REVVED UP: OTAHK SOFTBALL PLAYER DRAFTED BY ROADSTERS

Jenny Oermann said she knew it was a possibility, but she was still surprised when she found out that she had been drafted by a professional softball league.

"When coach (Lana) Richmond called and told me, I was pretty surprised and really excited," she said.

Southeast Missouri State University's senior shortstop was recently drafted by the Virginia Roadsters of the Women's Pro Softball League.

Oermann was the first player selected in the fifth round and was the 25th pick overall in a draft that featured players from national powers like Michigan, Fresno State, DePaul, Oklahoma State and Florida State.

"It's really exciting and I feel like it's a great honor," said Oermann. "I knew it was a possibility. I played on a women's team this summer that went to nationals and I learned a little bit about the league then."

Added Oermann with a laugh, "I'm kind of surprised that they even knew about me, coming from a pretty small conference. But I'm really happy."

The WPSL will begin its third year of play in May of 1999. Oermann will join the Virginia team after completing her senior season at Southeast, also in May of next year. The WPSL, made up of six teams, features United States National Softball Team members and collegiate All-Americans.

WPSL teams are located in Akron, Ohio; Gastonia, N.C.; Durham, N.C.; Columbus, Ga.; Tampa, Fla.; and Hampton, Va. The squads play a 66-game schedule with the championship rounds coming in August. Each team averages around 1,500 fans per game and some of the games are broadcast on ESPN2.

Oermann batted .410 last season with three home runs, nine doubles, two triples and 35 runs batted in. She was named the MVP of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament after batting .631.

A native of St. Clair and a three-year starting shortstop for the Otahkians, Oermann was named a second-team GTE Academic All-American last season with a 3.78 grade-point average in special education.

Richmond, Southeast's coach, said she was elated for Oermann.

"This is a tremendous honor for Jenny," said Richmond. "This honors her talent and career because she is an outstanding student-athlete. Her athletic ability can be seen by everyone each time she takes the field.

"Jenny is the first Southeast female athlete ever to be drafted by a pro league and this is a great reward for her dedication and passion for the sport."

Oermann said she will probably have to wait until Southeast's season is over before working out final arrangements to join the Virginia team.

"I'm definitely going to go," she said. "Hopefully it will all work out."