June 22, 2011

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Three-time All-American Rhea Taylor and 2011 USA Softball National Player of the Year finalist Chelsea Thomas are all set to make their USA Softball Women's National Team debut this weekend down in Plant City, Fla.  Less than a week after making the team, the two Tigers will leave Thursday morning to join their 16 teammates down in Florida for the start of exhibition play.

Team USA opens up with an exhibition doubleheader against the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team on Saturday, June 25 beginning at 5 p.m. CT.  The games will take place at the Plant City Stadium, just outside of Tampa.  From there, the National Team heads to Salem, Va., for another exhibition series with the Junior Team on June 29, with the final doubleheader between the two teams being held in Bowie, Md., on July 1.

Taylor and Thomas will then head to Surrey, B.C. for the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship, held from July 9-17.  Team USA will then return to the United States for the World Cup of Softball VI, which runs from July 21-25 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Taylor will wear her infamous No. 3 jersey, while Thomas will don No. 1 on her back.  Stay tuned to www.mutigers.com and www.usasoftball.com for more information about USA Women's National Team.