??From: Codi Warren I Managing Director of Communications, USA Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY — Following a four-day selection process, 20 athletes have been selected to represent the United States as a member of the 2017 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT), USA Softball announced today. Selected by members of the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC), these athletes will compete at the World Cup of Softball XII this July in Oklahoma City, Okla. and at a Pan American Games/World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Championship Qualifier.
“It is very obvious that the future talent pool of USA Softball players is very deep,” said Head Coach Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla./Head Coach at South Florida). “The high level of play and skill assessment displayed at the 2017 National Team trials, not only by the former players but also by the first time trial attendees, was fantastic.”
Click here to see the athletes selected to the 2017 USA Softball Women’s National Team
“After coming off the 2016 WBSC World Championship Gold Medal success, it is important for our program to keep moving forward,” Eriksen continued. “The ‘prize fight’ mentality of all the players came out in the competition with the roster spots filled by those that excelled through the trials with their skill sets, their productive play at this event, their productive play through past history, and lastly by character assessment. These factors make up a winning unit. We will continue to assess those that were here that did not make the team. For those who made the roster, the evidence of how close it was should be a motivating factor to continue to strive to be better physically and mentally as we race towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
Representing the U.S. this summer will be 16 returning veterans from the 2016 roster which reclaimed the Gold Medal at the WBSC Women’s World Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada after defeating Japan 7-3 in the Gold Medal Game. Four rookies also join the squad, with three of those rookies having previously worn the Red, White and Blue either as a member of the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) or USA Softball Women’s Elite Team.
Led by Head Coach Ken Eriksen, a full list of National Team events, including exhibition games, will be released at a later date.
Follow along all summer with all of the USA Softball National Teams at USASoftball.com.
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