Milligan softball to play Team USA in 2020
USA Softball announced Tuesday, Nov. 26, plans to return to Johnson City this spring for an exhibition game against Milligan College.
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Nov. 26, 2019) – USA Softball announced Tuesday, Nov. 26, plans to return to Johnson City this spring for an exhibition game against Milligan College.
For the second time in school history, Milligan's softball team will compete against the USA Softball Women's National Team as part of their "Stand Beside Her" tour to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The exhibition game will be played at TVA Credit Union Ballpark (199-131 Legion Street, Johnson City, Tenn., 37601) on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at 1 p.m.
"We are thrilled to host the U.S. Olympic Softball Team again in 2020," Milligan head softball coach Wes Holly said. "We initially played them in 2008 when they were on their 'Bound 4 Beijing' tour, and it was a great experience for our team, spectators and the community as a whole. We expect no less in 2020."
In 2008, the Milligan College Buffaloes became the first NAIA school and team ever to play an Olympic team.
"Milligan softball is extremely honored and excited to work with USA Softball and the Johnson City Visitors and Convention Bureau to bring a world class event to Johnson City," said Mark Fox, Milligan vice president for athletics and student development. "To be selected for a second time to play Team USA speaks to the quality of the first event. Coach Holly and our players do an outstanding job representing Milligan."
According to Fox, the significance of hosting the Olympic team is heightened by being a game that also serves as the final athletic event for Milligan College before officially transitioning to Milligan University on June 1, 2020.
"The fact that this will be our last athletic event as Milligan College is a unique way for Milligan athletics to close one chapter in our long history of success and launch our program toward setting new standards of achievement as Milligan University," Fox added.
The 2020 USA Team roster includes two Olympic Medalists, pitchers Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman, as well as members of the 2018 World Championship team and 2019 Pan American Games Gold Medal team. The 15-member roster is comprised of former or current NCAA Division I student athletes, five of whom have won National Championships and four who garnered USA Softball Player of the Year honors.
Hosted by the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, tickets for the game will be available beginning Monday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. General admission for adults is $20, $15 for youth ages 3-10. Reserved seating is $25. VIP tickets are $60. Children two years and under are free. Information on purchasing tickets will be announced Sunday, Dec. 15.
For more information about the USA Softball Women's National Team and tour, visit www.StandBesideHerTour.com.