TWO GLORY STARS SELECTED FOR 2008 U.S. WOMEN’S OLYMPIC SOFTBALL TEAM

Ashburn, VA - The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced Monday that two members of the Washington Glory are on its prestigious roster for the 2008 USA Softball Women’s National Team. Pitcher Monica Abbott and center fielder Kelly Kretschman will spend the next year preparing to defend the USA’s three gold medals next summer at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Kelly and Monica; they’ve both worked very hard and deserve the honor of representing our country in the Beijing games,” said Paul Wilson, team owner and general manager of the Washington Glory.

The 2008 USA women’s national team will begin practicing together in late September, and plans to kick off a 40-city U.S. Tour, titled ‘Bound 4 Beijing,’ in February, giving fans all over the United States the opportunity to see the 2008 National Team.

The four year process for choosing the Olympic Softball Team culminated with the final selection camp held last week in Chula Vista, CA with 32 participants. The 2008 USA Softball Women’s National Team roster includes 12 2004 Gold Medalist’s with 15 of the 2006 World Championship team making the roster.

The Washington Glory, in their inaugural season, won the 2007 National Pro Fastpitch Cowles Cup Championship title in August. Head Coach Carie Dever-Boaz won NPF Manager of the Year; rookie shortstop Amber Jackson won NPF Player of the Year; and pitcher Desiree Serrano won NPF Pitcher of the Year. The first-place Glory also contributed five players to the all-NPF team, including Amber Jackson, Oli Keohohou, Nichole Thompson, Desiree Serrano, and Sarah Pauly.

About The Washington Glory
The Washington Glory is the DC area’s professional women’s fastpitch softball team. In its inaugural year with the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league, the team is coached by Carie Dever-Boaz and Assistant Coach Erin Goettlicher. The team plays its home games at the softball complex at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. More information about the team can be found online at washingtonglory.com or myspace.com/thewashingtonglory.

About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch and Women’s Pro Softball League.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the official development partner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. The partnership, which began in 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help the MLB and its 30 major league clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.

# # #