University of Massachusets Athletics
Holtz Selected To The 2001 Canadian National Softball Team
July 12, 2001 | Softball
July 12, 2001
AMHERST, Mass.-- Softball Canada has named its top fast pitch softball athletes to represent the country this season and its members include UMass sophomore pitcher Kaila Holtz. Holtz, a native from North Vancouver, BC, will join a pitching staff that includes three 2000 Olympians, sisters Heather and Sandy Newsham (Winnipeg, MB) and Kelly Zielstra (Whiterock, BC).
Holtz is no stranger to international competition as she was a member of Canada's 1999 Junior National Team. She was also among the 30 athletes who competed for Canada's National Team and Canada's Developmental Team at the 2001 Canada Cup, which wrapped up play last Sunday.
For the Minutewomen, Holtz has been a standout pitcher, winning 13 of 14 games for UMass in 2001. She pitched in 109.2 innings, striking out 80 batters and walking only 19. Holtz maintained a low 1.91 ERA and held her opponents to a mere .232 batting average.
UMass head coach Elaine Sortino said, "For Kaila personally, I believe it's the culmination of two years of hard work and determination. She's really made a lot of changes as a pitcher, she's developed mechanically to make herself better and she's increased her speed. I believe the two years she's been on the mound here as a freshman and a sophomore have been very productive in terms of giving her the mental aura to accomplish her goals."
Sortino also made reference to the impact Holtz' international experience will have on the UMass program as a whole, "I think for the UMass program, it's a tremendous leap forward. Here's a kid who's going to get on the mound for us and have played against world-class competition and has had success. This has to be incredible for her confidence. It's going to be incredible for her teammates having her on the mound and standing confidently behind her. I think it's terrific."
As a freshman, Holtz told Sortino about her dream to pitch against former UMass Olympian and current assistant coach, Danielle Henderson in 2004 Olympics. " I think she's taken a step toward making that dream a reality and you've got to love it when your kids achieve their dreams."
Holtz and the National team will participate in the 3 Nations Challenge in Saskatoon from July 11th-14th. The 3 Nations Challenge will feature the National teams from Canada, The Netherlands and Chinese Taipei. CBS Sports will televise the semifinal (live at 3:20pm EST) and the final game (tape delay to July 21st at 2:30-4:30pm EST)
The Team will then travel to Wisconsin to participate in exhibition games against the Women's All Star Pro League Team on July 21st and 22nd (July 21st game will be broadcast on ESPN and TSN will televise it on July 27th- 3:30-5:30am) and then on to the Pan American Qualifying Championship in Caracus, Venezuela which will be held from July 28th-August 5th.
The 17 members of the Canadian National Team are listed below plus two reserves:
Pitchers: Kaila Holtz- North Vancouver, BC Heather Newsham- Winnipeg, MB Sandy Newsham- Winnipeg, MB Kelly Zielstra- White Rock, BC
Catchers: Lesley Attwell- Coquitlam, BC Kim Sarrazin- St. Eustache, PQ Erin Cumpstone- Saskatoon, SK
Infield: Nathalie Fradette- Boucherville, PQ Angela Lichty- Guelph, ON Jacki Nichol- Saskatoon, SK Kristy Odamura- Richmond, BC Sommer West- Bowmanville, ON Kate Vaughan- Burlington, ON
Outfield: Meaggan Wilton- Blenheim, ON Michelle Ashley- Burlington, ON Sasha Olsen- Valemount, BC Allison Bradley- Pinkerton, ON
Reserves: Danica Payette- Notre-Dame De Lourdes, MB Cindy Eadie- Brantford, ON