Viefhaus Helps USA Capture Gold at Junior Pan Am
11/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MANAUBO, Puerto Rico -- Freshman Maggie Viefhaus (Pacific, Mo./Eureka HS), a member of the University of Michigan softball team, contributed to a gold-medal performance by the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team at the 2006 Junior Women's Pan American Championships. The USA team defeated hometown Puerto Rico 7-0 in the championship game on Saturday evening (Nov. 18).
The USA registered a perfect 10-0 record over the week-long competition, outscoring its opposition 113-2 with nine shutouts. With the performance, the U.S. squad clinched the top spot from the Pan American Region for the 2007 ISF Junior Womens World Championship, scheduled for June 20-30, 2007, in Kutno, Poland.
The Red, White and Blue cruised through the early sessions of the tournament with a flawless 8-0 mark during pool play and advanced to the medal rounds with the top seed. Squaring off against Venezuela in the semifinals, the USA rallied from an early deficit to score nine unanswered runs, including four each in the second and third innings, to claim a 9-2 decision. Viehaus tallied two hits and an RBI triple in the second frame.
The final proved a one-sided affair as the U.S. squad scored at least one run in each of five innings to claim its second consecutive Pan Am championship. The USA defeated Canada 2-0 in the inaugural championship game four years ago in Mexico.
Viefhaus was a major player in the team's success and earned all-tournament team honors after pacing the USA's offensive efforts with a .750 batting average, 12 hits, 10 runs scored and 11 RBI. The Wolverine freshman appeared in eight games as a utility player and tallied at least one hit in each contest.
Viefhaus will be the second Wolverine representative to compete at the Junior World Championships, joining former Michigan standout Jenny Allard, who captured a gold medal at the 1987 event.
For more information, including complete results and Viefhaus' player journal, visit the USA Softball Site.
Contact: Leah Howard (734)763-4423
