USA Softball: Exciting Week for “Stand Beside Her Tour” with MLB Sponsorship, More Tour Stops Announced
By
@BruntjensElla
January 25, 2020
Monica Abbott will get to return to her alma mater as USA Softball announced a tour stop at the Univ. of Tennessee for April 8.
With the start of the Stand Beside Her Tour less than two weeks away, the big news keeps coming for Team USA as another pair of tour stops were announced along with a big-league sponsorship.
And when we say “Big League,” well, you know what we mean!
Here are the details from the last week has the softball world buzzing…
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB) ANNOUNCED AS PRESENTING SPONSOR
USA Softball announced on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 that Major League Baseball (MLB) has stepped up to the plate as the presenting sponsor of the “Stand Beside Her” tour.
As the presenting sponsor of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, MLB proudly stands alongside members of the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) as they embark on a nation-wide tour that will hit over 35 cities as the team prepares for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with training and exhibition contests.
Craig Cress
“USA Softball is extremely grateful for the support of Major League Baseball (MLB),” said USA Softball Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Craig Cress. “We’ve had a strong relationship with MLB since 2015 when we joined the ‘PLAY BALL’ initiative, and their commitment shown not only to our Women’s National Team athletes but for grassroots development, is simply unmatched. The partnership and support of MLB provides members of the 2020 Women’s National Team with access to support staff and resources they need to stand atop the podium and bring the Gold back to the United States.”
As the presenting sponsor of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, MLB will work in conjunction with USA Softball in select cities to host “PLAY BALL” events, MLB’s signature youth engagement activity of which USA Softball is a flagship partner.
As part of the partnership, the iconic MLB silhouetted batter will be featured on Team USA’s uniform tops and on various signage promoting the appearances. The Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., which is operated by MLB, will also be named as the Official Training Facility of the USA Softball National Teams.
“Major League Baseball is proud to support the Women’s National Softball team and these world-class athletes on their journey to becoming Olympians,” said Tony Reagins, Executive Vice President of Baseball Development, Major League Baseball. “The players on Team USA share our commitment to growing softball, and we look forward to joining them as they inspire young women to play the sport. Representing your country on any international platform is an honor, but doing so on the Olympic stage is the pinnacle. We are thrilled to be along for their incredible ride.”
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
The third tour stop addition of the week was announced on Wednesday as USA Softball revealed that Knoxville, Tennessee will be another stop along the “Stand Beside Her” tour.
Featuring the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT), Team USA will face off against the Tennessee Lady Vols on April 8, 2020. Rocky Top fans will have the opportunity to welcome back Tennessee great, Monica Abbott, who graduated in 2007 as a four-time All-American and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year recipient.
Monica Abbott
“I’m so excited to be back on Rocky Top with Team USA,” said Abbott. “The University of Tennessee is rich with Team USA ties and has many connections to the USA Softball program! I can’t wait to be back representing Vol Nation and USA!”
The U.S. will square off against the Lady Vols in a 7 p.m. ET solo contest at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (2323 Stephenson Dr., Knoxville, Tenn., 37916). Ticket information can be found at AllVols.com. Chairback seating will be $20, bleacher seating $15 and outfield bleachers will be $10.
Karen Weekly
“Ralph and I are extremely excited for the opportunity to host Team USA at Sherri Parker Lee stadium on the ‘Stand Beside Her’ tour,” said Tennessee Co-Head Coach, Karen Weekly. “It is even more special because our very own Monica Abbott is coming home to Rocky Top and representing our country in the 2020 Olympic Games. We couldn’t be prouder of her and everything she has accomplished in her career. We are grateful to the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission and the University of Tennessee for working together to make this possible.”
PETE CLEARWATER INVITATIONAL TRIO OF GAMES
The first exhibition games announced for the Stand Beside Her Tour back last fall involved two top preseason college tournaments—the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic and the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic—so it’s fitting that one of the last announcements before the tour begins had to do with another elite tourney, the St. Pete Clearwater Invitational.
Team USA will be taking the field against three prominent NCAA Division I softball programs– Liberty, Oklahoma State and Washington—with these competitions play a pivotal role in the training for the Red, White and Blue as they look to capture the Gold Medal in Tokyo where the sport of softball returns to the Olympic program for the first time since 2008.
Ken Eriksen
“It’s pretty good when you can add three quality college programs to your preparation schedule,” said 2020 WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen. “It will be very exciting to see two-time Olympian and Liberty Head Coach, Dot Richardson, on the field with this current team also.”
Bringing together some of the nation’s top NCAA Division I softball programs, the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational, presented by Wilson, will be held February 13-16 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex (3050 Drew Street) in Clearwater, Fla.
Team USA will play just prior to the start of the event in a February 12 contest against Liberty, coached by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Dot Richardson, at 6 p.m. ET. The U.S. will return to the field on February 16 for back-to-back exhibition games with a 10 a.m. ET contest against Oklahoma State and closing with a 12:30 p.m. ET game against Washington, who is led by 2020 WNT Assistant Coach Heather Tarr. Both Feb. 16 contests will be available to stream on ESPN3 via the ESPN App.
Dot Richardson
“One of the highlights of my softball career was representing our country at the highest level of international competition; the Pan American Games, World Championship Games and the Olympic Games,” said Richardson. “It will also be a blessing for Liberty Softball to compete against the 2020 USA Olympic Team so we can experience playing against and learning from the best in the world. We look forward to the opportunity to express the gifts God has given each of us in the sport and for the fans to enjoy every minute. Go Flames – Go USA!”
Kenny Gajewski
“It’s an opportunity that every team in America would want to have,” said Oklahoma State Head Coach, Kenny Gajewski on playing Team USA. “We are honored to have this chance. It’s exciting for us. To play for Team USA, that’s been the dream for every young girl across the country. To have the opportunity to play against the best players in the world will be something we will remember for a long time. We are excited to see how we match up against them in a fun atmosphere. It’s going to be a fun day.”
“It’s an exciting opportunity for us to play against Team USA so early in our season,” said Tarr. “This isn’t an opportunity that comes along often. This will give our players a chance to see what it takes to play softball at the highest possible level.”
Tickets for Team USA’s contests during the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational will be sold the day of the event at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. Tickets for the February 12 contest against Liberty are $5 while the February 16 doubleheader will be $25 for adults and $20 for youth as part of the tournament daily pass.
UNIV. OF WASHINGTON
On Monday, USA Softball announced that the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) will head to the Pacific Northwest as the “Stand Beside Her” tour heads to Seattle, Wash.
Team USA will face off against the Washington Huskies on March 12 for an exhibition matchup, which will include the return of two-time All-American Ali Aguilar, who graduated from Washington in 2017. The Seattle tour stop will mark a faceoff against 2020 WNT Assistant Coach Heather Tarr, who serves as Head Coach for Washington.
Ali Aguilar
“Dawg fans, I’m so excited that I will be coming back to play in front of all of you,” said Aguilar. “I feel so lucky that I have the opportunity to step on the dirt at UW again. I can’t wait until I get to see you all. UW has a special place in my heart because of fans like you. Go Dawgs!”
The U.S. will square off against the Huskies in a 6 p.m. PT solo contest at Husky Softball Stadium (3800 Montlake Blvd. NE, Seattle, Wash., 98195). Information on tickets can be found at GoHuskies.com.
Heather Tarr
“We are excited to compete against the U.S. Olympic team this season,” said Tarr. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we wanted to seize for our student-athletes. We will face the best softball in the world in the two contests. We are especially grateful for the game at the University of Washington. It will give our fans the chance to see former Husky Ali Aguilar and a chance to watch the United States Olympic team on its way to compete for the gold medal in Tokyo. These games will assist UW in achieving our goals. In addition, we hope we can help USA Softball achieve its goals on the ‘Stand Beside Her’ Tour.”
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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 32 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 Jan. 26, 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.