Scaglione Named To USA Elite Team

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and USA Softball announced today the selection of the 2005 Women's National and Elite Teams. 2005 All-American Heather Scaglione was named to 16-person Elite Team that will compete in two international tournaments this summer.

The 16-member Elite Team will represent the Red, White and Blue beginning July 2 at the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C. and the Inter-Continental Cup in Madrid, Spain, July 20-28.

The National Team, which consists of an 18-member roster, takes the field July 12 in Irvine, Calif. for an exhibition game against Australia before heading to the first ever World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, July 14-18. On July 26, the team will travel to Yokohama, Japan as they look to defend the Japan Cup title.

11 of the 15 Olympians from Athens return to represent the U.S. this summer on the National Team. Two-time Olympic gold medalists Crystl Bustos is taking a one year leave from Team USA to play full-time in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Akron Racers. Lisa Fernandez also announced she will take the year off because she and her husband Michael are expecting their first child in December. Three-time gold medalists Lori Harrigan and Leah O'Brien-Amico announced their retirement from the National Team following their win in Athens.

Scaglione and Kristin Vesely tried out for the USA squads at the National Team Tryout Camp from June 13-17. Vesely was not named to either USA squad. 2005 graduate Christina Enea was invited to the camp but did not attend because of professional obligations with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league.

Scaglione competed with the USA Elite Team last fall and helped guide the squad to the gold medal in the First World University Games for Softball. She was joined on the medal-winning team by junior-to-be Norrelle Dickson and recently graduated Kami Keiter.

The following is the 2005 Women's Elite Team Roster:

Kaleo Eldredge (Kahului, Hawaii/ California-Berkeley)
Leigh Ann Ellis (Barboursville, West Virginia/ Uni. of South Florida)
Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./ Michigan*)
Jocelyn Forest (Santa Maria, Calif./ California-Berkeley)
Nicole Giordano (Saugus, Calif./ Arizona)
Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./ Michigan*)
Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif./ Stanford*)
Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./ Michigan)
Catalina Morris (Sonoita, Ariz./ Stanford*)
Marissa Nichols (Alta Loma, Calif./ UNLV*)
Gina Oaks (Alta Loma, Calif./ Cal State Fullerton)
Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./ Michigan*)
Heather Scaglione (San Diego, Calif./ Oklahoma)
Lindsay Schutzler (Monterey, Calif./ Tennessee*)
Dana Sorensen (San Diego, Calif./ Stanford)
Mackenzie Vandergeest (Thousand Oaks, Calif./ Arizona)

The following is the 2005 Women's National Team Roster:

Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif./ Tennessee*)
Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif./ Fresno State)
Jaime Clark (Tustin, Calif./ Washington)
Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif./ Arizona)
Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz./ UCLA)
Amanda Freed (Cypress, Calif./ UCLA)
Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif./ California-Berkeley)
Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif./ Arizona*)
Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif./ Arizona)
Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla./ Alabama)
Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif./ Arizona*)
Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif./ Stanford)
Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif./ UCLA)
Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas/ Texas*)
Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif./ Fresno State)
Jenny Topping (Whittier, Calif./ Cal State Fullerton)
Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif./ UCLA)
Kellie Wilkerson (Jacksonville, Fla./ Mississippi State)

*Indicates still in college

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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