DECEMBER 4 UPDATE
31 INVITED TO USA SOFTBALL NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball announced today its list of 31 athletes who have accepted an invitation to the 2010 USA Softball Womens National Team Selection Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., Jan. 4-8. The 17-member team plus alternates selected from this camp will represent USA Softball during the 2010 season. The schedule of events for the 2010 season will be announced at a later date at www.usasoftball.com
The 2010 Womens National Team Selection Camp attendees include:
Monica Abbott Salinas, Calif.
Valerie Arioto Pleasanton, Calif.
Brandice Balschmiter Newark, N.Y.
Chelsea Bramlett Cordova, Tenn.
Courtney Bures Haymarket, Va.
Katie Burkhart San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Eileen Canney Paradise, Calif.
Ashley Charters Beaverton, Ore.
Kaitlin Cochran Yorba Linda, Calif.
Andrea Duran Selma, Calif.
Jennie Finch La Mirada, Calif.
Vicky Galindo Union City, Calif.
Alissa Haber Newark, Calif.
Ashley Hansen Chandler, Az.
Ashley Holcombe - Fayetteville, Ga.
Molly Johnson Lexington, Ken.
Megan Langenfeld Bakersfield, Calif.
Lauren Lappin Anaheim, Calif.
Brittany Lastrapes Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Jenae Leles Fair Oaks, Calif.
Caitlin Lowe Tustin, Calif.
Jessica Mendoza Camarillo, Calif.
Stacey Nelson Los Alamitos, Calif.
Cat Osterman Houston, Texas
Amber Patton Forsyth, Ill.
Brittany Rogers Dacula, Ga.
Melissa Roth - Long Beach, Calif.
Taylor Schlopy West Hills, Calif.
Angela Tincher Eagle Rock, Mo.
Natasha Watley Irvine, Calif.
Tammy Williams Roscoe, Mo.
SPY note: the 31 include all 18 of the players shown on the ASA web site as members of the 2009 national team.
WANT A GOOD CRY? WATCH THIS VIDEO
A story of remarkable courage who won the hearts of the USC football team.
COMMITMENTS
Heavin-Lee Rodriguez, SoCal Sliderz Gold (Alemany High School), 2010 Short Stop, has committed
to play for Cal State San Marcos
2010 Commitments for All American Sports Academy Gold Bryan Merrida
Stesha Brazil (C) University of Houston
Devon Bridges (1B) Boise State University
Kendal Butterfield (2B/OF) Colorado State University
Courtney Ceo (SS) University of Oregon
Carly Corthell (CF) College of Charleston
Lizzy Vaughn (2B) College of Charleston
Washington Spirit Gold-Ochoa 2010 Signees:
Richelle Ashburn P, Seattle University
Bri Joseph 2B/3B, Bradley University
Breann Warren, 2011 1B commits to University of Illinois-Chicago
THE PHOTO OF TIGER AND ELIN
Numerous people have sent me the tricked-up photo which shows Tiger looking like Elin slugged him rather than the Escalade with that 3-iron. I may use it on the other SPY web site. Perhaps the situation was characterized FOR MANY Tiger fans by Chris Rock: a man is only faithful according to his options. Not exclusively true of course, but athletes, from HS to the pros, are seemingly offered more opportunities than most men. However, the phenomenon of star attraction also applies to actors, singers, uber successful businessmen, politicians by the score and even diplomats and soldiers. A new unattached, reasonably attractive male showing up at many US embassies, especially in the non-English speaking countries, is considered Grade A prime. I had occasion to conduct business in a Latin country, the same week as the annual black-tie Embassy ball. My dance card was filled five minutes after arriving at the Ambassadors office and answering two simple question: are you single and do you dance?
Not excusing Tiger, but theres an old Glenn Miller tune, sung by Tex Beneke: what makes a gander meander in search of a goose, what makes a lady of eighty go out on the loose
Tiger reminds me of a former Congressman who divorced his very successful, handsome wife of many years, took up with a lady somewhat his senior; charitably, they didnt let her out at night because she made the dogs bark. From appearances only, Tiger stepped down in class; Elin is a real beauty. But what he lost is almost impossible to quantify: his image and the respect of millions of people who thought him above temptations of the flesh.
WCWS NO-HITTERS
Four perfect games have been recorded: Tracy Compton and Debbie Doom pitched a combined perfect game for UCLA in 1982; Julie Bolduc pitched a perfect game for Adelphi in 1984; Shawn Andaya pitched a perfect game for Texas A&M in 1987; and Courtney Blades hurled a perfect game for Southern Mississippi in 2000. All were in games leading up to the final. Keira Goerl of UCLA tossed the only no-hitter the Championship game, UCLA 2003.
SOUTH FLORIDA ON VERGE OF MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
TAMPA - The University of South Florida Athletics Department is one step closer to launching the next phase of its Athletics District after receiving approval today from the university's Board of Trustees for the construction and financing of the $30 million project.
The project will move forward immediately,
subject to approval of the financing plan by the university's Board of Governors
on December 10.
The Athletics District will forever change the face and foundation of USF
Athletics. Included in construction that is expected to begin in the first
quarter of 2010 are facilities for football, baseball, softball and basketball.
The USF Soccer Stadium, also part of the Athletic District Master Plan, is being
evaluated for possible inclusion in this phase.
The Frank Morsani Football Practice Facility will be directly east of the USF
Athletics Training Center and the existing football locker room, offices and
weight room. The new practice area will feature three side-by-side full-length
football fields that will run north and south. Two of the fields will be natural
grass, while the third will feature an artificial surface.
Both the baseball stadium and new softball stadium are expected to be located
along the east side of Bull Run Drive (Check renderings Below) and provide
spectacular curb appeal for the Athletics District.
The new baseball stadium will remain on the same footprint as the existing
field, but will be realigned in order to create a plaza and ticketing area that
is shared with the new softball stadium. Current plans have the softball field
located south of the baseball stadium.
Images are available at:
http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=204843563
The baseball stadium is expected to include new step-down team dugouts,
bullpens, covered batting cages, multiple party pavilions, a press box and a
1,500 seat spectator grandstand with a shade canopy, an elevated, shaded
entertainment or hospitality deck and service amenities. The overall capacity of
the stadium is expected to exceed 3,000 and is being designed to accommodate
additional seating that will enable USF to host NCAA Regionals and Super
Regionals.
The softball stadium is expected to feature a new lighted natural grass sports
field, step-down team dugouts, bullpens, covered batting cages, multiple party
pavilions, a press box and a 700-seat spectator grandstand with a shade canopy,
an elevated, shaded entertainment or hospitality deck and service amenities. The
overall capacity of the stadium is expected to exceed 1,500 and is being
designed to accommodate NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals.
The Les and Pam Muma Basketball Center will include men's and women's basketball
practice gymnasia and team support facilities including locker rooms, offices,
meeting rooms, athletic training, strength training and equipment management
facilities. The center will allow internal access to the event level of the
existing Sun Dome.
The footprint for the Muma Center is currently located on the south side of the
Sun Dome.
The basketball teams will continue to compete in the Sun Dome and practice in
the Sun Dome and Corral while construction occurs on the Muma facility, however
the baseball and softball programs will have to relocate for the duration of the
2009 competition calendar.
USF is still working on details related to practice and competition sites for
the softball and baseball programs for spring of 2010 seasons. Information will
be announced in the coming weeks.
USF has contracted design/build solution provider R.R. Simmons, which built the
USF Athletics Training Center in 2005, and global design practice specialist and
architectural firm Populous to lead the construction of the Athletics District
Facilities.