The following information was sent out Friday in a release by USA Softball…
TOKYO, Japan (October 4, 2024) —The USA Softball of Southern California (SoCal) U-18 Women’s All-Star Team has arrived in Tokyo, Japan ahead of the 2024 LA x Tokyo Exchange Event slated for October 5-6.
The SoCal squad is set to take on Metro Tokyo Softball in a three-game series – marking the first of two rounds of play for the two teams, with the second round scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2025.
In celebration for softball’s return to the LA28 Olympic Games, the LA x Tokyo Exchange Event should prove to be fiercely competitive and will give the young athletes the opportunity to compete on an international level while strengthening the connection between the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the LA28 Games.
NOTE: due to live streaming restrictions in Japan, USA Softball will be unable to provide live streaming for this event. To receive updates via live stats, please follow the SoCal U-18Women’s All-Star Team on GameChanger.
Through the 2024 Region 10 High Performance Program (HPP) Identifier in Irvine, Calif. — along with other regional HPP identifiers — USA Softball of SoCal has built an elite team of U-18 female athletes from Southern California.
One athlete — Camrynn Gordon — was named a top performer at the 2023 National Selection Event.
Here’s a post from her X (Twitter) account showing the arrival of the team in Japan:
Touched down in Japan . @USASoftball @usasoftballsoca @lauraberg44 @CoachLisle @ohanatigers pic.twitter.com/ff6LLZEeeV
Evaluated at a local HPP identifier, the select roster marks the first of its kind to advance to an international contest at the Grassroots level.
The HPP was established in 2020 with the goal of identifying an elite pool of athletes to train, compete, and represent USA Softball in domestic and international competitions.
Leading the SoCal Women’s U-18All-Star Team at the LA x Tokyo Exchange is AJ Robinson, who currently serves as the head coach of the Cal State-San Marcos softball program.
Joining Robinson in Tokyo are two members of the 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medal squad: Ali Aguilar and Rachel Garcia — giving the SoCal All-Star team a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from and play for elite members of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
The LA x Tokyo Exchange Event will bring the No. 1 and No. 2 world-ranked softball programs together following the exciting competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and marking the return of softball to the LA28 Olympics.
Line Drive Softball will have more news on this team and program soon… to learn more about the HPP or to get involved, visit USASoftball.com.
*****
Name | Hometown | Pos |
Alexsa Barrera | Long Beach, CA | IF/P |
Lily Barstad | Carlsbad, CA | C |
Dailynn Battee | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | UT |
Charlotte Giler | Aliso Viejo, CA | P |
Isabella Gonzalez | Cerritos, CA | P |
Camrynn Gordon | Menifee, CA | IF |
Alyssa Hernandez | Fullerton, CA | UT |
Lauren Karle | Laguna Niguel, CA | IF |
Soleil Luna | Brea, CA | IF |
Cate Medvitz | Villa Park, CA | C |
Laila Nunez | La Puente, CA | UT |
Aliandra Plimpton | Hacienda Heights, CA | OF |
Janelle Rillo-Figueroa | Camarillo, CA | P |
Ayane Rokugawa | Harbor City, CA | UT |
Sacha Zalamea | Long Beach, CA | IF |
*****
Name | Position | Hometown | Affiliation |
Head Coach | Escondido, CA | Cal State-San Marcos (Head Coach) | |
Assistant Coach | Orangevale, CA | USA Softball WNT | |
Assistant Coach | Palmdale, CA | USA Softball WNT |
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