Sept. 28, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY – Kentucky assistant coach and former All-American shortstop Molly Johnson has been named to USA Softball’s 17-member Pan American Games roster it was announced Wednesday.
Johnson is a member of the USA Softball delegation for the XVI Pan American Games for the first time in her national team career. The multi-sport event is Oct. 14-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico, with softball competition scheduled for Oct. 17-23.
USA Softball enters the Pan American Games following a Gold Medal finish at World Cup of Softball VI in Oklahoma City, marking the fifth straight World Cup title for the Americans. Team USA has won seven Pan American Championships (1979, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007) including the last six. The program has a record of 78-3 since softball debuted in the 1979 Pan American Games.
The team will travel to Guadalajara on Oct. 13. On Oct. 17, the United States opens play against Venezuela at 6:30 p.m. CT. The team has doubleheaders the next two days, facing the Dominican Republic (11 a.m.) and Mexico (9 p.m.) Oct. 18 and Cuba (1:30 p.m.) and Puerto Rico (4 p.m.) on Oct. 19. On Oct. 20 at 2 p.m., Team USA faces Canada, the 2011 World Cup of Softball Bronze Medalists. The team finishes pool play against Argentina on Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m. The playoffs are Oct. 22 with the medal round scheduled for Oct. 23. Schedule is subject to change.
Johnson became the Wildcats’ first All-America selection in 2009 after a sensational junior season where she had career-highs in nine offensive categories while breaking three single-season Kentucky records. She set UK seasonal records in runs scored (53), hits (81) and on-base percentage (.498) en route to her garnering All-America status.
After emerging as one of the best collegiate players, Johnson continued her career with the United States National team in the summers from 2009-11. Johnson suited up with the USA Futures squad in the 2010 summer and compiled an impressive 3-3 record against the world’s top softball talent.
Kentucky’s former great made her presence felt for the Futures team as she started all six contests at the shortstop position in 2010. Johnson’s defensive prowess was on notice for the world as she racked up 14 putouts and nine assists at the tournament. At the plate, Johnson batted .200 for the weekend and accumulated four hits. She delivered on all of those hits, however, as she totaled four RBI.
In 2011, Johnson was a member of the Women’s National Team this summer and started at shortstop in a number of exhibition games and the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship before suffering an injury that forced her out of competition for the World Cup of Softball.
Follow along with the UK softball program all season long at UKathletics.com
