June 5, 2001

Three University of Notre Dame softball players have been picked to represent the United States in international competition this summer as members of the U.S. National Team. Graduated seniors Lizzy Lemire (Irvine, Calif.) and Jen Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.), along with current junior Jarrah Myers (Carbondale, Calif.), will compete in the USA Softball Shootout (a West Coast exhibition tour), the 2001 U.S. Cup, the 2001 Canada Cup and the 2001 Pan Am Qualifier over the next two months.

The U.S. National team consists of two different teams this summer - the Red and Blue. Lemire is a member of the Red team that will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, June 20-24, to represent the United States at the 2001 U.S Cup. Olympic (2000) silver medalist Japan, bronze medalist Australia and fourth-place finisher China will be among the competing teams at the U.S. Cup.

Both the Red and Blue team will then compete in the 2001 Canada Cup in Vancouver, June 30 to July 6. The last time the USA sent two teams to the Canada Cup (1999), the squads captured the gold and bronze medals.

Sharron and Myers are both members of the Blue team, which will head down to Maracay, Venezuela (July 29 through August 5) for the 2001 Pan Am Qualifier.

Before both teams begin international competition, softball fans on the West Coast will get a chance to see three exhibition games. The USA Softball Shootout begins in Portland on June 8, moves to Sacramento on June 14, and wraps up in Los Angeles on June 17.