Former Cerritos College All-American softball player Samie
Garcia was picked 14th overall in the 2013 National Pro Fastpitch
Draft. Garcia, a senior at the University of South Carolina, was
chosen in the fourth round by the NY/NJ Comets. The NPF consists of
four teams - Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, USSSA Pride and the
Comets and play from June through August. A shortstop and
outfielder at South Carolina, Garcia leads the team in nine
offensive categories this season, and earned a spot on the
CollegeSportsMadness.com All-SEC 2nd Team as a junior.
"The Comets hit a home run with the selection of Samie Garcia,"
said Gamecock head coach Beverly Smith on the South Carolina
website. "She is a dynamic defensive player and will add speed and
a potent bat offensively. I am looking forward to watching Samie
compete in the NPF. She is a great ambassador for the sport of
softball and will represent the South Carolina Gamecocks well."
Garcia made an immediate impact on the South Carolina roster when
she arrived in 2011 for her sophomore year. She batted .332 as a
sophomore with seven doubles, three triples and three home runs,
while also driving in 20 runs and stole 15 bases. She followed that
by batting .362 as a junior in 2012 and provided more power with
nine doubles and seven home runs to go with her 28 RBI. She
currently ranks second in NCAA Division I this year with six
triples and is in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in
seven offensive categories, which include batting average (.422)
and stolen bases (15).
While with the Falcons in 2010, Garcia was named the State's Player
of the Year, as well as the Southern California and South Coast
Conference Player of the Year. She set new school records in
batting average (.519) and triples (10), while she also ranks
second in stolen bases (29) and fifth in hits (69) and runs scored
(59). Additionally, Garcia added 13 doubles, five home runs, 34 RBI
and 23 walks, as the Falcons posted a 39-6 record and won the
conference championships. Garcia was also voted the college's
Freshman Female Athlete of the Year.