USF Athletics

The Road to Tokyo: Eriksen, Team USA Set for 2019 Pan Am Games

August 03, 2019

Road to Tokyo Series
USF Senior Writer Tom Zebold will chronicle the USA Softball Women's National Team's journey to the 2020 Tokyo Games with insight from Team USA head coach Ken Eriksen, who also talks about how he continues handling head coaching duties for USF softball.
 

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 3, 2019 – The road to Tokyo continues this weekend with more competition on the world stage for head coach Ken Eriksen's USA Softball Women's National Team.

Eriksen will lead the Red, White and Blue into the 2019 Pan American Games that begin Sunday and continue through Sunday, Aug. 11 in Lima, Peru. The USA Women's National Team begins its tournament run Sunday at 2 p.m. (EST) against Mexico. Get live stats and view the schedule of upcoming games HERE.

Following a series of exhibition games, the Pan American Games serve as another opportunity for Team USA to gear up for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

"It's the buildup. It's still the teaching and preparation for the whole enchilada," Eriksen said. "Along the way of climbing up the mountain, you have all these tournaments that allow you to prepare. They allow you to find out what your great combinations are."

Team USA's preparation began with training camp and the Japan All-Star Series in June, which led up to an exciting finish at the USA Softball International Cup early in July. In another classic championship game clash with the No. 2 Japan, Team USA jumped ahead in the sixth inning of a 2-1 victory and captured its second straight USA Softball International Cup title.

"If you can prepare for moving the ball and relentless pressure on defense, you've got a chance to win, especially with the speed that we have," Eriksen said. "The big knocks weren't there against the good pitching Japan threw against us. We were able to create and execute some plays."

Team USA's attention to detail in the tournament was impressive considering the program already took care of monumental business the previous year. The Women's National Team qualified for the 2020 Games while advancing to the WBSC World Championship title game in Chiba, Japan in August 2018 and topped Japan in the gold medal game.

"Coming off last year, which was huge with the World Championships and getting the Olympic bid, you could come into this year with a hangover-type mentality of, 'We've already done what we were supposed to do,'" Eriksen said. "However, the pressure is on the players even more right now because they've continually being evaluated to be part of that 2020 national team that goes to Tokyo. Nothing is given."

With softball back on the Olympic menu for the first time since 2008, earning a spot on the Team USA roster for Tokyo 2020 will certainly be a shining achievement for the chosen ones. Only 15 players get to make the active roster and three alternates will be ready for an opportunity of a lifetime.

"It's exciting, but it's stressful for the selection committee and the coaching staff to be able to narrow that down because there's so many great players," Eriksen said.

Team trials (Oct. 2-6) will include 29 invitees vying for spots on the roster. Before that, the Women's National Team concludes its summer of competition at the Japan Cup Aug. 30-Sept. 1 in Takasaki City following the Pan American Games.
 
Eriksen Balances Team USA, USF Softball Duties
Trying to meet with Eriksen for even a few minutes is a tall task these days because of his nonstop schedule.

"When I lay my head down at night, it's a least three-and-a-half to four-hour sleep that's pretty solid," he said with a laugh.

Due to constant day-to-day duties for two softball programs, Team USA's head coach since 2011 doesn't have time for a relaxing golf outing, but he's definitely not complaining. Having the honor of coaching the Women's National Team at the 2020 Tokyo Games is something Eriksen cherishes - no matter what the responsibilities entail.

"You understand that you've been given an opportunity that a lot of people will never get," he said.

When Eriksen isn't in Red, White and Blue gear, he's sporting Green and Gold and serving USF softball as the winningest head coach in the program's history for all sports. Last season, USF won the American Athletic Conference regular season title and competed in an NCAA Regional for the 15th time. The Bulls have made 14 NCAA tournament trips under Eriksen, who led the program to its first-ever Women's College World Series appearance in 2012.

"It's really fun to get back to the grassroots of teaching (at USF)," he said. "How many people get to go back to player development and then go back to Team USA and work with players that have been developed? It's pretty special, there's no question about it."

And when he's off in another time zone with Team USA, Eriksen knows USF softball is in great hands with a coaching staff that doesn't miss a beat and recently welcomed Tommy Santiago back as an assistant. Even with Eriksen pulling double duty with his programs, USF has won three conference titles in the past four seasons.

"Our assistant coaches are working their butts off," he said. "They've been the rock behind this entire program."
 
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 15 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.