Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Friday, March 29, 2024

After representing her school for four years, Stacey Nelson will move on to represent her country.

Nelson, who holds nearly every UF softball pitching record , was one of 18 players named to the 2009 USA Softball Women's National Team and one of 16 named to the Japan Cup team on Monday after spending a week at the team's selection camp in Chula Vista, Calif.

Although cautiously optimistic about her chances of making the national team during the camp, Nelson remained as humble as ever about the experience of competing for a roster spot.

"All the pitchers here are so fantastic that I kind of feel like I'm at the bottom looking up," Nelson said in a phone interview Thursday. "But it's such an honor just to be here and to get to pitch to hitters like these."

The selection camp was Nelson's first time on the diamond since Washington swept UF in the Women's College World Series championship series.

"It's kind of helped get my mind off the loss and everything," she said. "That was a long week without softball. It's nice to get back on the field again."

Nelson struggled in her final three college games, giving up an uncharacteristic 10 earned runs while the Gators suffered their first back-to-back losses since March 31, 2007.

The bitter end to an otherwise outstanding career further motivated Nelson to prove herself during the selection camp. By earning a spot on Team USA, Nelson joins an elite group of pitchers.

As it did in 2008, the national team will carry five pitchers: Nelson; Monica Abbott, who holds the NCAA records for the most wins and strikeouts; Katie Burkhart, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 WCWS; Cat Osterman, who is tied for sixth with Nelson in career wins (136); and Jennie Finch, arguably the most famous softball player ever.

"It's so weird to have people like Jennie Finch at first base rooting you on when you're pitching and just being on the field with athletes I've heard about for years and years and years," Nelson said.

Although the players at the selection camp were among the most talented in the nation, Nelson described the competition among the 41 athletes vying for roster spots as "more laid back than you'd think."

"(The competition) doesn't really carry over off the field because everybody's really nice here and being complimentary of everybody else's skills," Nelson said. "On the field, it's a little bit laid back, but everybody's trying to do their best."

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox

Softball is no longer an Olympic sport, but Nelson and Team USA will compete in the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., and the World Cup in Oklahoma City in July.

With only eight returning players from the 2008 Olympic team, Nelson is part of a new generation of talent that will represent the U.S. in international competition through three different teams.

Three other Southeastern Conference players were named to the national team with Nelson: Chelsea Bramlett of Mississippi State and Ashley Holcombe and Brittany Rogers of Alabama.

The USA Softball Japan Cup team, a separate entity from the national team, will participate in the Japan Cup in Sendai, Japan from July 31-Aug. 2.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.