Roth and USA Pan American Qualifier Team Continues Dominance
August 04, 2009 | Softball
Aug. 4, 2009
MARACAY, Venezuela - - University of Louisville catcher Melissa Roth had two RBI as the USA Pan American Qualifier Team continued its display of excellence with wins over El Salvador, 11-0 (5 innings), and the Dominican Republic, 15-0 (4 innings), at the Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela Tuesday.
In the game against El Salvador, Roth drove in two runs, on a groundout and a sacrifice hit. Against the Dominican, she was hit by a pitch twice.
The Red, White and Blue are two games away from medal rounds which begin Friday. Next up on the schedule is Belize tomorrow at 3 p.m. (ET).
Continue to check out http://www.usasoftball.com/ for complete coverage of the Pan American Qualifier.
Melissa Roth's Tuesday Blog
"I have to add something to this blog that I had forgotten to add into my blogs from previous days in the week. Two nights ago we went to dinner at the place that is provided for us. But it wasn't just dinner, it was dinner and a show which included Salsa/Venezuelan music and dancers. Thanks to Coach Pat Murphy, from Alabama, I managed to find myself out on the dance floor dancing and a few of my teammates followed. That was an amazing night trying to dance and not really succeeding =) but thanks to him I had a blast and it was a once in a lifetime experience.
Also we have had a few blackouts at our hotel, and those have true been entertaining with people in the shower when the lights go out and me and my roommates just laughing about it. This has continued so let's see if it brings us some more entertainment tonight.
Today got started with some batting practice on the field and it is totally awesome that within minutes of us being on a practice field about 50 people come watch us warm up. Also it was awesome, because a little league baseball team came and helped us shag balls on the field. It reminded me of the kids that shag balls at the baseball homerun derby. There was just so much fun out there for batting practice.
When game time came around, it was a battle for us on the field. We had to make quick adjustments on the field after one time through the lineup. This is the end of our doubleheaders and now we are just relaxing for the night and waiting for tomorrow's games.
Dinner is still to come and that is always a source of entertainment for our team, just enjoying the moments we get to spend with each other off the field."
About Melissa Roth
As a junior, Roth led the Cardinals in virtually every offensive category this season including team-high numbers in batting average (.444), home runs (16), RBI (53), runs scored (64), slugging percentage (.870) and on-base percentage (.566). The 2009 BIG EAST Player of the Year, and NFCA All-America selection. The All-Great Lakes Region team member and was also a four-time league Player of the Week this season. Roth recently became the first Louisville player to be invited to the USA Softball National Team Selection Camp and member of the USA Softball National Team Program.
About the Pan American Qualifier
The Pan American qualifier consists of 22 teams and will qualify the USA for the ISF Women's Fast Pitch World Championships next year in Oklahoma City as well as the Pan American Games in 2011 held in Guadalajara, Mexico. The team opens competition against the British Virgin Islands on July 31, competing in ten pool play games before play offs begin on Aug. 7. The championship game is set for Aug.9.
