The all-star team that included University of Evansville softball great Brittany Herald may have lost big to the U.S. Olympic Team, but it was still a great experience according to the Missouri Valley Conference's leading hitter in 2008.
Herald joined 23 other former collegiate standouts from the Midwest against the USA Softball Women’s National team as part of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour, Friday, July 18, at Meador Park in Springfield, Mo. The three-time defending Olympic champions shut out the Midwest All-Stars 15-0 in front of a standing-room-only crowd of more than 3,000. Herald started for the All-Stars as the designated hitter and struck out in her only plate appearance, against pitcher Cat Osterman. Herald also played first base.
"I've never played in front of that many people," Herald said. "I wasn't nervous; it was a neat thing to play against the best players in the country in that atmosphere. Everybody on the Olympic team is good at what they do, and that's why they have a chance to be successful again this year."
Herald concluded the 2008 regular season as the Missouri Valley Conference batting champion, hitting .400 with nine home runs. Among her many awards during the season, Herald was named NFCA First Team Mideast All-Region, MVC All-Tournament, MVC All-Conference, and a 2008 MVC Scholar-Athlete. In addition, Herald recently joined the Evansville coaching staff as the Aces’ pitching coach.
Evansville softball head coach Gwen Lewis joined the coaching staffs of Missouri State, Drake, Drury, Evangel, Southern Illinois and Wichita State to provide assistance during Friday's game.
The Midwest’s roster included 14 players who earned All-MVC honors during their careers. Joining Herald and representing the MVC were Michelle Armentrout, Shannon Buslepp, Samantha Fleeman, Katie Martin and Melissa Porche (Missouri State), Kristin Birocci (Drake), Ashley Bright (Wichita State), Jaci Faidley (Drake), Cynthia Verhulst (Wichita State) and MVC Player of the Year Lauren Haas (Southern Illinois).
Team USA began its 62-game pre-Olympic tour in February playing against some of the top NCAA Division I programs, regional all-star teams and international squads from across the country. Olympic record-holders Lisa Fernandez and Crystl Bustos, as well as superstars Monica Abbott, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Stacey Nuveman and Osterman lead the way for a squad that has hit .432 and scored 599 runs, while limiting its opponents to a .089 batting average and just 26 runs scored in 52 games.
Team USA will begin its quest for a fourth consecutive gold medal when it begins competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 12, at Fengtai Softball Field in Beijing, China.
