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UNCG softball team to take on USA National Team in “Bound 4 Beijing" Tour
GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro has been selected as a site for the USA National Softball team’s “Bound 4 Beijing” Tour.
The Spartans will face Team USA on April 10 at UNCG Softball Stadium. It is part of a 40-city tour that gets underway February 9 when Team USA faces two-time defending national champion Arizona in Tucson, AZ. The tour consists of games against various college teams and ASA regional All-Star teams.
“It is a great honor to have the National Team come play at our facility,” said UNCG Director of Athletics Nelson Bobb. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our softball program and for the community. We look forward to having Team USA come to Greensboro and serving as their host.”
UNCG has served as a host for national and international teams in the past, most recently serving as a training facility for several Olympic programs prior to the Atlanta games in 1996. In addition, the USA Women’s Soccer program began its post-Olympic gold medal tour at UNCG after the Atlanta games.
Head softball coach Jennifer Herzig, who is entering her third year at the helm of the Spartan softball program, is excited for the opportunity to play Team USA.
"Words cannot express my excitement surrounding the exhibition game versus the USA National Team,” Herzig said. “This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our student-athletes and coaches; a chance for the Spartans to compete against some of the best players in the world.
"I am thrilled that the North Carolina Amateur Softball Association has chosen UNCG to be the host site for the US National Team's stop in North Carolina. We have a beautiful facility, amazing support from our administration, and to host an event of this caliber truly is an honor."
The Greensboro Sports Commission along with the North Carolina Amateur Softball Association, has also played an important role in the National Team’s appearance in Greensboro.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to welcome the USA Olympic Softball Team to Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad and show off UNC Greensboro's state of the art softball facility,” said Marc Bush, executive director of the Greensboro Sports Commission. “This event has the potential to attract a great number of spectators and gain national television exposure. We would like to thank Tony Laws from the North Carolina ASA and UNC Greensboro for their collaborative efforts in putting together this great event.”
"North Carolina ASA is extremely happy to be partnering with UNC Greensboro to bring the USA Olympic softball team to our area,” Laws said. “Having the Olympic team play UNCG at their wonderful new stadium will be a great show for all of our North Carolina fans and the young girls that play softball in our state. We are very grateful to UNCG for hosting this game and we thank them for helping us arrange for the Olympic team to play in the middle of our state."
Game time and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
AGATE
2008 USA National Team Bound 4 Beijing Schedule
Dates
Location
Opponent
Jan. 29-Feb.
11
Australia
Various International Opponents
Feb.
19
Tucson,
Ariz.
University of Arizona
Feb.
21-23
Palm Springs,
Calif.
Various D1 Opponents
Feb. 29- March
2
Altamonte Springs,
Fla.
Various D1 Opponents
March
4
Miami,
Fla.
D1 Opponents
March
6-8
Clearwater,
Fla.
Various D1 Opponents
March
19-21
Fullerton,
Calif.
Various D1 Opponents
March
24
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
Oklahoma State
March
25
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
Oklahoma
March
26
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
Northwestern
April
6
Las Cruces,
NM
ASA Regional All-Stars
April
10
Greensboro,
NC
UNC Greensboro
April
12
Knoxville,
Tenn.
University of Tennessee
April
15
Birmingham,
Ala.
University of Alabama
April
17
Ridgeland,
Miss.
Mississippi State
April
19
Sulfur,
La.
ULL
May
3
Plant City,
Fla.
ASA Regional All-Stars
May
6
Ann Arbor,
Mich.
University of Michigan
May
10
Bowie City,
MD
Washington Glory - NPF
May
16
Visalia,
Calif.
ASA Regional All-Stars
May
18
Santa Rosa,
Calif.
ASA Regional All-Stars
May
19
Sacramento,
Calif.
ASA Regional All-Stars
May
22
Stockton,
Calif.
ASA Regional All-Stars
May
25
Prescott,
Ariz.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
5
Fort Worth,
Texas
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
6
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
NPF All-Stars
June
7
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
NPF All-Stars
June
8
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
Olympic Opponent
June
10
Topeka,
Kan.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
12
St. Louis,
Mo.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
14
Normal,
Ill.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
17
Stevens Point,
Wis.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
19
South Bend,
Ind.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
21
Midland,
Mich.
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
23
Ashland,
Ohio
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
25
Killeen,
Texas
ASA Regional All-Stars
June
27
Midland,
Texas
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
8
Portland,
Ore.
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
10
Spokane,
Wash.
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
15
Rapid City,
SD
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
18
Springfield,
Mo.
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
20
Stratford,
Conn.
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
22
Xenia,
Ohio
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
24
Salem,
Va.
ASA Regional All-Stars
July
26
Irvine,
Calif.
ASA Regional All-Stars
NOTE: All dates, times and opponents are subject to change.
- UNCG -
