THE WOODLANDS, TX – April 8th, 2016 – General Manager Connie May announced today that the Scrap Yard Dawgs and the USSSA Pride have completed trade negotiations for infielders Madison Shipman and Brigette Del Ponte through the 2017 Season.
 
“With the draft less than a week away the acquisition of Shipman and Del Ponte will add experience and depth to an already talented roster” said GM Connie May. “They will supply important NPF Championship experience in our Inaugural quest for the Cowles Cup.”
 
Brigette Del Ponte, a Peoria, Arizona native, will be entering her 4th season in the NPF. She was drafted in 2013 by the Akron Racers where she batted .243 with 15 walks and 8 stolen bases out of 10 attempts while still putting up 7 home runs and 18 RBI’s, in her rookie debut. Del Ponte was traded to the USSSA Pride in 2014 where she batted .267 with 24 hits and 17 RBI’s with a .340 on-base percentage.
 
Prior to joining the NPF, Del Ponte played for the Wildcats at the University of Arizona (2010-2013). During her time at Arizona, she had a career batting average of .307 with 335 total base hits, a .631 slugging percentage, and a .402 career on-base percentage. Of her 335 hits, over a third of them were extra base hits including 52 doubles, 3 triples, and 59 home runs. She boasts honors such as 2012 All Pac-12 Second Team, 2012 NFCA All-American Second Team, 2011 All Pac-10 First Team, and 2010 All Pac-10 Second Team.
 
Also joining the Dawgs in 2016 will be the 2014 NPF Rookie of the Year, Madison Shipman. Shipman was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in Valencia, California and was the first round draft pick for the USSSA Pride in 2014. As a rookie for the Pride, Shipman went on to record 45 hits, 28 RBI’s and 21 runs scored while batting .344 with a .417 on-base percentage.
 
During her collegiate career at the University of Tennessee Shipman was named a 3 time NFCA All-American in 2012, 2013, and 2014. She was also named the 2014 SEC Player of the Year, USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist, Honda Award Winner as the “Best of the Best in Softball,” Honda Cup Winner, and Lowe’s Senior Class Award Winner. Shipman’s career average was .348 with 105 walks, 44 home runs, a .611 slugging percentage, and 207 RBI’s.