OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Three current members of the LSU softball team in Bianka Bell, Emily Griggs and Bailey Landry have accepted invitations to participate in the 2016 USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp, slated to be held January 2-7, 2016 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, California.
Athletes who accepted an invitation to try out for the squad will vie for 17 spots on the 2016 USA Softball WNT roster that will compete at the World Cup of Softball XI, the XV World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s World Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada and the Japan Cup which will take place in the summer with dates to be announced at a later date.
Donning the Red, White and Blue last summer were Bell and Griggs, with Bell competing with the senior team and Griggs on the junior side. Landry is taking part in the tryout for the first time in her career.
Along with assistant coach Howard Dobson, who is also serving as a coach with the senior national team, Bell and Team USA finished with a 16-3 record last summer, winning the World Cup of Softball and the Japan Cup, while finishing second at the Pan American Games. Griggs capped her run with the JWNT last summer by winning the WBSC Junior Women’s World Championship – the fifth for the USA – while helping the squad go 14-4 against international competition.
Additional athletes may be invited to the USA Softball WNT Selection Camp at a later date. During the selection process, athletes will participate in position drills as well as simulated games and be evaluated by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC). The complete 2016 schedule for the WNT, including exhibition games, will be announced at a later date.
LSU opens the 2016 season on February 12 against Ohio State in Tiger Park.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger softball, visit www.lsusports.net/softball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball along with @lsusoftball and @BethTorina on Twitter and @lsusb on Instagram.