June 4, 2012

ROSEMONT, Ill. – A pair of former Kentucky softball standouts were not ready to put away their gloves just yet after wrapping up prolific college careers in mid-May. Chanda Bell and Brittany Cervantes were among 44 players to compete in an open tryout for the National Pro Fastpitch League’s Chicago Bandits and emerged as two of four players to earn roster spots.

Open tryouts were held in the morning and then nine players were selected to suit up in a Bandits’ exhibition game later that afternoon.

“It’s really exciting, kind of nerve-wracking but when they told us congratulations it was an awesome feeling,” Cervantes said after hearing the news of being selected for a roster spot.

“There were a lot of good players out there and I’m glad I was blessed enough to join the Bandits,” Bell said following the game and earning a spot on the team.

Cervantes and Bell were two members of UK’s six-member 2012 senior class. The duo were cornerstones in guiding the Wildcats to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and earning 30 or more victories in each of their four seasons of play.

Bell rewrote UK’s pitching records finishing as the Wildcats’ all-time strikeout leader. She is the only player in school history to toss 200 or more Ks in each of her four seasons of action. The right-hander threw Kentucky’s first-ever no-hitter during her freshman campaign and threw the fifth of her career in helping UK secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament in a series-sweep of LSU in early May.

Cervantes is Kentucky’s all-time best power hitter owning career records for home runs and RBI. She is the lone Wildcat in school allure to blast 10 or more long balls in each of her four seasons. The Chatsworth, Calif., native played in more than 230 career games which is the fifth-most in school history.

For continuing coverage of the UK softball team log on to UKathletics.com.