NASHVILLE, Tenn. – History was made Monday night when, for the first time in school history, an entire Auburn softball senior class was selected during the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch.
Kendall Veach started the evening when she became the highest NPF draftee in program history as the Beijing Eagles took the catcher seventh overall in the second round. The Eagles took three more Tigers — (Casey McCrackin, 12th overall in the third round; Morgan Podany, 17th overall in the fourth round; Bree Fornis, 22nd overall in the fifth round) — before the Cleveland Comets selected Makayla Martin 23rd overall in the fifth round to round out the night.
Prior to the quintet of Tigers taken Monday night, Auburn had six total players selected in the NPF Draft in program history. Morgan Estell was the previous highest Auburn player drafted when the Akron Racers took her 12th overall.
Through 43 games this season, Veach is slashing .342/.872/.458 with a career-high 18 home runs, which is three shy of tying Auburn's single-season record of 21 set by Kasey Cooper in 2016. Her 37 career home runs is the seventh most by a Tiger player during their career.
McCrackin is currently tied with Taylon Snow for the team lead in batting average with .370. Her 14 doubles are five more than the next closest player, while her 13 stolen bases are one behind Alyssa Rivera for high spot. The 13 stolen bases are tied for 10th most in a single season in Auburn history.
Podany, who has a .980 fielding percentage through 43 games, gave the Tigers a win over No. 16 South Carolina just three days ago with a game-ending single to score Fornis in the bottom of the seventh. In 298 career at bats, Podany has never grounded into a double play.
Fornis has doubled her total base total this season in only 67 at bats as her 167 career games played are fourth most among active Tiger players. Fornis, like Podany, has not grounded into a double play during her four-year playing career.
Martin, who was named to the Preseason All-SEC before the season, is Auburn's career earned run average leader with a 1.60 — 0.01 lower than Kaylee Carlson. Martin's 61 career wins rank third all-time in program history and her 350 career strikeouts are seventh most. She has thrown 16 shutouts, which is fourth most in program history, in 32 career starts in the circle.