Pitt Softball Player Turns Pro

ASHBURN, Va. -- Jessica Dignon will become the first Panther to play softball professionally after signing a contract with the National Professional Fast-Pitch (NPF) League's Washington Glory.

A recent graduate, Dignon was Pitt's first three-time All-Big East selection.

"It is quite an honor for our program to have a representative in the Professional Fastpitch League,'' Pittsburgh Head Coach Michelle Phalen said. "Jess has been an outstanding player the last four years and has worked hard for this opportunity.''

After spending several days at a tryout for the Glory, Dignon was asked to stay on a permanent basis with the squad and saw action in her first game.

"We are all excited to see what she will accomplish this summer in the professional league,'' Phalen said. "She has always pushed herself to achieve at a high level and I am sure she will continue to succeed. Jess is a great ambassador for the University of Pittsburgh and Pitt softball.''

In four seasons at Pitt, Dignon set or tied school career records for RBI (113) and doubles (45), and single-season doubles (17), runs scored (43) and RBI (44). As Pitt's first three-time All-Big East selection, she led the team to its three conference championship berths. Dignon played third base and shortstop during her career.

Coached by Carie Dever-Boaz, Dignon joins a 2008 Glory signee class that includes the 2007 ESPY Female College Athlete of the Year Taryne Mowatt (Arizona), Courtney Bures (Mississippi State), and Cambria Miranda (Oregon State).

Entering its second season in the league, the Glory is the reigning NPF champion and made up of several athletes from the Olympics team and other former collegiate student-athletes.

A six-team league, the NPF was established in 1997 and is comprised of squads in Chicago, Akron, Philadelphia, New England, Phoenix and the Washington, D.C. area.

For more information or to follow Dignon visit www.washingtonglory.com.