Four IU Southeast Softball Players Represent United States in Australia
Four IU Southeast Softball Players Represent United States in Australia
NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- Heather Shepherd, sophomore catcher from Ft. Wayne, Ind., Amber Pedersen, junior shortstop from Elletsville, Ind., CJ Combs, senior pitcher from St. Leon, Ind. and Kristy Elderkin, freshman pitcher from Evansville, Ind., all represented the United States in overseas competition during June.
The four local players made the trip with USA Athletes International. IU Southeast Head Softball Coach Todd Buckingham served as head coach for the team of U.S. softball players. Tyler Pruett from Bluefield State College in West Virginia was assistant coach for the team of players who were all selected by invitation only.
USA Athletes International, Inc. (USAAI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving college and high school athletes and coaches the opportunity to participate in competition around the world, to promote sports and foster an international bond, as well as provide those athletes chosen to play with the opportunity to broaden their educational, cultural and competitive knowledge of the world.
All games were played at Blacktown Olympic Park in a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Blacktown Olympic Park served as the softball venue for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and remains today one of the finest Softball facilities in Australia.
"Having the opportunity to take some my players to Australia to experience this type of competition was unbelievable," said Buckingham.
Coach Buckingham felt that the trip was a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved. "These young ladies had the chance to play on the same field our country won gold on in 2000, and had the chance to play the Chinese Tai-Pai Olympic team. This was a life-changing event that hopefully will translate into success for our program this coming season."
