Merchant, Ritter Lead USA Elite to Title
7/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MADRID, Spain -- USA Softball's Elite team earned its first championship of 2005 claiming the Intercontinental Cup title as four different Wolverines played vital roles for the Red, White and Blue. Two Wolverines, in particular, made lasting impressions for Team USA Jessica Merchant earned tournament MVP recognition and Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) was named the tourney's Top Pitcher.
Merchant hit .500 for the tournament with a home run and eight RBI from the shortstop position, including a 2-4 effort with a double in the 6-0 championship game-victory over Italy on July 28. She tied for the team lead with 12 hits in 24 at-bats.
Ritter earned the title-game win with five innings of shutout softball that included seven strikeouts and just two hits allowed. She finished the tournament with a 2-0 mark and did not allow a run in 11.0 innings of work, striking out 16 while walking just two.
After dropping its final game of pool play 4-0 to Chinese Tapei, Team USA returned the favor in a rematch, shutting out its chief competition 4-0 in the first round of playoff action. Michigan players played a role in all four runs scored with Merchant doubling in a run and scoring one herself. Merchant finished with six doubles, twice as many as any other USA member. Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) drove in the other two runs with a single in the fifth inning. Hitting cleanup, Findlay finished the week hitting .300 with a home run and six RBI.
Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) also represented the Maize and Blue quite well, hitting .500 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
The Elite Team was coached in the Intercontinental Cup by Texas Tech head coach Teresa Wilson while Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins assists the National Team at the Japan Cup (July 29-31).
Contact: Rich Marion (734-763-4423)
Merchant hit .500 for the tournament with a home run and eight RBI from the shortstop position, including a 2-4 effort with a double in the 6-0 championship game-victory over Italy on July 28. She tied for the team lead with 12 hits in 24 at-bats.
Ritter earned the title-game win with five innings of shutout softball that included seven strikeouts and just two hits allowed. She finished the tournament with a 2-0 mark and did not allow a run in 11.0 innings of work, striking out 16 while walking just two.
After dropping its final game of pool play 4-0 to Chinese Tapei, Team USA returned the favor in a rematch, shutting out its chief competition 4-0 in the first round of playoff action. Michigan players played a role in all four runs scored with Merchant doubling in a run and scoring one herself. Merchant finished with six doubles, twice as many as any other USA member. Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) drove in the other two runs with a single in the fifth inning. Hitting cleanup, Findlay finished the week hitting .300 with a home run and six RBI.
Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) also represented the Maize and Blue quite well, hitting .500 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
The Elite Team was coached in the Intercontinental Cup by Texas Tech head coach Teresa Wilson while Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins assists the National Team at the Japan Cup (July 29-31).
Contact: Rich Marion (734-763-4423)
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