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When most people think of professional sports, they think of the NBA, NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball. For women who play softball, there is a professional league with a growing fan base, the National Pro Fastpitch league.



And, for one Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle, the dream of playing professional will soon be reality. The Rockford Thunder of the NPF have drafted Tech senior shortstop Beth Boden for the 2008 season. Boden was the 20th overall pick, going in the fourth round of the NPF draft.



Recently relocated from Texas, the Thunder roster features some of the top players in the NPF. One of the top pitchers in the league -- and the world -- Cat Osterman, formally of the University of Texas, is the star pitcher for the Thunder.



"It is an amazing opportunity," said Boden this week, taking a break between her teams road trips. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at this level. There are so many great players in this league, I just could not pass up this chance."



Over the summer, Boden played for the Brakettes, a softball team based out of Connecticut. While in the Northeast, she played with some of the top players from around the country with players from LSU, Mississippi State, Alabama, Arizona State and Florida State.



"Before I went up there, I had not thought about playing professionally," said Boden, the OVC Player of the Year in 2007. "I just had the chance to play with the best players and we started talking. They talked to me about it. I could not turn down the chance to try."



"When I got back to campus, coach (Tory) Acheson mentioned it and I knew then that I had to go for it."



While the team was relocated from Texas, some fans might recognize the name Rockford. The town was made famous by the movie "A League of Their Own" starring Tom Hanks, Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna. It featured the Rockford Peaches, a women's baseball team during World War II.



"I am just really excited about this opportunity to play at this level," said Boden, "There are a lot of really good pitchers in this league with Cat Osterman and Jeannie Finch. I am just lucky to be able play with these and many other top players."



Since the Olympics are being held this summer in Beijing, some of the top players in the league will be training with Team USA; Boden does recognize the international scene.



"While with the Brakettes, I had a chance to play against the Dominican Republic National Team. It was an interesting experience and it expanded my horizons," Boden said.



Boden, a civil engineering major from Plover, Wis., is one of five players selected by Rockford, along with Savannah Brown (Georgia Tech), Lauren Eckermann (Oklahoma), Tonya Callahan (Tennessee) and Sandy Vojik (DePaul).



"Beth could easily be one the surprise picks of the draft," said Thunder General Manager Aaron Moore, "Coming out of a less well-known school kept her off of several lists, but she can hit. She's a very speedy, athletic type player who also possesses some power. Beth could be an impact player for the Thunder in several spots in the batting order, as well as several different positions on the field."



The Thunder get the season underway May 29 against the Chicago Bandits. In last year's season opener against the Bandits, the Thunder prevailed in 12 innings in the first match-up between Osterman and Finch, who pitches for the Bandits.