Mar 30, 2015 4 min read

The Rebellion enter Wednesday’s National Pro Fastpitch College Draft in a good position to add talent to a team that suffered through a 9-39 inaugural season.

They can use help at just about every position, save possibly catcher, and have eight selections when the draft gets under way 6:30 p.m., in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

CBS Sports Network will televise the draft as well as 16 regular-season games and all playoff series.

The USSSA Pride, the defending NPF champion, have the first two picks in the draft, thanks to some deft trades, one of which occurred last year with the Rebellion. The Chicago Bandits are third followed by the new addition to the league, the Dallas Charge, who have the final two of the first round.

The Rebellion have three picks in the second round, one in the third and fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth.

The Rebellion’s list of draftable players is a closely guarded secret but there are some names that could be on it:

• Lauren Chamberlain, an outfielder for the University of Oklahoma who has 72 career home runs. Chamberlain is considered a strong candidate for National College Player of the Year after missing parts of last season to injuries.

• Lacey Waldrop of Florida State University, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who was the national player of the year in 2014. She has a career 38-7 record and 1.13 ERA.

• Cheridan Hawkins of Oregon, a left-handed pitcher who struck out 655 batters in 477 innings over three seasons. She enters her senior season with a 67-13 record and 1.18 ERA.

• Maddie O’Brien of Florida State University, a shortstop who was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. She set school records with 42 home runs and 173 RBI and still has a year remaining.

“Most of the teams have (pitching) as their frame of mind,” said Rebellion first-year manager Craig Montvidas. “USSSA pitching is already solid so I’m guessing they aren’t taking pitchers with their first two picks. There are a lot of very good pitchers out there – but good at the NPF level? – that’s the question. We’ll see about getting one as early as possible.”

Prior to the draft, the five teams in the NPF submit a draft list to the NPF commissioner’s office. The name of a player can be on more than one list. The NPF collects information on them about whether they prefer to be drafted and reports back to the teams.

Players who did not make themselves eligible for the draft last year or who were not drafted can be signed by any team now to a free agent contract.

“It’s no different than someone having an injury (and missing the season),” Montvidas said. “Actually, it’s better than that because you aren’t hurt. You can get in shape quicker.”

The Rebellion have 22 players on a roster that can reach no more than 23, so the Rebellion might be in the market to trade players or will simply have to make cuts when the college draft choices arrive. Some of them, depending on how far their teams advance, might not arrive until after the NPF season begins.

A player does not count as a roster spot until they actually join the team. The Rebellion have two Japanese players – Yuri Masuyama, a shortstop who can also play outfielder, and Haruna Sakamoto, an outfielder – who are not expected to be in Washington until June 10, 13 days into the season.

“We have a limited time frame in which to see everyone,” said Montvidas. “That makes it more challenging. The college seniors are very good players. They are in their comfort zones, they have matured. Then the NPF comes in and all of a sudden, you are not the big fish. You are living with teammates, sharing rooms, and you are not the star. So some adapt quickly and others get off the slow start. That might be the biggest challenge for NPF athletes.”

Montvidas also is placing an emphasis on speed.

“One of the things I’d like to see as manager of the Rebellion is to add some speed,” Montvidas said. “Last year, the Rebellion stole 10 bases out of 17 attempts. I like to run, but if you don’t have people who can run, you can’t do that.”

The Rebellion first-round pick last year and the No. 1 overall selection, Dallas Escobedo, a power pitcher; and catcher Kristyn Sandberg, will represent the team at the draft. … The Rebellion will not have a home game televised on the 16-game regular season schedule. But they will appear on broadcasts at Dallas July 6-7 and at Akron Aug. 10-11.