VanBrakle Selected to USA Softball Junior National Team
10/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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University of Alabama freshman softball player Stephanie VanBrakle has been selected as one of seventeen players on the USA Junior Women’s National Team. The team will represent the United States at the First Pan American Junior Women’s Softball Championship in Sonora, Mexico from December 13-21.
The Junior Women’s National Team will be competing for a spot in the 2003 ISF Junior Women’s World Championship to be held in Nanjing, China.
Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy was pleased to hear the news of VanBrakle’s selection. “When you go down the list and see the players on the team, it certainly was a pleasant surprise to see Stephanie’s name on the list,” Murphy said. “This is truly a great honor for her.”
Murphy feels that VanBrakle will be a valuable player for Team USA. “The fact that she has the talent to both pitch and hit is important,” Murphy said. “She also plays first base and third base which shows how versatile she is and makes her a great asset for the team.”
VanBrakle’s selection marks the second time an Alabama player has earned a spot on a US national team, joining former Crimson Tide All-American Kelly Kretschman. Alabama catcher Lacy Prejean has also been attending the USA Softball Olympic Trials in hopes of making Team USA.
Crimson Tide fans can catch their first glimpse of VanBrakle and her fellow Tide teammates this Saturday, October 12, as Alabama hosts the Fall Ball, an all day tournament beginning at 9 a.m. featuring the Tide, Northwest-Shoals CC, Wallace-Dothan CC and Shelton State CC.
