Oct 27, 2015 2 min read

The Pennsylvania Rebellion professional women’s softball team announced Tuesday they have signed infielder Stacey Porter, “the woman regarded as the world’s best batter.” Porter will join the Rebellion for the 2016 season, their third in the National Pro Fastpitch league.

Porter, a native of Australia, most recently played for the Sagawa Express in the Japanese Softball League, largely regarded as the world’s strongest pro league. In 2014, Porter had a .308 batting average and led the league in home runs.

“I think the National Pro Fastpitch league is one of the best in the world and it’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of,” Porter said. “Unfortunately, we don’t get opportunities like this at home in Australia to play this number of games at this level, so I feel very lucky and excited to have signed and been given the opportunity to be a part of the Pennsylvania Rebellion.”

Porter played at University of Hawaii for three years. During her final season, Porter was named first team All-American as she set school and conference records for single-season home runs. With a .479 batting average, she was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Porter participated in two Summer Olympics, leading her teams to silver and bronze medals. She also helped Australia win a gold medal at the World Championships.

According to Francine Williams, Rebellion managing partner, “The addition of Stacey Porter will significantly enhance our team’s offense, instantly. Stacey has been a mainstay for the Australian national team during the past decade, performing exceptionally well against the world’s best players. … There is no doubt in my mind that Stacey will be a force in the NPF. Simply put, Christmas has arrived early for the Rebellion.”