Hokie ClubSeveral members of the Virginia Tech softball squad will suit up for the Salem All-Stars Thursday night as the USA National Team comes to town for one of its last exhibitions. The USA comes in at 57-1 with its lone loss coming to the Hokies back in March. A dozen or so local college players from Tech, Radford, UNC Greensboro, Appalachian State, Virginia, Winthrop and West Virginia Wesleyan. Most of the players have some tie to the area, either playing college or high school ball in the area.
For Tech, Beth and Amber Walker, Jess Everhart and Jenna Rhodes will suit up. The team will be led by Scot Thomas with assistance from Al Brauns and another college coach.
The game will start at 7 o’clock Thursday night at Salem Kiwanis Field and is sold out. Other notables playing will be Radford’s Ashley Taylor and Jennifer Everhart, Virginia’s Kelly Haller and Winthop’s Cari Wooldridge.
Angela Tincher survived a re-match with the Red, White & Blue last night as her Akron Racers took on the world’s best. Tincher no-hit the Olympians in March and the team was surely looking forward to making amends. But Tincher once again held them in check, setting them down in order in the first two innings. She allowed a run on two singles in the third inning, but left the game leading 2-1. The Racers gave up four runs in the seventh and lost 6-2. Tincher got a no-decision, throwing 3.0 innings. She gave up one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out five.
The USA will play one last exhibition game in Irvine, Calif., before heading to Beijing to defend its three Olympic gold medals.