Buckeye Softball Player Earns Roster Spot on Women’s Elite Team – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 20, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Anna Smith (Walnut, Calif./Diamond Bar), a four-year starter for the Ohio State softball team, has been named to the 17-player United States Women’s Elite Team roster, USA Softball recently announced. The team, comprised of collegiate student-athletes, was assembled following a tryout camp at Chula Vista, Calif., May 30-June 2. Smith made the team when a roster spot became available. The Elite Team will help the National Team prepare for their upcoming international competitions by competing in scrimmages and exhibitions prior to the start of the National Team’s events. The team also will compete in the Canada Cup July 12-21 in Surrey, British Columbia.
“I was shocked and very excited when I got the call, Smith said. “It is great honor to be able to play with some of the best players in the nation and represent the United States in tournament action. I am one of four outfielders on the roster and one of the few left-handed hitters. I might not be a starter on this team but I know I will be ready to contribute when called upon.
Smith led the Buckeyes to a 55-14 record in 2002 by batting .512 with 106 hits collected, both single-season OSU records. She also established marks in season and career runs scored, career hits and season stolen bases while helping the Buckeyes to second place in the Big Ten and a spot in the NCAA tournament, OSU’s first since 1990. For her efforts, Smith garnered First Team All-America (the first in the history of the program), First Team All-Great Lakes Region, First Team All-Big Ten, OSU Most Valuable Player and OSU Most Valuable Offensive Player. In her four years in the outfield, Smith started in 212 of the 224 games she played, including all 69 of the Buckeyes’games the 2002 campaign.
2002 Women’s Elite Team roster No. Player College/University Hometown 30 Alana Addison Louisiana-Lafayette Gonzales, La. 22 Sarah Beeson Stanford Tucson, Ariz. 6 Crystl Bustos Palm Beach C.C. Canyon Country, Calif. 10 Selena Collins Texas A&M Glendale, Ariz. 18 Courtney Dale UCLA Fresno, Calif. 3 Lindsay Gardner Texas Katy, Texas 35 Teri Goldberg Colorado State Ft. Collins, Colo. 5 Missy Hixon Arizona State Scottsdale, Ariz. 12 Kelly Kretschman Alabama Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. 13 Gina Oaks Cal State Fullerton Alta Loma, Calif. 8 Catherine Osterman Texas Houston, Texas 1 Trena Peel LSU Aurora, Colo. 37 Anna Smith OHIO STATE Walnut, Calif. 17 Britni Sneed LSU Houston, Texas 9 Jamie Southern Fresno State Clovis, Calif. 52 Mackenzie Vandergeest Arizona Thousand Oaks, Calif. 26 Kellie Wilkerson Mississippi State Jacksonville, Fla.
Coach Position College/University Jay Miller Head Coach Missouri Michelle Gromacki Assistant Cal State Fullerton Kirk Walker Assistant Oregon State
