Nemitz, Viefhaus Contribute to USA Gold at Pan-Am Qualifier
8/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MARACAY, Venezuela -- University of Michigan seniors Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) and Maggie Viefhaus(Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) contributed to a gold-medal performance by the USA Softball Women's National Team at the 2009 Pan-American Qualifier. Team USA avenged its only lossof the tournament in the championship game on Sunday (Aug. 9), knocking off Canada, 3-1, at Los Delicas.
The Red, White and Blue registered a near-perfect 13-1 record over the nine-day competition, outscoring its opposition 146-4 with 12 shutouts. With the performance, the U.S. team qualified for both 2011 Pan American Games as well as the 2010 International Softball Federation (ISF) Women's World Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The USA squad cruised through the early sessions of the tournament with a flawless 9-0 mark during pool play and advanced to the medal roundsas the top seed. After falling to the Canadian team, 3-1, behind a pair of late solo home runs on Aug. 7, the Red, White and Blue needed to win three consecutive games to earn a spot in the championship finale, which they did, outscoring their opposition 24-0. Team USA beat Argentina, 15-0 in 5 innings, and Cuba, 7-0 in six innings on Aug. 8 to advance to the gold-medal contest.
Team USA took the early lead and surged late in the rematch against Canada, scoring on a third-inning RBI double for the game-winning run and added insurance after a Canadian error in the fourth. It was Michigan's Viefhaus who provided the USA team's first advantage, sailing a sacrifice fly to deep leftfield in the second frame.
Viefhaus, who appeared in 13 of 14 games, starting 11 at designated player and middle infield, registered a .296 batting average with eight hits, eight runs scored and six RBI. Nemitz appeared in five games and started three, posting a perfect 3-0 record with a team-best 0.00 ERA, 22 strikeouts and just two hits allowed over 14 innings pitched.
The pair is the second two-member U-M contingent to join the Pan American Qualifying Team, joining 1997 participants Traci Conrad (1996-99) and Melissa Gentile (1997-2000). Current Associate Head Coach Bonnie Tholl was a member of the 1994 squad.
For complete and detailed information, please visit the USA Softballsite.
Contact: Leah Howard (734)763-4423
