UPDATE OCTOBER 9

COMMITMENTS

Liz Caputo, Gordon’s Panthers, to Ohio State

Amanda Kamekona, Gordon’s Panthers, to Cal State Fullerton

Andrea Smith, CA Cruisers, to LSU

Brittany Dixon ~ Beverly Bandits ~ University of Illinois - Chicago
Mallory Studzinski ~ Beverly Bandits ~ University of Illinois - Chicago
Nikki Rodgers ~ Beverly Bandits ~ University of Illinois - Chicago
Amy Hyerczyk ~ Beverly Bandits ~ Butler University
Rachel Carlson ~ Beverly Bandits ~ Indiana University
Lindsay O'Gean ~ Beverly Bandits ~ Loyola University

JUNIOR WORLD SCHEDULE

2003 USA Softball ISF Junior Women’s World Schedule announced
10/2/2003

OKLAHOMA CITY , OK – The 2003 USA Softball Junior Women’s World Championship team will begin action at the VII ISF World Championship October 12-20 in Nanjing , China . This will mark the first time that China has ever hosted a world softball championship. Opening ceremonies will kick off Sunday, Oct. 12 beginning at 11:00 a.m. followed by the first of 42 total games that will take place in round-robin play concluding with a playoffs series. The Jr. Women’s World Championship is a 19-under competition played once every four years.

The USA Softball 2003 Junior World Championship schedule is as follows:

Date Opponent Time Place

Oct. 12 Netherlands 12:30 p.m. 12:30 a.m. (EST-Oct.12) Stadium II

Oct. 13 Argentina 11:30 a.m. 11:30 p.m. (EST-Oct. 12) Stadium I

Oct. 14 Thailand 11:30 a.m. 11:30 p.m. (EST-Oct. 13) Stadium I

Oct. 14 Canada 7:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. (EST- Oct. 14) Stadium I

Oct. 15 Chinese Taipei 3:00 p.m. 3:00 a.m. (EST- Oct. 15) Stadium I

Oct. 16 Russia 3:00 p.m. 3:00 a.m. (EST- Oct. 16) Stadium I

Oct. 17 Off Day/ Rain Day TBA

Oct. 18-20 PLAYOFFS TBA

** Be sure to log on to www.usasoftball.com during game times to get LIVE STAT and game story updates from China. NOTE: Please follow EST for LIVE STATS! **

Pool A

Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Korea, Philippines

Pool B

United States, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Russia, Netherlands, Argentina, Thailand

The U.S. earned a berth into the World Championships after winning the Pan Am Region championship in December. Under first year head coach Pam Newton, the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team totally dominated its competition at the championship in Hermosillo , Mexico . The USA posted a perfect 8-0 record, while outscoring its opponents 91-0. Additionally, the U.S. pitching staff combined for four no-hitters and two perfect games.

The United States captured gold at the 1987 and 1995 ISF Junior Women's World Championships. In 1999, the last Junior Women's World Championship, the USA finished second behind Japan .

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee.

As the National Governing Body, the ASA is responsible for identifying, selecting and training male and female athletes to compete in World, Pan American and Olympic competitions. In addition to those duties, the ASA conducts the only recognized National Championship competitions in the United States .

For complete coverage of the USA Softball National Team visit our web site at www.usasoftball.com

WORTH DIMISSES  LAWSUIT

Worth Voluntarily Dismisses Lawsuit Against ASA
10/6/2003

OKLAHOMA CITY , OK , Monday, October 6, 2003 — A lawsuit challenging the legal authority of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) to adopt a revised bat performance standard for 2004 has been voluntarily dismissed, the ASA announced earlier today.

Three months ago, the ASA Board of Directors announced that bats must satisfy the new ASA 2004 Standard before they can be used in ASA Championship Play on and after January 1, 2004 . The lawsuit, filed by Worth Inc., sought to prevent the revised bat performance standard from becoming effective. Last week, the court entered judgment dismissing the case - before ASA ever had to formally respond to the lawsuit.

With the legal challenge resolved, manufacturers are now submitting bats for testing under the same ASA 2004 Standard that was formally adopted on June 30, 2003 . As test results become available, the ASA website will be updated with two new listings of bats. The first will list bats that are approved under the 2004 Standard. The other will list bats that either fail the new standard or are not submitted for approval under the new standard. ASA will periodically update both listings as manufacturers continue to submit bats for testing and as test reports become available.

For more information on ASA equipment matters, see the Certified Equipment section of the ASA website, www.asasoftball.com

ON-LINE WITH SPY

I leave early Friday morning, arriving late Saturday in Nanjing.  I will check messages at 8pm, Nanjing time, Saturday.  SPY will file a report Sunday on the games that day.  Undoubtedly, in the next 12 days, we will all have many occasions to say: wo shi mei guo ren.

Jiu zhexie, xiexie.  Zai jian.

 END

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