Rogers and Holcombe Named to USA Softball National Team
6/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 15, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced Monday the three teams that will represent USA Softball Women's National team program during the 2009 summer season, kicking off with the Canada Cup, July 4-12. The three teams were selected after a selection camp last week in Chula Vista, Calif., and the rosters, which include former Alabama standouts Brittany Rogers and Ashley Holcombe, will represent a new era of USA Softball, as there are only eight returning players from the 2008 Olympic team.
"This has to be one of the best days ever for Bama softball," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy who will serve as an assistant coach on the Pan American Qualifier Team said. "To have two players named to the USA National Team is an incredible honor that the entire program can share. Both Brittany and Ashley had great tryout camps and I am grateful that the committee recognized the talents of both athletes."
Although Rogers and Holcombe were tabbed as members of the USA Softball Women's National team, Rogers will compete on the roster for the 2009 USA Softball Japan Cup Team at the Japan Cup in Sendai, Japan on July 31-August 2, while Holcombe will participate as member of the 2009 USA Softball Pan American Qualifier Team at the Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela on July 31-August 9.
"They will have a busy summer ahead of them with both of them playing in three major softball events around the world," Murphy added.
Rogers, a four-time All-American centerfielder for Alabama from 2006-09, played in 60 games and made 58 starts in her senior season, was named an Easton All-American and garnered NFCA second-team All-American honors. The Dacula, Ga., native was named to the Women's College World Series all-tournament team and was a USA Softball Player of the Year top 25 finalist as well as a Lowe's Senior CLASS Finalist.
Holcombe played in 62 games and made 60 starts as Alabama's catcher in 2009, en route to being named an ESPN.com All-American. The Fayetteville, Ga., native was named to the SEC All-Defensive team and to the SEC All-Tournament team. Holcombe led the Southeastern Conference by an impressive margin with 10 pickoffs from behind the plate.
The USA Softball Women's National Team will compete at both the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., and the KFC World Cup of Softball presented by Six Flags in Oklahoma City, Okla. The team will be coached by Head Coach Jay Miller (Starkville, Miss.) and Assistants Gordon Eakin (Sandy, Utah), Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla.) Barbara Jordan (Northridge, Calif.).
Alabama fans can watch both Rogers and Holcombe in the KFC World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City. The games will be televised on ESPN with the event slated for July 16-20.
The roster for the 2009 USA Softball Women's National Team is as follows:
Monica Abbott - Salinas, Calif.
Chelsea Bramlett - Cordova, Tenn.
Katie Burkhart - San Luis Obispo, 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.
Lauren Lappin - Anaheim, Calif.
Jenae Leles - Fair Oaks, Calif.
Caitlin Lowe - Tustin, Calif.
Stacey Nelson - Los Alamitos, Calif.
Cat Osterman - Houston, Texas
Brittany Rogers - Dacula, Ga.
Natasha Watley - Irvine, Calif.
The 2009 USA Softball Japan Cup team will compete at the Japan Cup in Sendai, Japan, July 31- Aug.2. Leading the team will be Head Coach Miller and Assistant Coaches Suzy Brazney (Buena Park, Calif.), Chuck D'Arcy (Sacramento, Calif.) and Jordan.
The roster for the 2009 USA Softball Japan Cup Team is as follows:
Valorie Arioto - Pleasanton, Calif.
Courtney Bures - Haymarket, Va.
Katie Burkhart - San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Stacie Chambers - Glendale, Az.
Ashley Charters - Beaverton, Ore.
Jennie Finch - La Mirada, Calif.
Alissa Haber - Newark, Calif.
Molly Johnson - Tucson, Az.
Lauren Lappin - Anaheim, Calif.
Brittany Lastrapes - Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Jenae Leles - Fair Oaks, Calif.
Stacey Nelson - Los Alamitos, Calif.
Amber Patton - Forsyth, Ill.
Brittany Rogers - Dacula, Ga.
Taylor Schlopy - West Hills, Calif.
Natasha Watley - Irvine, Calif.
The 2009 USA Softball Pan American Qualifier Team will represent the USA at the Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela, July 31-Aug.9. The team will be coached by Head Coach Miller and Assistants Karen Johns (Whippany, N.J.), Mike Larabee (Dayton, Ohio) and Pat Murphy (Northport, Ala.).
The roster for the 2009 USA Softball Pan American Qualifier Team is as follows:
Monica Abbott - Salinas, Calif.
K'Lee Arredondo - Tempe, Az.
Brandice Balschmiter - Newark, N.Y.
Chelsea Bramlett - Cordova, Tenn.
Kaitlin Cochran - Yorba Linda, Calif.
Andrea Duran - Selma, Calif.
Vicky Galindo - Union City, Calif.
Ashley Hansen - Chandler, Az.
Ashley Holcombe - Fayetteville, Ga.
Megan Langenfeld - Bakersfield, Calif.
Caitlin Lowe - Tustin, Calif.
Nikki Nemitz - St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Melissa Roth - Long Beach, Calif.
Katie Schroeder - Yorba Linda, Calif.
Angela Tincher - Eagle Rock, Va.
Maggie Viefhaus - Pacific, Mo.
Tammy Williams - Roscoe, Mo.
