June 15, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Former UCF first baseman Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) recently earned a spot on the newly formed USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch league to become the third member of the UCF softball team to play in the NPF.
With the help of assistant coach Stephanie Best, Javier earned a tryout with the former Washington Glory, Best's old squad, at the team's new home field in Kissimmee. The coaches were so impressed that they added Javier to the team's roster that same night.
The California native recently sat down with UCFAthletics.com to discuss her new team and how her dreams came true with the Pride.
Describe your reaction to making the Pride and playing in the NPF.
"One of my dreams has always been to pursue softball after college and I am really excited that the Pride and the NPF has made that dream come true for me. My family is also very excited for me."
Who was the first person you called when you found out that you made the team?
"The first person I called was my Dad. When he found out that I had a tryout I was back home in California, so he told me that I had to go and hit with him. When I left to fly back to Orlando he told me that right after my tryout I had to call him. He was the first person I called, and was the most important. Well, him and coach Best."
UCF assistant coach Stephanie Best was the one who got you the tryout, how thankful are you to her?
"I am so appreciative of what coach Best has done for me. If it wasn't for her, I would not have had a tryout at all. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to her for her effort."
You get to continue playing in the central Florida area with the Pride, what does that mean to you?
"It is very exciting. It is not my hometown, but it has been for the past four years. People who enjoy watching the Knights play can come out and watch our games, so I feel like the fan support from Orlando will be big."
Your former UCF teammate, Allison Kime, is also in the league. You and her will get to square-off a couple times this season. Describe how that will be.
"I am so excited to see Allison. She is one of my good friends and I am looking forward to facing her. Both of us are pursuing our softball careers, so being on the same field with her is going to be awesome."
You will be playing with a couple Olympians on your team. Describe how that feels to share the field with them.
"It is very exciting. I have been looking up to them forever, so it is almost surreal. I am so excited to share the field with them."
What are you most looking forward to in this whole experience?
"I think the experience as a whole is going to be tremendous. It is very new to me. Seeing how the professional league works is something I am looking forward to."
This team was formerly the Washington Glory and they have had great success in recent seasons. Does it excite you knowing that you have a good chance of winning a NPF Championship?
"Just being in the league is exciting to me. If we could go on to win a championship, it would just be a bonus. The entire thrill of being in the league is exciting enough at this point."
How has UCF softball prepared you for going on and playing in the professional ranks?
"I was speaking with one of my new teammates recently and she described practices at the professional level to be less rigorous than those at the collegiate level. Professional athletes have a better idea of what it takes to get ready to play and therefore are not asked to do as much at practices. I think my experience going through tough practices at UCF has helped me gauge what it takes for me to be ready to play."
How does it feel to practice and play with these athletes day in and day out?
"I am still trying to get to know everyone and it is a little intimidating because many of the girls have played on the same team for a few years now. It is great to see the talent I will be playing with, though. They are hitting balls 20 to 30 feet over the fence. It is amazing to see the level of play that they are at."
Has coach Best given you any good advice on playing professionally
"She has helped me with getting to know the girls. She gave me a heads up on how their personalities are. Most of all, she encouraged me to play like I know how to play. However, I know that I'll need to step it up in order to compete at this level."
Formerly the Washington Glory, the Pride includes 10 members of the 2007 NPF Regular Season and Championship Series Champions for the Glory, including 2007 NPF Pitcher of the Year, Desiree Serrano and 2007 NPF Player of the Year, Amber Jackson. The roster also includes Olympic gold and silver medalist, Kelly Kretschman, along with 2008 Olympians, Monica Abbott and Caitlin Lowe. The Pride also inherited the Glory draft choices of pitcher, Stacey Nelson and outfielder Kim Waleszonia from Florida and shortstop Maddy Coon from Stanford.
Javier and the Pride will face off with former teammate Kime and the Rockford Thunder twice during the 2009 season, with both meeting in Central Florida Aug. 5-9 at USSSA Pride Park.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
-UCF-