Former Center Grove and Northwestern University catcher Jordyn Rudd has taken her game to a new league.
Submitted photo
The professional sports league that now includes Jordyn Rudd isn’t nearly as well known as the majority of its contemporaries.
Considering it made its debut in June, there’s no way the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) could rise to such heights so quickly.
But that’s what fast softball pitches do. They rise.
Made up of four teams, WPF’s inaugural campaign was in large part made possible by the preseason draft, one in which the USSSA Pride — based in Viera, Florida — selected a three-time first team All-Big Ten catcher with the 24th overall pick.
“Most kids dream about being a pro and getting the opportunity to play at the next level,” said the 23-year-old Rudd, a 2018 Center Grove graduate. The big thing for me is I grew up in Greenwood, Indiana, and now I’m a professional athlete.”
The WPF’s introductory season is currently being played with four teams, the others being the Texas Smoke, Oklahoma City Spark and Alabama-based Smash It Sports (SIS) Vipers. This enables Rudd to put on the catcher’s gear for games at facilities such as Tornado Softball Field (Texas) and Choccolocco Park (SIS).
However, unlike the previous nine softball seasons that saw her start for the Trojans (2015-18) and Northwestern (2019-23) — she started every one of the 243 games played in her Wildcats career — Rudd’s unquestioned durability isn’t tested as often. The Pride roster also includes catchers Kayla Kowalik and Taylor Ellsworth, who played collegiately at Kentucky and Texas, respectively.
“You know, I think it’s how professional softball is. Of course, I’d love to play every day, but I am okay with this,” Rudd said. “When you play with this many great athletes, you’re playing the best of the best.”
The Pride, coached by former Alabama All-American Kelly Kretschman, opened the season June 15 with a 3-2 loss at Texas and brought a 12-11 record into Monday night’s game, also against the Smoke. Rudd had appeared in 21 of those 23 games, driving in five runs and delivering eight hits — including her first pro home run, which she hit on Friday, and four doubles.
The WPF draft took place in April while Rudd, one of the most accomplished softball players in Northwestern history, was in the midst of leading the Wildcats to a 42-13 record. The team eventually advanced to the NCAA Super Regional in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Rudd completed her college career with a .332 batting average and the distinction of being the second player in school history with 200-plus runs batted in, as well as 50 doubles (second all-time) and 247 hits (fifth).
“I kind of heard some stuff about being drafted. I was really excited,” Rudd said. “It’s a lot of fun being able to grow myself in a different way.
“It’s another big step in my development as an athlete.”
The opportunity to play professionally has only intensified Rudd’s already busy spring and summer.
In early June, approximately a week after receiving her master’s degree in sports administration (in one year, no less), Rudd moved to Viera, an hour’s drive southeast of Orlando, to become acclimated with her USSSA Pride teammates.
Rudd will fly back to Indiana in early August as she and fiancé Zach Lee, a Franklin graduate, get married on Aug. 5.
The couple has been engaged since October 2021.
“I’m not really nervous,” Rudd said. “I’m excited for the day, and then plan to live life after that.”
Rudd would like to eventually work her way up the coaching ladder, starting as an assistant at the collegiate level and seeing what transpires beyond that.
In the meantime, her playing career likely won’t be winding down anytime soon.
“As long as the body will let me,” Rudd said.
