This summer, Stacey Nelson could be trading in her orange and blue for red, white and blue.
UF's senior ace accepted an invitation to the 2009 USA Softball Women's National Team Selection Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., starting June 8.
Nelson will compete against 26 other players for a spot on the USA Softball National Team at the camp, which starts just five days after the Women's College World Series.
"It's something I never, ever would have expected, so it's a big surprise. I was very excited about it," Nelson said.
Remaining as modest as ever about her continually growing list of accomplishments, Nelson said she is still keeping her focus on her last season as a Gator, including tonight's matchup between No. 1 UF (42-3) and Central Florida (21-22) at 6 in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The invitation to play with the nation's best is far from the only notable accolade Nelson has racked up this season.
She is now climbing the ranks for the most victories in NCAA history. With 120 wins, she is currently tied for ninth with three other pitchers.
"I don't even know how many wins I have," she said, laughing. "When I first got on the list, No. 25 was Jennie Finch. That was just surreal to me - because Jennie Finch is like the ultimate - to hear that I had as many wins as her."
Nelson, the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year last season, is three victories away from tying Angela Tincher, last season's Player of the Year from Virginia Tech.
Tincher also won the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in 2008, and Nelson was named one of 10 finalists for this year's award.
The CLASS Award, which stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, is given to players based on their off-the-field accomplishments as well as their performance on it.
Although Nelson is known for her work in the circle, she takes just as much pride in being recognized for what she does in the community and in the classroom.
"People kind of think of athletes as just athletes, and to show that you're working hard in the classroom and doing other stuff in the community, it's cool to get recognized for that," she said.
The winner of the CLASS Award is decided by a combination of coaches, media, sponsors and fan voting.
Nelson, who learned to speak Swahili and Yoruba during her time at UF, has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for two straight years.
"All my teammates make fun of me - especially the ones in the back of the bus - because I'm always doing homework on the way to games. If I'm not doing homework, then I'm reading about something," Nelson said.
"I really feel like the more homework I do in a weekend, the better I do (on the field)."
