Aug. 13, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- Former Baylor softball standout Ashley Monceaux has been chosen as one of 32 players to try-out for a spot on the Women's National Team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics at a selection camp scheduled for Sept. 10-14, in Chula Vista, Calif., the Amateur Softball Association announced.

Monceaux, who earned NFCA All-America honors last season, is one of only two Big 12 players invited to the camp as she joins former Texas standout Cat Osterman on the list of invites.

The power-hitting left-hander had one of the most prolific seasons in school history last year as she set single-season records in batting average (.413), hits (81), doubles (19), home runs (20), RBI (71), slugging percentage (.816) and on-base percentage (.508) as she led Baylor to the Big 12 Conference title and a spot in the Women's College World Series.

In addition to her All-America selection, Monceaux earned first-team All-Big 12 and NFCA All-Midwest Region honors as she was one of 25 finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year.

This will be one of the most important camps ever held by USA Softball because this could be the last opportunity these players have to compete in an Olympic Games. The team selected will go on to represent the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, the last Olympic Games for the sport of softball until at least 2016.

The roster for the 2008 USA Softball Women's National Team will be announced on September 17 and the selected team will begin training together in late September.

A total of 32 players have been invited to attend this historic camp. The invitees for the 2008 USA Softball Women's National Team Selection Camp are:

*Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) - Tennessee
*Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) - Fresno State
Katie Burkhart (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) - Arizona State
*Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) - Palm Beach C.C.
Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif. ) - Northwestern
Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) - Arizona State
*Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) - UCLA
Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach Calif.) - UCLA
*Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) - Arizona
*Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) - UCLA
Kristie Fox (San Diego, Calif.) - Arizona
Amanda Freed (Cypress, Calif.) - UCLA
*Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) - California
Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.) - Corona del Sol H.S.
*Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif.) - Arizona
*Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) - Arizona
*Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) - Alabama
*Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) - Stanford
Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) - Laguna Hills H.S./Arizona
*Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) - Arizona
*Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) - Stanford
Ashley Monceaux (Tucson, Ariz.) - Baylor
Taryne Mowatt (Corona, Calif.) - Arizona
Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) - UCLA
*Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) - Texas
*Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich.) - Michigan
Lindsay Schutzler (Monterey, Calif.) - Tennessee
Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Va.) - Virginia Tech
*Jenny Topping (Whittier, Calif.) - Cal State Fullerton
Mackenzie Vandergeest (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) - Arizona
*Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) - UCLA
Kristen Zaleski (Temple, Texas) - Texas State

*Member of the 2007 USA Softball Women's National Team.