University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball's Vesely To Represent USA

October 08, 2002 | Softball

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma softball's Kristin Vesely is one of 17 players chosen to represent the USA at the First Pan American Junior Women's Softball Championship, December 13-21 in Sonora, Republic of Mexico. The players were selected after a three day tryout camp held October 3-5 at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.

Vesely, a freshman from Phoenix, Ariz., lettered four years in softball at Shadow Mountain High School and twice earned All-State honors. She also lettered three years in soccer and was selected the team's best offensive player for three straight seasons. Vesely is currently playing midfield for the 9-3 OU soccer team.

The players selected for 2002 Junior Women's National Team are:
Monica Abbott (Salinas, CA)
Anna Beardman (Riverside, CA)
Christina Boutelle (Katy, TX)
Christina Clark (Santa Ana, CA)
Norelle Dickson (Orange, CA)
Lisa Dodd (San Diego, CA)
Laura Ferreira (El Sobrante, CA)
Kristi Fox (San Diego, CA)
Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, CA)
Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, CA)
Jodi Legaspi (Garden Grove, CA)
Mallorie Lenn (Garden Grove, CA)
Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, CA)
Linda Secka (Philadelphia, PA)
Stephanie VanBrakle (Chambersburg, PA)
Kristen Vesely (Phoenix, AZ)
Emily Zaplatosch (Scottsdale, AZ)

The USA Junior Women's National Team will be competing for a spot in the 2003 ISF Junior Women's World Championship. The top five teams from this championship will earn a berth into championship being held in Nanjing, China in 2003.

The Junior Women's National Team will train together December 7-12 prior to leaving for Sonora in a destination that as yet to be determined.

The United States captured gold at the 1987 and 1995 ISF Junior Women's World Championships. In 1999, the last Junior Women's World Championship, the USA finished second behind Japan.

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. As the National Governing Body, the ASA is responsible for identifying, selecting and training male and female athletes to compete in World, Pan American and Olympic competitions. In addition to those duties, the ASA conducts the only recognized National Championship competitions in the United States.
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