Gators Strike Gold as Team U.S.A. is Crowned Junior World Champs
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Softball
The Gator softball fall gold medal tally rose from one to four over the weekend as Florida underclassmen, freshmen Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo.), Lauren Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz.) and sophomore Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif.), cruised through the IX International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women's World Championship (19-Under) in Cape Town, South Africa.
Just two months after Gator senior Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) earned a Gold Medal with the U.S. Women's National Team at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, Damico, Haeger and Coyle joined Moultrie with Gold-Medal status as the Junior Women's National Team struck gold at the Junior World Championship.
Team USA's Junior Women's National Team spent nearly a month in Cape Town, beginning the first week in December, working its way to a 10-1 overall record throughout the nine-day competition period, with the only hiccup coming against Japan in the semifinal that sent the Red, White and Blue to the Bronze Medal Game with hopes of winning to earn a spot in the Gold Medal Final for a rematch with the Japanese.
The Americans topped Chinese Taipei, in dominating fashion, 12-3, in the six-inning Bronze Medal Game to advance to the Junior World Championship finale and down Japan, 4-1, thanks to a Cheyanne Tarango grand slam, to earn USA's second-consecutive Junior World Championship title.
It was Haeger, representing not only Team USA, but the Gators, that tossed the Gold Medal Game in the circle. The UF freshman allowed only five hits and struck out eight batters, including the last two.
“I felt really honored that my team had faith in me,” Haeger said. “I was so excited. To get to pitch against Japan in any game is awesome, let alone the Gold Medal Game. I feel honored to have had the chance to pitch a game like this for my country.”
“I was really excited to just get in the Gold Medal Game and play,” she said. “I was hitting my spots and doing everything right today. I was throwing hard. Everything, every pitch worked out.”
Not only did Haeger impress in the circle, but the Arizona native was effective as the designated player at the plate. Coyle turned in a stellar offensive performance throughout the span of the tournament, hitting perfect in six of the 11 games, including a 3-for-3 performance in the quarterfinal match-up with Australia, while mostly playing shortstop. Team USA utilized Damico's speed on the base paths, while the incoming freshman utility player also made the most of her plate appearances and saw time in left field.
Team USA defeated Canada, China, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, Czech Republic and Puerto Rico in pool play before advancing past Australia in the quarterfinals. The Red, White and Blue then defeated Chinese Taipei in the Bronze Medal Game and Japan in the Gold Medal Game, with its only loss to Japan in the semifinals.
The tournament victory marked the second consecutive title for the Americans. Team USA has played in each of the six previous Championship Games held, defeating China for the inaugural title in 1987, losing to Japan in 1991, defeating Japan in 1995 and losing to Japan in 1999 and 2003 before reclaiming the top spot from Japan in 2007.
The members of the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team that claimed the IX International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women's World Championship hail from seven states and 11 universities. Team members are Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif./UCLA freshman), Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Oklahoma freshman), Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif./California freshman), Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif./Florida sophomore), Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo./Florida freshman), Escobedo, Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif./Arizona State freshman), Erin Gabriel (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary High School senior), Goodacre, Lauren Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz./Florida freshman), Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif./Washington freshman), Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif./Oklahoma sophomore), Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md./South Florida sophomore), Cheyanne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Tennessee freshman), Nyree White (Eugene, Ore./Stanford freshman), Hallie Wilson (North Tustin, Calif./Arizona freshman) and Chelsea Zgrabik (Nokomis, Fla./Florida Gulf Coast sophomore).
To see all box scores from Team USA's journey in Cape Town, visit the USA Softball website.
The 2012 Gator Softball season is just two months away! Keep up with the latest news on Florida Softball by following the Gators on Twitter @GatorZoneSBall and on Facebook.
