USA Softball: U-17 National Team Set for October Pan American Championship

The USA Softball U-17 Women’s National Team that will compete at the U-17 Women’s Pan American Softball Championship Oct 11-19 in Baranquilla, Colombia, was announced by USA Softball on Wednesday.

The 15-player team, which will be led by head coach Kyla Holas of Pasadena, TX, and assistant coaches Becky Snow of Albany, NY, and Ernie Yarbrough of Owasso, OK.

“I am thrilled to assist these talented athletes in representing USA in Colombia,” Holas said in a statement. “Competing internationally and representing your country is what every athlete and coach aspires to. I would like to thank USA Softball for this opportunity and look forward to October.”

“My goal is for them to learn each other’s strengths as quickly as possible and play the game as passionately as possible to best represent the name on the front. Go USA!”

Athletes selected to the team are part of the USA Softball athlete pool, having attended previous softball camps and clinics, interscholastic softball competitions and events, club or league softball events, submitted video and/or attended events coordinated by USA Softball.

To see the images of all the team members and coaches, click HERE

“Playing for Team USA has been a dream of mine for a long time,” infielder/outfielder Hallie Wacaser of Bentonville West High of Centerton, Arkansas, said. “Getting to play the game I love for my country is an indescribable feeling. I am overjoyed and so thankful to get this opportunity God has blessed me for sure.”

Claire Ginder, a senior infielder from Lithia, Florida, went to the open tryout in Clearwater last winter “mostly to see how I compared to some of the best players around the country,” she said. When she recently found out she was one of the talented 15 chosen to play for the U-17 team, she couldn’t wait to head to South American to compete.

“After being contacted about the team,” Ginder explains, “I was beyond excited and humbled to have such an amazing opportunity. To compete on the USA team is such a dream come true; I can’t wait to play with these incredible athletes and coaches in Colombia!”

Infielder Riley Blampied of Crisp County High of Cordele, GA, didn’t make the cut for the U-19 National Team, but she got selected to the U-17 National Team.

“Last December, I was invited to try out for the USA U-19 Junior National Team in Tampa,” Blampied said. “Unfortunately I did not make the cut but I don’t regret my decision on going at all. When I didn’t make the U-19 National Team cut, I was told I would be one of their options for future USA teams. So I believe that since I went to the tryouts last year that is how I was selected to play on the U-17 National Team.”

“I am very honored and blessed to represent my country on Team USA. It has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I am so thankful to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity to wear USA across my chest. I cannot wait to meet new people and play with some of the best players in the nation.”

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USA SOFTBALL U-17 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER

• Jessie Blaine, 2021, IF, Quantico High, VA (committed to Auburn)
• Riley Blampied, 2020, IF, Crisp County High of Cordele, GA (South Carolina)
• Dani Drogemuller, 2020, P, Lincoln-Way East High of Frankfort, IL (Pitt)
• Jocelyn Erickson, 2022, C/IF, O’Connor High of Phoenix, AZ (Oklahoma)
• Maddie Gallagher, 2020, IF, Paul D. Schreiber High of Port Washington, NY (South Carolina)
• Claire Ginder, 2020, IF, Newsome High of Lithia, FL (Furman)
• Casey Goguts, 2020, C, Dwyer High of Palm Beach Gardens, FL (Georgia)
• Madison Harris, 2020, P/1B, Brookville High of Forest, VA (Virginia)
• Avery Hodge, 2022, IF, Tompkins High of Katy, TX (Oklahoma)
• Rachael Jones, 2020, IF, Mount Anthony High of Bennington, VT (Johnson & Wales)
• Caitlynn Neal, 2020, P/UT, Bradhsaw Mountain High of Prescott Valley, AZ (Nebraska)
• Haidyn Sokoloski, 2022, UT, Marcus High of Flower Mound, TX (Oklahoma State)
• Tieley Vaughn, 2021, IF/OF, Wharton High of Tampa, FL (South Florida)
• Hallie Wacaser, 2020, IF/OF, Bentonville West High of Centerton, AR (Florida State)
• Kaci West, 2021, P/OF, Liberty High, TX (Baylor)

COACHING STAFF

• Kyla Holas of Pasadena, TX
• Becky Snow of Albany, NY
• Ernie Yarbrough of Owasso, OK