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Former Wildcats Jennie Finch, Lovieanne Jung and Caitlin Lowe were selected by the Amateur Softball Association of America for the 2008 Olympic softball team this week.

By University Communications
March 28, 2008

Three former Wildcats were named to the USA Softball Women’s National Team 2008 Olympic roster this week.

Jennie Finch, Lovieanne Jung and Caitlin Lowe were selected by the Amateur Softball Association of America to the 15-member team that will represent the United States in Beijing this summer.

Alicia Hollowell, also a former Wildcat, was named as an alternate.

"I am very excited about this team and its ability to continue the excellence that USA Softball has come to expect at the Olympic games," said head coach Mike Candrea.

Candrea, also the head coach at the UA, is currently on a partial leave of absence to work with Team USA. He coached the 2004 national team to its gold medal in Athens.

"This team is built around a core of veteran players that bring a tremendous amount of international and Olympic games experience," Candrea said. "With the addition of some very good young talent, this team will be well balanced between speed, power, pitching and defense."

Finch and Jung were on the 2004 squad that won gold at the Athens Olympics. Lowe will be competing in her first Olympic games.

Finch is in her seventh consecutive year on the national team. She made two appearances at the 2004 Olympic games, working eight innings with 13 strikeouts.

Jung, a member of the national team since 2002, drew a team-high five walks during the 2004 games.

Lowe has been a member of the USA Softball team since 2005 and has been the leadoff batter for the past three seasons.

In all, 21 Wildcats have been part of USA Softball competition on various tours and in training camps for junior teams and the national team, including current players Callista Balko, Brittany Lastrapes, K'Lee Arredondo and Lindsey Sisk.

The USA Softball Women’s National Team has a record of 24-4 over the last three Olympic games, including an undefeated 9-0 record at the 2004 games in Athens, outscoring opponents 51-1. The team broke 16 records in 2004, eight of which were set by them. On top of three Olympic gold medals, the U.S. women are eight-time World Champions and two-time World Cup Champions.