University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Danyele Gomez at the USA Softball Olympic Trials
9/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003
CHULA
VISTA, Calif. – Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball player
Danyele Gomez is attending the 2003 USA Softball Olympic
Trials being held Sept. 2-7 and has begun a diary of her
experiences. Danyele is the second Louisiana native from the
Cajuns softball program to be invited to a USA Softball
tryout. She is competing with 45 others athletes from across
the nation, including her former teammate Becky McMurtry,
for one of 15 spots on the 2004 Olympic team which will
compete in Athens, Greece for the gold medal.
I
arrived in San Diego on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
After arrival at the Olympic training facility I went to
sleep - that plane ride takes it out of me.
We had "optional" practice at 4:00PM, then dinner and a meeting. At practice we fielded and hit in the cage. The coaches pitched to us (nothing like Coach Mike though -Coach Mike brings the gas and these balls were coming in on a lob).
After practice we had dinner and then a meeting. At the meeting they announced the teams we would be playing on for the week. I was given my team assignment and also to my surprise was told that I would be playing shortstop.
Wednesday - Sept. 3rd
We had practice at 7:45 AM (obvious they did not know that I like to sleep late). At practice, I did ok but not as good as I could have.
I got to meet all of the the girls and it is fun to interact with them and get to know them and talk about softball and just be in this environment. Most of the girls here have been here before and are very smooth and very experienced.
After practice I went back to the room to study. I am still in college, majoring in biology - and I am missing classes. So no leisure time for me. Hitting the books - aren't you proud of me Coach Stef. Then back to lunch - they like to eat around here and they eat a lot of pasta - where's the beef. No crawfish or boudin balls here. Then we scrimmaged at 3:00PM.
I hit in the 10 hole. I had two at bats - I faced Lisa Fernandez and Jenny Finch. I got in some good rips, I fouled off a couple before striking out.
I saw the ball good and felt good in the box - I know I belong here and I love being pushed by the best pitchers in the world. My timing is off a little - I have not seen live pitching since the World Series. No excuses though - I will go to battle again tomorrow.
On defense, I played shortstop. It has been a couple of years or so since I played shortstop. But hey, I can hang.
I had two balls hit my way. One line drive hit to the glove side -I caught it and turned an unassisted double play but the first baseman dropped the ball. On the other ball, it was a slapper and on a bang bang play, she beat the throw. After speaking to us we were going to eat.
I will update you guys tomorrow.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
