On Saturday, AUSL conducted the first-ever College Draft, selecting 12 of the best collegiate softball players. Here, Commissioner Kim Ng and softball legend Jennie Finch gave all 12 players Golden Tickets.
That being said, the Volts, led by general manager and another softball great, Cat Osterman and former Team USA player Kelly Kretschman, held the first pick. Here, Oklahoma Sooners right-hander Sam Landry went No. 1 overall. Landry is 18-4 with a 2.10 ERA in her senior season with the Sooners, striking out 147 batters in 143 and two-thirds innings.
Landry joins a loaded Volts pitching staff with fellow right-handers Rachel Garcia, Mariah Mazon, and Payton Gottshall. Given that Osterman is one of the best pitchers in softball history, the pick comes as no surprise.
the very first college athlete to EVER be drafted to the AUSL…@OU_Softball’s @sam_landry21 by the @AUSL_Volts ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/K7RQ544lY5
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) May 4, 2025
Next, the Talons stayed in the SEC with the second overall pick, taking infielder Bri Ellis of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Ellis spent the last two years with the Razorbacks after playing with the Auburn Tigers her first two years. She has 25 homers with an impressive 1.221 slugging percentage to go with her .487 batting average in the 2024-2025 season.
General manager and UCLA great Lisa Fernandez along with head coach Howard Dobson adds immediate offense to the roster with Ellis.
Bri Bombs to the pros 🦅
— Talons | AUSL (@AUSL_Talons) May 4, 2025
With the second overall pick, the Talons have selected @briellis1 from @RazorbackSB! pic.twitter.com/PpLclCKKu5
The Selections of the Blaze and Bandits in the AUSL College Draft
Next, Blaze general manager Dana Sorensen and head coach Alisa Goler held the No. 3 pick of the draft. Virginia Tech pitcher Emma Lemley was selected as she went 66-28 in her four seasons at Blacksburg. This season, the right-hander possesses a 16-6 record with a 2.75 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 31 appearances. Lemley joins fellow righties Aleshia Ocasio, Carley Hoover, and Alana Vawter along with lefty Keilani Ricketts on the Blaze pitching staff.
LEMMMMM 💅
— blaze | athletes unlimited softball league (@AUSL_Blaze) May 4, 2025
with our first round pick, we select pitcher from @HokiesSoftball, @Emmmaaclairee ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/dzuv8EFrbK
Lastly, the Bandits held the final pick in the first round of the AUSL College Draft. General manager Jenny Dalton-Hill and head coach Stacy Nuveman-Deniz selected another Hokies player in outfielder/utility Cori McMillan. McMillan is currently hitting .450 with 27 home runs and a slugging percentage of 1.060 as she is a welcome addition to the Bandits squad.
Adding some power to our lineup with a utility from @HokiesSoftball …@corimcmillan_ 🤠 pic.twitter.com/sDPwycMiqd
— Bandits | Athletes Unlimited Softball League (@AUSL_Bandits) May 4, 2025
Below shows how the teams rounded out the AUSL College Draft:
The inaugural season of AUSL gets underway on June 7 with the season concluding in July for the AUSL Championship.
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