Hey everyone.
So far we are 5-0 in Venezuela! I pitched in our second game against Brazil, after Monica Abbott threw 3 innings as the starter. We won 7-0 in 5 innings. On day 3, we faced Ecuador, and Nikki Nemitz split time in the circle with Brandice Balschmiter as we won 21-0 in 3 innings.
Yesterday was our first doubleheader; we first faced Panama in the tournament's opening game of the day at 9 AM. I started and threw the allotted three innings as we won 22-0 in a game shortened by the run rule. Megan Langenfield and Kaitlin Cochran hit back to back home runs, and Ashley Holcombe also hit her first home run of the tournament. In game two we faced the Netherlands Antilles, with Monica Abbott and Nikki Nemitz splitting pitching time. Langenfield added another pair of home runs during that game, and Andrea Duran blasted a long home run over the wall in left field.
We've been enjoying our time in Venezuela, and have been lucky to have great staff supporting us for the tournament. We have a few translators with us at all times, and our guard Miguel has been great. They take care of anything we might need help with and make the transitions from the hotel to the field and back run smoothly. I know we can be a lot of work, but they have been great!!
We found a great deli near our hotel and were able to have a nice meal after our game yesterday, complete with gelato for dessert! I'm sure we will be making several trips back there before the week is over. We went to TGIFriday's for an American-style dinner last night and had another fun outing with the team. It's been interesting trying to keep the time difference, which is only 30 minutes from Eastern Time, straight. Since its so close, I keep forgetting whether I've set my clock to right time time or not!
Today is our second doubleheader, so were trying to get a little rest last night before another big day. We play El Salvador first at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Dominican at 3. We round out the week vs. Belize at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and Cuba at 4:30 PM on Thursday. Medal rounds will start on Friday and run through Sunday.
Wish us luck. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Pan Am Qualifier Gets Underway
Hello everyone. Sorry it's been a while since I've written. It's been a pretty busy summer. After the last blog I have been on the run with the Racers and then out to California for National Team Camp. Now I am in Venezuela, representing the United States in the Pan-Am Qualifier. It's always a great honor to represent your country, and I am excited to be here!
We arrived in Venezuela late Wednesday night, after a couple delays at the airport. Everyone met at the Miami airport to fly together to Caracas, but several flights were delayed or cancelled. Luckily they pushed the Caracas flight back as well, so everyone made it on time except for Katie Schroeder from UCLA. We were missing some luggage as well, but by Thursday afternoon both Katie and most of the luggage had made it to Maracay. We had practice at a local field during the afternoon, and were just wrapping things up when a thunderstorm rolled in. Other than that, we have had nice weather, albeit a little hot!
Our first game was Friday afternoon, at 1:00 against Columbia. Nikki Nemitz started in the circle and threw two perfect innings before being relieved by Brandice Balschmiter, who threw three perfect innings as well. We won, and the game was cut short due to the run rule.
Megan Langenfield was 3-3 with a three-run home run that contributed to our final margin of 11-0. The opening ceremonies were Friday night. It's fun to be able to see all of the teams that you are competing against in one place for such an exciting event.
Luckily, we have internet in our hotel lobby, so I think I'll be able to update frequently.
Talk to you soon!
Angela
We arrived in Venezuela late Wednesday night, after a couple delays at the airport. Everyone met at the Miami airport to fly together to Caracas, but several flights were delayed or cancelled. Luckily they pushed the Caracas flight back as well, so everyone made it on time except for Katie Schroeder from UCLA. We were missing some luggage as well, but by Thursday afternoon both Katie and most of the luggage had made it to Maracay. We had practice at a local field during the afternoon, and were just wrapping things up when a thunderstorm rolled in. Other than that, we have had nice weather, albeit a little hot!
Our first game was Friday afternoon, at 1:00 against Columbia. Nikki Nemitz started in the circle and threw two perfect innings before being relieved by Brandice Balschmiter, who threw three perfect innings as well. We won, and the game was cut short due to the run rule.
Megan Langenfield was 3-3 with a three-run home run that contributed to our final margin of 11-0. The opening ceremonies were Friday night. It's fun to be able to see all of the teams that you are competing against in one place for such an exciting event.
Luckily, we have internet in our hotel lobby, so I think I'll be able to update frequently.
Talk to you soon!
Angela
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Photos with Lauren Lappin
In between shots and just wanted to post this photo of me with Lauren...you can get this stuff soon at www.3N2Sports.com!
Photo Shoot for 3N2 with Lauren Lappin
Well, it's 11:45 and we are more than two hours into my photoshoot for 3N2 (www.3N2Sports.com). Last night Scott, who handles my marketing for API Sports, and I went to dinner with Marty Graham and Sean Murphy of 3N2 in Orlando at a great steakhouse. It was a nice dinner after a long and tiring couple of weeks. 3N2 really is dedicated to women's fastpitch and has a lot of great products coming out, including the shoes that I am endorsing. They have designed some amazing customized shoes for me for my Japanese team as well as the Racers. I have received a lot of compliments about the shoes, and want to thank Sean and Marty for all their hard work.
So far I've been photographed in two different Racer uniforms in many different poses and also my Leopalace 21 uniform. After that Lauren and I were photographed in some 3N2 softball uniforms that will be released next year. We are on a little break right now, but I wanted to check in. It's been really hectic with a lot of travel, but I was finally able to get back home for a couple of days before coming to Florida for this shoot. I fly back to Virginia tonight and then it's back to Akron.
More to come later!
Bye for now.
Angela
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Watch Angela Pitch Here!
Watch the Akron Racers game today vs. the Rockford Thunder right here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w=reflector%3A52192&vid=npf&pid=gen_video&cid=mlb&v=2
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w=reflector%3A52192&vid=npf&pid=gen_video&cid=mlb&v=2
First Appearance for Akron Today!
I will make my 2009 NPF debut today for the Akron Racers at 2:05 against the Rockford Thunder. Cat Osterman threw a no-hitter against us in the second game of a double header yesterday. We are now 4-5 on the year. I'm hoping to help us get back to .500 today. You can follow the game at: http://www.cstv.com/gametracker/launch/gt_wsoftbl.html?event=788967&school=arcs&sport=wsoftbl&camefrom=&startschool=&
I'll report back later!
I'll report back later!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
California Here I Come!
We finished the first half of the season in Japan on a great note, earning a 3-1 win against Hitachi Software to end up with a 7-4 record. That leaves us in fifth place, but only two games out of first in the bunched-up standings.
In the bottom of the first, our leadoff batter Misato Kawano launched a solo home run to give us the early 1-0 lead. We scored another run a few innings later on a RBI double by Natalie Titcume. Hitachi Software came close to scoring on a hit-and-run with a runner on third, but luckily Natalie called a pitchout on that play. The batter still managed to make contact, and the swinging bunt caused a confusing play at the plate. Technically, the runner from third escaped the tag, but she did so by running halfway to the pitcher's circle. The initial call was safe, but of course we appealed, because she ran out of the baseline to avoid the tag, and the call was overruled. We added another run in the bottom of the sixth on Erina Inoue's solo home run, and escaped a close call in the seventh. Hitachi Software used an error and a single to score a run, but a strikeout ended the threat and we held on, 3-1.
It was a great team win, with timely hitting and good defense. I'm thrilled to end the first half with an important victory. It will be an interesting second half, as 11 more games could change things dramatically.
Well, it's finally time to return home! I leave for California tomorrow, so its time to shift my focus toward the National Team Tryouts. I think the experience in Japan has been priceless and definitely prepared me for tough competition. I won't have much time to rest before tryouts begin, but I feel ready. I'm looking forward to getting back to the States and seeing all of the players at the tryouts. Then it's off to Akron for the NPF season. Somewhere in between all of that I need to get back to Blacksburg for a couple of days and fly to Florida for a photo shoot with my new partner, 3N2 (www.3N2Sports.com).
Ok. Gotta go pack. Talk soon!
In the bottom of the first, our leadoff batter Misato Kawano launched a solo home run to give us the early 1-0 lead. We scored another run a few innings later on a RBI double by Natalie Titcume. Hitachi Software came close to scoring on a hit-and-run with a runner on third, but luckily Natalie called a pitchout on that play. The batter still managed to make contact, and the swinging bunt caused a confusing play at the plate. Technically, the runner from third escaped the tag, but she did so by running halfway to the pitcher's circle. The initial call was safe, but of course we appealed, because she ran out of the baseline to avoid the tag, and the call was overruled. We added another run in the bottom of the sixth on Erina Inoue's solo home run, and escaped a close call in the seventh. Hitachi Software used an error and a single to score a run, but a strikeout ended the threat and we held on, 3-1.
It was a great team win, with timely hitting and good defense. I'm thrilled to end the first half with an important victory. It will be an interesting second half, as 11 more games could change things dramatically.
Well, it's finally time to return home! I leave for California tomorrow, so its time to shift my focus toward the National Team Tryouts. I think the experience in Japan has been priceless and definitely prepared me for tough competition. I won't have much time to rest before tryouts begin, but I feel ready. I'm looking forward to getting back to the States and seeing all of the players at the tryouts. Then it's off to Akron for the NPF season. Somewhere in between all of that I need to get back to Blacksburg for a couple of days and fly to Florida for a photo shoot with my new partner, 3N2 (www.3N2Sports.com).
Ok. Gotta go pack. Talk soon!
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