USF's softball team will play the U.S. Olympic team in Clearwater in March as the Americans prepare for defense of their 2004 gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The U.S. national team will play USF and four other teams in the USF Under Armour Invitational from March 6-8 at the EC Moore Complex in Clearwater. Bulls coach Ken Eriksen was the U.S. team's pitching coach when the Americans won the gold medal in 2004.
"We are very excited to once again host the best team in the world," USF head coach Ken Eriksen said. "They have chosen the tournament we put on in conjunction with the city of Clearwater and Under Armour because it has provided them with a great opportunity to prepare for the 2008 Beijing Games."
Eriksen pointed out that USF was the only college team to hold the U.S. team scoreless into the sixth inning in 2004.
"I hope we can challenge them again," he said. "It should be a great thrill and a measuring stick for our team. The women on the national team are great role models as players and, more importantly, as people."
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
I second that Adam. Ken keeps on plugging along with his winning softball teams with too little notice from Bulls Nation. Keep up the good work, Coach. May yours be the next stadium that USF builds.
Posted by: Doug Currier II | October 10, 2007 at 09:30 AM
This is a great chance to see some great players. This is the last year softball will be an Olympic sport.
Posted by: james | October 09, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Kenny is a little more media friendly than CJL isn't he? Ellis was pitching lights-out against team USA in '04.
Leavitt gets all the credit around campus, but Eriksen has been winning for years. He need facilities more than anyone to keep getting solid recruits.
Posted by: Adam | October 08, 2007 at 05:36 PM