Roth Invited to USA Softball National Team Selection Camp
May 12, 2009 | Softball
May 12, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - University of Louisville catcher Melissa Roth has been selected to participate in the 2009 USA Softball National Team Selection Camp. The junior from Long Beach, Calif., becomes the first Louisville player to receive the invitation in the 10 year history of the program.
"I'm so excited to have this opportunity," said Roth. "It blows my mind that it's even possible. I didn't believe it at first - I had to make sure it was real. I'm a little nervous, but this is a great opportunity to be able to compete with, and learn from some of the best players in the nation."
The selection camp will take place June 8-12 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The 2009 National Team will be selected from participants at this camp. Over the summer, USA Softball will compete in the Canada Cup (July 3-12 - Surrey, B.C., Canada), World Cup IV (July 13-20 - Oklahoma City, Okla.), Japan Cup (July 28-Aug. 3 - Sendai City, Japan) and the Pan Am Games Qualifier (July 29-August 10 - Maracay, Venezuela).
Roth, the 2009 BIG EAST Player of the Year, leads the Cardinals with a .431 batting average, 16 home runs and 51 RBI. She was a four-time BIG EAST Player of the Week this season and is a two-time all-conference selection. Roth holds the school record for single season runs scored and is second in RBI and home runs.
"This is a great honor for Melissa," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "She is definitely deserving of the opportunity. Melissa has had a great year and this is a tribute to all her hard work she has done for this season."
U of L (47-9) is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and 19 in the USA Today/NFCA top 25 poll. The Cards will be making their sixth consecutive NCAA regional appearance this weekend when they play host to Purdue, UT Martin and No. 7/6 Arizona this weekend as they host an NCAA regional for the first time in program history. Louisville will face Purdue Friday at 6 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
