On Friday, it was announced that Kentucky Softball assistant coach and former standout with the Wildcats Molly Johnson has been selected to play with the 2011 United States National Team.
In 2009, Johnson’s junior season, she became Kentucky’s first All-American selection. During the season, she set UK seasonal records in runs scored (53), hits (81) and on-base percentage (.498). She also had career-highs in nine offensive categories and broke three single-season Kentucky records.
In her four-year tenure at Kentucky, Johnson was the all-time best in home runs (35) and batting average (.389) in school history. She did this while playing shortstop in over 100 games for the Wildcats.
After Johnson’s time as a player, she moved on to become an assistant coach for Kentucky in 2011. She serves as the first base coach and also helps with scouting, film and on-field coaching in the infield.
Johnson made the 18-person U.S. team for the third consecutive year. In 2010, she started all six games at the shortstop position. On defense, she racked up 14 putouts and nine assists. At the plate, she batted .200, had four hits, and complied 4 RBIs.
Here is how the summer will play out for the U.S. National team ([URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/061711aab.html”]source[/URL]):
[QUOTE]The 18-person roster, plus one alternate, will hit the road in less than a week for their first competition, a two-game exhibition series in Plant City, Fla., on Saturday, June 25. After the matchup in Florida, the team will travel to Salem, Va., for another exhibition series on June 29. The final tune-up before International play will be in Bowie, Md., on July 1. All exhibition games will be a doubleheader format against the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team.
From July 9-17, 12 of the 18 players will play in their first International tournament at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey, B.C., before returning home for the World Cup of Softball VI, July 21-25 in Oklahoma City.
The USA Softball Women’s National Team will seek its 9th Pan American Games title, Oct. 17-23, in Guadalajara, Mexico for the final competition of 2011. With six consecutive titles, USA Softball will again be a top contender during the XVI Pan American Games.
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