California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Braden Villanueva
Flowers Set to Lead USA Elite at World Cup of Softball XI
7/5/2016 8:07:00 AM | Softball
Matadors Head Coach leads American Elite Team against International Competition
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USA Softball Women's Elite Team Roster
World Cup of Softball XI Schedule of Events
NORTHRIDGE, CA ---
CSUN softball head coach Tairia Flowers will head up the the USA Softball Women's Elite Team in the World Cup of Softball XI from July 4-10 at ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, OK. A veteran of international play throughout her playing and coaching career, Flowers and the USA Elite Team will take on some of the top competition, including eight of the top 10 women's national squads in the world.Â
"Any time you get to put on your country's uniform is a proud moment and we look forward to competing with pride and distinction while representing our country," Flowers said. "We are a very talented team with a great balance of hitting and pitching. These young women have worked incredibly hard to get to this level of competition and I expect their spirit and passion to come out during the event."Â
Working with Coach Flowers at the event will be Oregon State head coach Laura Berg, University of Texas-Arlington head coach Kristie Fox and Cal Poly associate head coach Gina Vecchione. The Elite Team's roster is full of notable names from Division I softball and several veterans from past Team USA squads.Â
The team opens competition on Tuesday, July 5 against the Czech Republic and the Philippines. The Elite Team will then face Mexico and Puerto Rico on July 6 and Canada on July 7. That sets up a July 8 match-up that will feature Team USA vs. Team USA Elite Team in a 7:30 p.m. (CT) tilt. Flowers and the squad wrap up pool play against New Zealand and Japan on July 9.Â
The event concludes on July 10 as the the teams from each bracket face their equivalent from the other bracket with the two top teams battling at 5 p.m. (CT) for the title.Â
Flowers recently completed her sixth season as the head coach at CSUN. The Matadors finished the year 34-22 and 14-7 in the Big West Conference to place second in the league. CSUN won at least 30 games for the third-straight season, the first time in program history since the 1997-99 seasons. Three Matadors were named to the 2016 All-Big West First Team and Taylor Glover became CSUN's first All-American since 2004.Â
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