Rhodes wins Rawlings Gold Glove Award® for Softball

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc., announced the third annual Rawlings Gold Glove Award^® for Softball was awarded to Jade Rhodes. Rhodes is a first baseman for the Cleveland Comets.

A native of Sarasota, Fla., Rhodes committed only three errors in 314 total chances. She finished the season with 24 assists and nine double plays turned.

"I think that Jade had an incredible year defensively, and she put up some amazing numbers. On top of that, she was put in a unique situation and was an amazing teammate," said Cheri Kempf, commissioner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. "She is incredibly deserving of this award."

The Rawlings Gold Glove Award^® for softball is given annually to one player in the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) since 2016. Similar to the award selection process in baseball, coaches and managers within the NPF organization voted for the winner excluding those on their respective teams.

"We're thrilled to partner with the National Pro Fastpitch League to celebrate and recognize the importance of defense," said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer for Rawlings. "It makes perfect sense to reward female athletes for their exceptional fielding ability and prowess and Jade certainly is a deserving recipient of this award."

The prior Rawlings Gold Glove Award for softball winners are Chelsea Goodacre, a catcher on the USSSA Pride and A.J. Andrews, an outfielder for the Akron, Ohio Racers.

"We are honored to be a part of this historic award and proud of the vision of Rawlings to include the talented players of professional fastpitch in the prestigious company of Gold Glove Award winners," said Kempf. "It remains impactful that the League is able to hand out the distinguished Rawlings Gold Glove Award."

The Rawlings Gold Glove Award was established to recognize defensive excellence at each position in pro baseball. Previous winners include athletes whose careers have been defined by their fielding ability including Ozzie Smith, Brooks Robinson and Derek Jeter.

In 2007, in conjunction with the award's 50^th anniversary, the award program expanded to include winners at the collegiate and high school levels.

Rhodes is the daughter of former Major League Baseball player Arthur Rhodes.

About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball^®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseballtm and the NCAA^®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation^®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.

About the Rawlings Gold Glove Award^®
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award^® is a registered trademark owned by Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. The award is correctly identified as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The name should not be shortened, abbreviated or otherwise misused. Proper identification of this service mark using the registration symbol and the Rawlings name is important to protect the integrity of the program and perpetuate this worthy tradition. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com.

About the NPF
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success.  The NPF is comprised of six teams: Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion, Scrap Yard Dawgs and USSSA Florida Pride.  National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women's softball.

SOURCE Rawlings