SOFTBALL: Bound 4 Beijing Just Hours Away

For Immediate Release: 2/19/08 Bound 4 Beijing Just Hours Away TUCSON, Ariz.-The long awaited start to the Bound 4 Beijing Tour is just hours away as the USA Softball Women's National Team is in Tucson to compete against the University of Arizona today, Tue., Feb. 19th at 7:00 p.m./CT. The game will be televised for a delayed air date of April 15th at 7:00 p.m./CT on ESPN2 . This will be a familiar arena for the National Team as they have had training camps at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in the past. The National team also features four players who have donned the Wildcat uniform in Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.), Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif.), Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.). Tairia Flowers, the sole Arizona native on the National Team, hails from Tucson as well. Most notably is the common coach as USA National Team Head Coach Mike Candrea is the 21 year leader of the Wildcats. He has taken a leave of absence from Arizona to lead the United States to its fourth-consecutive gold medal. Although he came here to lead his team to victory, there is no doubt that Candrea, who finished his 21st year as Arizona Head Coach, will find it different coaching from the visiting team dugout."Its going to be tough coaching against my team at Arizona but I came here to win,"said Candrea."This is the highest honor to ever be bestowed upon me to lead this team into the Olympics and represent the United States of America. I am excited for a great tour and then the Olympic Games."The last time the National Team and Arizona met was on the 2004 Aiming for Athens Tour where the U.S. handed the Wildcats a 6-1 lost. Finch earned the win for the red, white and blue, allowing only one hit, a homerun to Kristie Fox (San Diego, Calif.). Hollowell earned the loss for the Wildcats."Its definitely fun to be back. I haven't technically left here as I still live and train here but to play in front of the fans and stadium again is exciting,"said Hollowell."Its kind of sad to be on the other side as I have spent four amazing years here playing and having the fans cheer me one. It will be weird to be the ones they aren't cheering for."Be sure to check out www.usasoftball.com for live stats of this game as well as complete coverage including box score, recap and photo gallery. The team will continue its trek through the U.S. with a stop at the Palm Springs Classic, Feb. 21-24.

Tags: Alicia Hollowell, Caitlin Lowe, Lovieanne Jung, Tairia Flowers