OKLAHOMA CITY — Jessica Damico has been added to the roster of the 2011 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. A freshman utility player at Florida, Damico (Gray Summit, Mo.) replaces Tennessee sophomore Madison Shipman (Valencia, Calif.), who is recovering from surgery.
“I am looking forward to representing my country at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championships in South Africa,” Damico said.“Being selected for the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team is a great opportunity, and I can’t wait to give it everything I’ve got.”
Damico is the 2010 Gatorade Missouri Softball Player of the Year. A standout at Pacific High School in Pacific, Mo., she had a batting average of .539 during her junior year, a season in which she collected 40 RBI. She also hit a state-record 15 home runs. As a senior, she tallied only six homers but amassed a .605 season average with 42 RBI. Damico drew 15 walks and never struck out. She was named the 2010-11 Four Rivers Conference Player of the Year and is a first-team Class 4 All-State selection.
In ASA play, she competed with the St. Louis Chaos coached by Bob Furrer.
“We are very excited to have Jess as a part of the 2011 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team,” Head Coach Karen Johns (Whippany, N.J.) said. “Losing Madison Shipman was a big blow to our team and having a quality athlete like Jess step in, well, we are very fortunate. She will definitely be an asset to this team as they compete in Cape Town this December.”
The Junior Women’s National Team recently completed an exhibition series that brought them to Tampa, Fla., Salem, Va., and Bowie, Md. The team competes next Dec. 6-17 at the International Softball Federation (ISF) IX Junior Women’s World Championship (19-and-under) in Cape Town, South Africa. The United States is the defending champion.
Junior Women’s Worlds will mark Damico’s first appearance with USA Softball. She attended the 2010-11 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team Selection Camp, held in June 2010 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.