Alabama Softball at the World Cup of Softball XII
7/10/2017 11:33:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Three players with ties to Alabama softball competed at the World Cup of Softball XII this past weekend at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Four-time All-American Haylie McCleney earned a runner-up finish with Team USA while Elissa Brown and Kaylee Tow placed fifth with the Junior Women's National Team.
Team USA won its first six games to secure a spot in Sunday's championship game with Japan, but ultimately dropped a 2-1 decision despite out-hitting Japan, 6-3. McCleney, a four-time All-American at Alabama from 2013-16, appeared in six of the team's seven games this week, including five starts. She hit .474 with nine hits in 19 at-bats, including a solo home run in the July 7 win over Japan. She had six RBIs over the weekend, four of which came in a 4-4 performance against Puerto Rico on July 8.
The USA Junior Women's National Team went 4-3 over the week's seven games, finishing fifth. An SEC All-Freshman selection for the Crimson Tide last season, Brown appeared in all seven games for the JWNT, earning six starts. She was 8-18 at the plate (.444) with nine runs scored, three walks and just one strikeout. She drove in a pair of runs and scored three herself in a 14-7 win over the Philippines on July 7. Incoming Tide freshman Kaylee Tow, a native of Madisonville, Ky., appeared in three games with the JWNT, including two starts. She earned a hit and drew a walk in the July 6 loss vs. Australia.
Team USA will participate in a number of exhibition games over the coming weeks, including a stop in Tuscaloosa on July 20, before heading to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic for the Pan American Games/World Championship Qualifier August 4-13. They will then conclude the summer schedule with the Japan Cup in Takasaki City August 25-27. The JWNT will head to Clearwater, Fla., for the World Baseball Softball Confederation Junior Women's World Championship July 24-30 before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio for the Major League Baseball RBI World Series.
For the latest information on Alabama softball, follow the team on Twitter (@AlabamaSB) and Instagram (BamaSB) or like us on Facebook at Alabama Softball. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
