Henry takes on USA Softball Women's National Team

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Former University of Arkansas pitcher Katy Henry gets her chance to face the USA Softball Women’s National team as part of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour on Friday, July 18 at Meador Park in Springfield, Mo. Henry was the only player from the Southeastern Conference chosen for the team that consists of 22 former collegiate standouts from the Midwest. The ASA Midwest All Stars are led by Missouri State softball head coach Holly Hesse and take on the three-time defending Olympic champions at 7:30 p.m. The USA Women’s National team competed in Springfield, Mo., as part of its tour in 2004 and Thompson Field in Meador Park is the site for Friday’s contest. It is located next to the Battlefield Mall at 2500 South Fremont. Tickets are sold out with a capacity of 3,000. “I am excited to be a part of the game,” said Henry. “I think it will be a good opportunity to meet some athletes that I’ve always looked up to. I feel really honored to play against Team USA and to help them prepare before the Olympic Games in Beijing.” From Poteau, Okla., Henry is in the top three in 18 different Arkansas pitching records. The right hander is the career leader with nine saves, has the second and third most strikeouts in a season and is second with 756 career strikeouts. Henry has 56 wins and 15 shutouts in her four years as a Razorback. She upset eight top-25 teams, including a series victory over No. 11 LSU her sophomore year and No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 8 Tennessee in 2008. Since beginning its 62-game pre-Olympic tour in February, Team USA has compiled a 54-1 record against a slate that has included some of the top NCAA Division I programs, regional all-star teams and international squads. Olympic record-holders Lisa Fernandez and Crystl Bustos, as well as superstars Monica Abbott, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Stacey Nuveman and Cat Osterman lead the way for a squad that hits .437 and scored 656 runs, while limiting its opponents to a .087 batting average and just 26 runs scored in 55 games. Team USA will begin its quest for a fourth consecutive gold medal when it begins competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 12, at Fengtai Softball Field in Beijing, China. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.

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