USA Exhibition Highlights 2008 Home Schedule
11/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team announced its schedule for the 2008 season Wednesday (Nov. 14). The slate consists of 10 regular-season home dates, including a exhibition contest against the USA Softball team in May. The Wolverines will unveil their new facility this spring with the completion of the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex.
"The new facility is beautiful," said head coach Carol Hutchins. "It's just perfect for Alumni Field. Watching it go up daily, especially right now as things are moving so quickly, is exciting every time we walk back there. It will be very fan-friendly; there will be better sightlines than ever before. It's absolutely a field of games. Bringing in teams like Florida State and the Olympic team will be a great way to really utilize that facility and kick off our new season-ticket sales. We are going to continue to bring games of that magnitude to our campus."
The Wolverines will kick off the home portion of their 2008 schedule against Bowling Green (April 2) and will host Big Ten Conference meetings against Iowa (April 4-5), Illinois (April 6), Michigan State (April 25), Northwestern (April 27). The regular-season home slate will end with a mid-week, non-conference doubleheader against Florida State (April 30) and the USA Softball exhibition game (May 6).
Ann Arbor will be the final collegiate stop for the 2008 Women's National Team during its "Bound for Bejing" tour, which is slated to feature 42 total stops across the country and more than 60 games. Team USA, which claimed three straight Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000 and 2004, is preparing to defend its crown at the 2008 Summer Games in Bejing, China, this coming August.
"It's an exciting opportunity for our players to get a first-hand view at the elite," said Hutchins. "I've been involved, know those kids and have seen their work ethic and tremendous commitment at the highest level. That's what you're talking about with these Olympians, and you all learn from that. I'm really excited to have these Olympians in Ann Arbor. We're definitely going to show them a top-notch facility and top-notch campus environment, and I think they're excited about it as well."
In addition to its new facility, the U-M softball team will debut season-ticket packages for the 2008 season. Reserved chairback seats, located behind homeplate and along the firstbase line, are $45 per person. General admission tickets for adults are $30, while senior and youth general seats are $20 per person. A season ticket will be required for admission to the USA Softball exhibition. Season tickets will go on sale in December. For more information, please contact the U-M Ticket Office at 1-866-296-MTIX.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
