Former WCHS and IU softball standout Kelsey Dotson has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bandits (Photo provided by IU Athletics)

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Former WCHS softball star Kelsey Dotson has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League.

Dotson, a Silver Lake native, graduated in May after a strong collegiate career playing for Indiana University.

Dotson, an All-State catcher for the Tigers, initially signed a 10-day deal with the Bandits on May 30 before earning a one-year contract.

“I’m so proud of Kelsey and excited for her opportunity with the Bandits,” said Indiana head coach Michelle Gardner, in a release posted on the IU softball website. “She was a tremendous part of this program for the last four years and I cannot wait to see what she does in this next step of her career.”

Dotson, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, finished her time at Indiana with 23 home runs, tied for ninth-most ever in program history. In addition, her 14 homers in 2015 ranks as the second-most in a single season at IU.

Despite an injury that kept her out of 18 games in 2016, Dotson finished the year with 25 hits, 23 walks, 21 RBI and 16 runs scored. In the last three games of her Hoosier career, she knocked five hits and scored a pair of runs. She made 36 starts this season, with 35 of those coming at catcher, where she registered a .996 fielding percentage.

Dotson, a 2012 WCHS graduate, was signed by the defending champion Bandits after attending an open team tryout in late May.

Dotson joins fellow Indiana alum Morgan Melloh in the NPF. Melloh was drafted by the NPF Diamonds in 2011 and has been a member of the Dallas Charge for the last two seasons.