Fresno State Athletics
Ford Helps Team USA to Gold
9/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. – The USA Softball Junior Women's National Team, assisted by Fresno State head coach Trisha Ford, reclaimed the World Championship on Aug. 16 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
With an 8-1 win over Japan, competing in the Gold-Medal game, the Eagles claimed the title for the fifth time at the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women's World Championship (JWWC).
"This summer was such an amazing experience," Ford said. "To be a part of Team USA is always an honor, but to bring home the Gold was special. Coach Flowers and Coach Walton are fantastic people and coaches and I was honored to share my time with them and the 20 athletes representing Team USA."
As a former pitcher herself, Ford guided Kelly Barnhill as she went the distance in the circle for Team USA, tossing 99 pitches and striking out 11 while allowing only one earned run.
The Eagles are currently tied with Japan for the most first place finishes (5) all-time as the team finished the year with an overall mark of 14-4 in international competition at the World Cup of Softball X and the WBSC Junior Women's World Championship.
In order to claim the Gold, Team USA saw defeats over Chinese Taipei (10-0), Italy (20-0), Australia (6-1), Brazil (16-0), Puerto Rico (7-2), Mexico (16-0), Czech Republic (7-0), Canada (15-0) and Japan twice (14-2, 8-1) in the span of seven days at the 11th annual WBSC Jr. Women's Softball World Championship.
In other national news, softball is among five proposed sports to be added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as announced by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) on Monday. Visit the NFCA to read more.
"Today's news is exciting for the sport of softball and the future Olympians that will wear a USA jersey," Ford added. "I hope that the final decision of whether or not to include both baseball and softball will please anyone who loves the sport."
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 The Deuce. For ticket information contact the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-3647 or log on to www.gobulldogs.com.
