represents not just steady excellence, but also, the spectacular. Jessie Warren has been all of that in 2019,” said Cheri Kempf, commissioner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. “It has been a pleasure and a thrill to witness the agility, versatility and sheer reactions Jessie has displayed all year long, from the hot corner position.”
Warren, a four-year starter at Florida State University, finished her college career with a .391 batting average, 83 home runs and 273 RBI. She was drafted seventh overall in the 2018 National Pro Fastpitch League.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award for softball is given annually to one player in the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) since 2016. Similar to the award selection process in baseball, coaches and managers within the NPF organization vote for the winner, excluding those on their respective teams.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the National Pro Fastpitch League to celebrate and recognize the importance of defense,” said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer for Rawlings. “It makes perfect sense to reward female athletes for their exceptional fielding ability and prowess and Jessie certainly is a deserving recipient of this award.”
The prior Rawlings Gold Glove Award for softball winners are Jade Rhodes, a first baseman for the Cleveland Comets, Chelsea Goodacre, a catcher on the USSSA Pride and A.J. Andrews, an outfielder for the Akron Racers.
“The Rawlings Gold Glove Award quickly became one of the most recognized and coveted awards, not just in the NPF, but for our sport in general,” said Kempf. “It is an award the league is proud to carry forward and excited to be adding the fourth recipient to the list.”
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