Monica Abbott will get to return to her hometown of Salinas, California as one of the 36 tour stops on the Stand Beside Her tour, it was announced last week. Photo by USA Softball
The “Stand Beside Her” tour, first announced last August, finally begins tomorrow as the USA Softball Team that will play in this summer’s Tokyo Olympics begins its five-month travels across the nation playing exhibition games.
This past Thursday, members of the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) assembled in Lakeland, Fla. for a two-day training camp, their first of the 2020 season.
The team continues working out today prior to taking the field tomorrow for the first of 36 tour stops…
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TRAINING CAMP BEGINS; FIRST TOUR STOP IS TUESDAY
The team participated in a series of workouts, practice sessions, and simulated game situations ahead of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB), which kicks off on Feb. 4 with Team USA’s first exhibition game against the University of South Florida (USF).
Head Coach Ken Eriksen
“What a day one of the journey,” said 2020 WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen after the first day of training camp.
“To have the enthusiasm, the energy and wherewithal we had on day one, when you have a core group of veterans you just fall right back into it. It’s not like a first day of spring training with rookies. Now’s the time to polish things and our skill sets.”
On Saturday, Team USA held an open practice for the public at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida and today will continue its south Florida training in Tampa in advance of taking on USF on Tuesday.
The first leg of the Stand Beside Her Tour starts at USF Softball Stadium (12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa, Fla. 33617) where fans will have the opportunity to watch the Red, White and Blue compete in a 6:30 p.m. ET contest against the Bulls.
The game will be in a familiar arena for Eriksen, who is stepping away from his role as Head Coach at USF as he leads the Red, White and Blue in their training throughout the tour.
With proceeds for the game benefiting youth softball through the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, tickets can be purchased at the ticket office for $25.
ONE MORE STOP ADDED: SALINAS, CALIFORNIA
Salinas, Calif. became the latest tour stop announced and is a very special place for one key member of Team USA, Monica Abbott, who is a native of the Golden State city.
Monica Abbott
“In 2008, Team USA had the opportunity to play in Salinas and since that moment the entire city has been asking me, ‘When are you coming back to play here’,” said Abbott. “I’m so proud of the support the people and city of Salinas has shown me throughout my career and now to be able to share the 2020 Olympic journey with all of you all is going to be incredible! Thank you to everyone involved in bringing USA Softball to the Salinas Valley!”
Playing in a 6 p.m. PT contest against San Jose State on May 19, the two teams will compete at the Salinas Sports Complex (1160 N. Main St Salinas, Calif., 93906). Tickets for the contest will go on sale February 24 at http://www.salinasstorm.org.
“Having coached the Men’s National Team for 10 years and being affiliated with USA Softball in the past, this is a huge honor for the San Jose State softball players, and we feel very privileged to have this opportunity to play alongside the best in softball,” said San Jose State Head Coach, Pete Turner. “This game is an excellent opportunity for the community to see the Olympic team in action.”
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The “Stand Beside Her” tour is a series of competitions and The “Stand Beside Her” message encourages fans everywhere to stand united in their support of the WNT and the United States in their journey to the Olympic Games.
The tour will kick off in February with the USA squad competing in a pair of prestigious college tournaments and run through the summer right up to the start of the Tokyo games.
The 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) has announced over the last few months several additional stops on its Stand Beside Her Tour featuring a series of competitions and training opportunities for the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) as it prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Olympic competition will start July 22, 2020 with the Gold Medal Game being played on July 28.
As created and first announced in August by USA Softball, the Stand Beside Her tour “evokes a powerful message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.”
Currently there are 36 stops on the tour hitting 18 states and extending from February 4 to June 25 prior to this summer’s Olympic Games.
Stand Beside Her Tour Stops (as of Feb. 3, 2020)
Click on the links to get info on how to purchase tickets and where the games will be played…
The tour will kick off in February with the USA squad competing in a pair of prestigious college tournaments and run through the summer right up to the start of the Tokyo games.
