USA Softball Olympic warm-up game vs UCF to be televised
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<p>The USA Olympic Softball Team will continue preparations for Tokyo 2020, holding a training camp at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex from 12-22 April in Vero Beach, Florida. Team USA will take part in a series of workouts and practice sessions, in addition to a four-game series against No. 10 Italy and a 10-inning exhibition contest against the University of Central Florida (UCF). </p>
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<p>“We are very excited for the opportunity to train and compete this month,” said USA Softball Women’s National Team head coach, Ken Eriksen. </p>
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<p>Held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, USA and Italy will kick off a four-game series on Thursday 15 April at 5 p.m. ET, followed with three additional 5 p.m. contests on 17 April, 19 April and 21 April. USA and Italy will open their Olympic campaigns playing each other on 21 July in Fukushima. The two countries, along with No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Canada, No. 5 Mexico and No. 8 Australia, make up the six squads that will be battling for the gold medal in July. </p>
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<p>"This training camp does not represent only an opportunity to practice but is definitely the most prestigious event we are going to take part in in the last two years,” said Italy’s head coach, Federico Pizzolini. “This is a precious opportunity to play with the best and compete for a spot in our Olympic Games roster." </p>
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<p>The <a href="https://olympicsoftball.wbsc.org/en/2021/e-2021-softball-olympic-games/news/italys-olympic-softball-team-to-take-on-usa-canada-in-florida" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"><strong>Italian Olympic Softball Team will stage a two-week training camp</strong></a>, starting on 13 April, at the same Jackie Robinson Training Complex.</p>
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<p>In addition to the four-game series against Italy, USA will square off against UCF on 20 April in a 5 p.m. ET solo contest (10 innings) at the UCF Softball Complex. The contest will be streamed through ESPN+.</p>
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<p>The 18-player USA Softball Women's National Team roster will be without Rachel Garcia, Dejah Mulipola and Bubba Nickles, who all remain with their respective collegiate teams. </p>
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<a href="https://olympicsoftball.wbsc.org/en/2021/e-2021-softball-olympic-games"><img src="https://static.wbsc.org/assets/cms/shares/Olympic_Softball_Qualified_Teams_new.jpg" alt="Tokyo 2020 – Olympic Softball" width="100%" height="auto"></a>
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