April 1, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - USA Softball announced Monday that 20 additional players, including Arizona State's Missy Hixon and Nichole Thompson have been selected to participate in its team camp, May 30-June 3, at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.
Hixon and Thompson, along with 18 other players will join the 22 athletes selected in January to compete for spots on teams that will represent the U.S. in international competition this summer.
Hixon and Thompson are past members of the 2001 USA Softball National Team that won the Pan Am qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela. Thompson, a senior first baseman and outfielder, started and played in all eight games, leading the team in sac bunts (3), fourth in hits (9) and sixth in batting average (.391). Hixon, a senior second baseman, played in seven games with five starts and batted .286 with two runs and two sacrifice hits. She also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, making six assists.
Two teams will be selected following the team camp in May/June. One will represent the USA at the U.S. Cup in Honolulu, Hawaii (July 4-7), the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., Canada (July 16-21) and the ISF Women's World Championship in Saskatoon, Canada (July 25-August 4).
The second team selected will be called the USA Softball Elite Team, and it will help prepare the World Championship team for international events by competing in scrimmages and exhibition games prior to these events. The Elite Team will also compete in the Canada Cup.