Soderberg To Play For Team Canada
November 03, 2006 | Softball
University of Wisconsin softball player Katie Soderberg will be part of the Canadian Junior Women's National Team competing in the Pan American Championships Nov. 10-18 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The championships are a qualifier for the 2007 ISF World Championship, which takes place in Poland.
Soderberg, a freshman who played second base for the Badgers in the fall, is one of 17 players listed on the Canadian roster. She's from Delta, British Columbia, where she played for the White Rock Renegades club team.
Canada is one of nine teams competing at the championships, including the United States, Puerto Rico and Argentina. A round-robin will be played over the first six days of the championship. Bracket play begins Nov. 16.
'I think Katie's on her way to some really great things and I 'm excited about it,' said UW head softball coach Chandelle Schulte. 'She's going in with a lot of confidence because of the experience that she's had here so far. I think she's going to shine.'
Soderberg leaves for Miami, Fla., Saturday where her and her teammates will train for four days with Canada coach Mark Sanderson and his staff. The team then flies to Puerto Rico to prepare for the championships.
Although she'll spend more time keeping up with her studies than at the beach, Soderberg is excited and admittedly a little nervous for the trip. Fortunately long-time friend and teammate, Richelle McGarva, is also on the team. McGarva, an outfielder, and Soderberg played together with the Renegades.
Wisconsin teammate, Katie Hnatyk, a junior who plays on the Canadian Senior National Team has also offered words of wisdom to her understudy.
'I talk all the time to Hnatyk,' said Soderberg. 'She calls me her little twin. She told me the training camps would be hard and just do your best and work hard.'
The Renegades, led by Soderberg and McGarva, won three B.C. Provincial championships, which led to the Canadian national tournament. The team placed second at nationals in 2005.
Soderberg was a two-time MVP of her high school team, Seaquam Secondary, and has already been inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. At Seaquam, she also competed in volleyball, basketball, soccer and track and field.
'One of the best things about Katie is that she is really athletic and versatile,' said Schulte. 'Her objective of playing on the junior national team is to make the national team. I think if she continues to progress in the manner that she is that she's going to eventually realize her goal.'
Team Canada's first game is against Puerto Rico Friday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. CST.
