USF Athletics

Bulls Excited About Team Japan Test at USF Softball Stadium on Feb. 11

February 04, 2019

MATCHUP: Team Japan vs. USF
DATE/TIME: Monday, Feb. 11/6 p.m. (gates open at 4:30 p.m.)
LOCATION: USF Softball Stadium, Tampa
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
FOLLOW: Live stats | Twitter @USFSoftball
 

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, FEB. 4, 2019 – Softball is back on the Olympic marquee for 2020 and fans can get a sneak peek at world-class competition by heading to USF Softball Stadium on Monday, Feb. 11.

The USF softball team is ecstatic about getting to host Team Japan in a 6 p.m. exhibition game that's a can't-miss event for fans of the sport.

"If you're a purist of the game, this is beautiful stuff to watch," USF head coach Ken Eriksen said.

Also the head coach of Team USA, Eriksen has been facing Japan on the softball field for nearly two decades and marvels at the way the national team goes about its business. Eriksen advises fans to arrive at USF Softball Stadium early to watch Team Japan's batting practice and pregame infield that's "really, really exciting." Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

"They are looking for the perfect practice every single time. Their hand and glove work is incredible," Eriksen said. "Their ability to get the barrel to the ball is uncanny. They're just a really, really tough opponent for any team. They're very meticulous in what they do and they play the game the right way."

Always up for the toughest challenge, the program is eager to take on Team Japan following the USF Opening Weekend Invitational that will see the Bulls face Illinois State, No. 7/6 Arizona, No. 19/14 Michigan, NC State and No. 5 Florida this Thursday through Sunday at USF Softball Stadium.

"We're so pumped," all-conference senior infielder Lindsey Devitt said.

"Just who (Team Japan) is, it's an awesome experience," redshirt senior outfielder Mia Fung said. "We've never been able to do that before and I'm just glad we get to do it my last year."

Aside from the honor of hosting Team Japan, USF will greatly benefit from playing against a high-caliber opponent that will give the Bulls tips they can use throughout the remainder of the season and beyond.

"Every time you play a new team, you get new tools and you learn how to play the game another way," senior pitcher Cheyenne Eggens said. "We're all really excited."

Get Your Tickets
Tickets for USF-Team Japan can be purchased through USFBullsTix.com or by walking up to the USF Softball Stadium ticket box office on game day.

Fans can get a great value on USF's early action by purchasing a USF Opening Weekend Invitational tournament pass that also includes a ticket to the Bulls' game against Team Japan on Monday, Feb. 11.

Softball Back in the Olympic Spotlight
Ken Eriksen has coached against Team Japan since all the way back in 2001, when he was a Team USA assistant who developed players leading up to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

"Japan is always around the top one, two, three teams in the world," he said. "We face them all the time and the programs know each other really, really well."

Team USA earned the Olympic gold medal in 2004 while Japan took home bronze before the sport was taken off the Olympic summer schedule in July 2005. Elevated to head coach of Team USA in January 2011, Eriksen was overjoyed in the summer of 2016, when softball and baseball both were added back to the Olympic menu for summer 2020 in Tokyo.

"There's been a lot of people that did a lot of legwork in trying to get the games back for baseball and softball. In 2016, when it did, I thought there was an injection of enthusiasm again," Eriksen said. "Our sports – baseball and softball – will now be on the world's biggest stage and that's the Olympics. To have that, all of the sudden, everybody wants a piece of the gold. Everybody wants to participate in what's going on and I think that's fantastic."

Eriksen said softball being back in the Olympics has a tremendous impact on the sport – at all levels. Current USF Director of Operations and Tournaments Valerie Arioto, a Team USA players, gets to work toward the ultimate goal while student-athletes from collegiate programs, like the Bulls, have a shot at achieving Olympic dreams once again.

The same goes for softball's rising stars, no matter their age.

"Our grassroots programs now have something to look forward to, aside from going to college and aside from the pro leagues, which do a great job of cultivating players after college," Eriksen said. "Now everybody should be working toward cultivating the best players in our country to provide the national team with the best players skill and experience-wise. That's what the Olympics did for us."

About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.