LAKELAND, Fla. — Members of the 2020-21 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) landed in Lakeland, Fla. for training camp, reuniting for the first time since March when the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB), was canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will take part in a series of workouts, practice sessions, and simulated game situations at Barnett Athletic Complex, home of the Florida Southern College softball program from Jan. 4-16, 2021. Training will be closed to the public to limit any potential exposure to the athletes and staff during their time together.
“I want to thank Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing and Florida Southern College for helping us get some training in these next couple weeks,” said WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen. “The training is a big part of our preparation and for groups such as Polk County and Florida Southern to get behind this team and support us is a huge commitment.”
The 18-player team will be without Rachel Garcia, Dejah Mulipola and Bubba Nickles, as well as assistant coaches Laura Berg, Howard Dobson, Tairia Flowers and Heather Tarr who all remain with their respective collegiate teams. Joining Head Coach Ken Eriksen to assist with training will be Roman and Penny Foore, Kyla Holas, and two-time Olympian Kelly Kretschman.
-- Courtesy of USA Softball