Feb. 18, 2009
AKRON, Ohio - Senior All-American Danielle Kinley (Carlsbad, Calif.) has been selected to enter the professional ranks. In the 2009 NPF Draft, Kinley was the overall 16th pick and will sign with the Philadelphia Force at the conclusion of the season.
Kinley is currently fourth all-time in doubles with 37 and is on track to break the record of 44 this season. She is also fifth in batting average with .342 and with 80 RBI she will likely enter the top 10 of that category as well. So far this season, she is 8-for-28 with a batting average of .282 and a slugging percentage of .357. She has accounted for five RBI and 10 total bases in Penn State's eight games. More recently, she has begun to see time at first base and is expected to fill that void on the Force.
In her junior campaign, she led the Nittany Lions in runs (30), hits (58), doubles (13) and stolen bases (9), and was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team. She also earned the team Offensive MVP award and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
During Kinley's sophomore year she led Penn State in batting average (.384) and in hits (56), and set a school record by going a perfect 5-5 in a game. Danielle's 18 doubles tied the team single season doubles record, and nationally ranked her 4th with .35 doubles per game. For her efforts, she was named a Second Team NFCA All-American.
"I'm super excited to join the pro league," said Kinley. "It really is a dream come true to continue my softball career and to do it with an amazing team like the Force.
Missy Beseres was the first Nittany Lion to join the NPF in 2006. She signed with the Chicago Bandits as a pitcher.
Joining Kinley on the Philadelphia Force is Tennessee outfielder, Lillian Hammond and Baylor third baseman, Brette Reagan.
Kinley and the Nittany Lions will continue the 2009 campaign Feb. 27 through March 1 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.