Oxford, AL – The Oxford-bound Vipers Draft comes through as WPF franchise selects Alabama’s Fouts in the sixth and last round

Oxford Mayor Alton Craft (pitcher’s circle, left) and director of PARD Don Hudson throw ceremonial first pitches prior to the game on Monday between city employees. The game was followed by a party to watch an evening celebration of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch draft at Choccolocco Park’s iconic field. (Photo taken by Joe Medley)

Joe Medley Joe Medley

Montana Fouts hasn’t pitched a game for the Oxford-bound Smash It Sport Vipers’ Women’s Professional Fastpitch team however she did throw a walk-off kind of tension on the night of draft. Consider it a case where a last-round pick was far from “Miss Irrelevant.” The softball-transcendent Alabama standout who, as late as last week, was “99 percent sure” to be the Vipers’ first pick Monday was their last. The last remnants from what was left of the Vipers’ draft party on Choccolocco’s iconic field was filled with celebrations, as well Oxford spokesperson Lorie Denton walked away happy. “The being chosen implies that she made a decision this evening that she wants to join that league called the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league,” Denton said.


The organizers for the Monday’s WPF draft-watch party handed the away Smash It Sports Vipers shirts. (Photo taken by Joe Medley)

Fouts has been the Vipers sixth-round selection in a draft with six rounds. It was nearly likely to be the team’s initial selection for the inaugural season of its newly approved five-year agreement for Oxford, Denton said, however there were questions regarding Fouts commitments to other teams. Fouts had signed on to “a number” of camps in the summer across the Southeast along with Alabama catcher Ally Shipman, Denton said. Shipman is the Vipers first-round pick on Monday.

“Montana also has a commitment to USA Softball that just came to light, so it sort of was about how determined Montana is to being able to participate in a full 100 percentage of Vipers matches,” Denton said. “She’s likely not going to be able to play 100 however she’ll be available for a majority of games, which is what we’ve heard from the General Manager (Don DeDonatis) at the moment.” This means that she has secured the day of softball and draft watching on the Vipers home field as they begin their home opener with the Texas Smoke June 23-25. The city employees celebrated the event with their own softball match. In free Vipers T-shirts that were given to all who attended, the city employees divided into two teams that had snake-themed names. “Mayor’s Moccasins “Mayor’s Moccasins” beat Oxford PARD director Don Hudon’s team, “Don’s Diamondbacks,” 23-4 over the course of three innings prior to the beginning on the day of draft. The field was shut down to allow employees to go their seats at seats in the Signature Field seats to watch the draft on big-screen televisions located on the lower corners of the grandstand’s main.


A screen on Choccolocco Park’s famous field displays the live stream from Monday’s WPF draft, as the Oklahoma State’s Kiley Naomi is named the Vipers 3rd-round pick. (Photo taken by Joe Medley)

The draft streamed live from Oklahoma City, with WPF commissioner Lauren Chamberlain announcing picks. The Vipers picked Tennessee pitcher Ashley Rogers. They also picked the Oklahoma State’s Rachel Becker and Shipman in the second round, then Oklahoma State’s Kiley Naomi in the third round, and Cal’s Makena Smith, and Louisiana’ Karly Heath in the fifth round. The city employees continued playing on the field that was used for the signature game during the last rounds, and the game was much more intense. They played until they tied the score at 18-18, which culminated in the former Oxford High standout Bailey Clark smashing a game-tying, and an end-of-game home run. The game was already over and many players were gone at the time Fouts’ draft pick was made public. Denton laughed that she “can’t say or denial” the Vipers selection in the second round of Shipman affected Fouts the decision to include to the WPF to her already busy summer. “We’ve been constantly in contact with the general manager for the past 5 or 6 days,”” Denton said. “We obviously were hoping to have something concrete on the Thursday of last week. “When the draft began it was still not clear if we had any certainty which is why it seemed like a improbable circumstances.” Denton said city officials had not yet reached out about DeDonatis within the first few hours the draft on Monday. “The fact is, she’s listed on the Vipers team,” Denton said. “We’ll need to watch what happens in their training The catcher is committed too, and we’ve waiting to look around. “But I’m really happy. Very extremely excited.” It’s a great feeling. Read more…]


A teddy bear for a child sits on top of a carry bag as an Vipers shirt is draped over a chair at the park’s iconic field on Monday’s events to commemorate this year’s Women’s Professional Fastpitch softball league’s draft. (Photo taken by Joe Medley)

Oxford city workers, sporting Smash It Sports Vipers T-shirts, are cheering as they hear the Vipers are mentioned in the broadcast of this morning’s women’s Professional Fastpitch draft. (Photo from Joe Medley)