Softball Bearkats face the best
7/9/2008 1:00:00 AM | Softball
From The Huntsville Item
By Gene Schallenberg
On June 25, three Sam Houston State softball players got the opportunity to face the best softball players in the world.
SHSU pitcher Brandi Crnkovic, center fielder Hailey Wiginton and catcher Casie Everitt played for Team Texas in an exhibition game against Team USA as part of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour in Killeen.
Jenny Finch pitched for Team USA, no-hitting the Texans. But for the trio of Bearkats, it was a memorable occassion.
"It was truly a great experience," Wiginton said. "I was very fortunate to be invited. There aren't many words that I can say to describe it. I was honored to be one of the players selected."
Brittany Barnhill of the University of Texas Longhorns started the game in the circle for Team Texas. She gave up nine runs through one and a third innings.
Crnkovic saw action in relief. The SHSU senior-to-be was solid through two and two thirds innings, giving up three hits and one earned run.
"I was really focused on making my pitches work," Crnkovic said. "Casie called a great game for me behind the plate. I was nervous and kind of intimidated, but we just gave it our all. It was exciting and it really built my confidence."
As if facing the U.S. Olympic team wasn't exciting enough, Wiginton talked about what it was like to face Finch.
"It was a little nerve-wracking," the sophomore said. "Before I stepped in the batter's box, my only thought was that I was about to face the greatest pitcher in America ... the greatest softball pitcher in the world. But when I stepped in the face, it was just another at-bat. She's pretty good."
Team Texas included various college players from across the state including two from the University of Texas, four from May Hardin-Baylor, three from Texas-Tyler and one each from Baylor and McClennan College.
"This was a really good thing for the Bearkats," Wiginton said. "This will give us a lot of hype. We put up a good fight. Hopefully, we can bring that same kind of detemination back to Huntsville."
