VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 83
cause she was a campus and team leader who hadn't met
a Boilermaker stranger, hopes her pro career takes off the
same way her college career did.
Her Purdue numbers speak for themselves: She is fifth
all-time in career batting average (.335) and RBI (122).
But, in typical Burkhardt fashion, that wasn't enough. She
has begun the giving-back process and is doing so as a vol-
unteer coach for the Boilermakers for the 2016 season.
"Working for Coach (Kim) Schuette and the staff is so
easy, because they make it that way for me," Burkhardt
said. "I want to be a coach some day, and this is the best
way for me to be able to train for the pro season and dabble
in working with players."
The timing is ideal for Burkhardt as the six-team NPF
begins within a couple of weeks of the end of June and
runs through August. The only overlap would be if the Boil-
ermakers would make a run to the College World Series.
"I want to play for as long as I can," said Burkhardt,
who started 80 percent of the games she appeared in
during her rookie season. "We don't get paid enough to
make a living with the Charge, but they treat us great. It
was such a great experience last year."
Burkhardt, a left-handed batting utility player who
can thrive anywhere on the field with the exception of
on the mound or behind the plate, said it took time to
get adjusted to the ramped-up competition level.
"Playing professionally is very similar in adjust-
ment to going from high school to college," Bur-
khardt said. "The pitches come faster, and everybody
can play defensively."
Yet, not surprisingly, Burkhardt has aspirations be-
yond the NPF and coaching.
She also would love to become one of a handful
of U.S.-born players to play professionally in Ja-
pan, where the money is better than it is in the
U.S. And her dream of playing in the Olympics for
her country in the sport she loves is still out there.
Burkhardt thinks softball has a chance of being re-
instated as an Olympic sport by 2020 after being
dropped in 2012.
"I wouldn't bet against Ashley achieving her dreams,"
Carrie Ehresman said. "With her work ethic, engaging
personality and her ability to be a leader, that woman
can do anything she puts her mind to.
"She is someone we will all be watching no matter
what she does down the road. I have a feeling she will
continue to make us proud."
j
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