CLEARWATER, Fla. --- Following a two-day selection process, 24 athletes have been selected to continue their training for a spot on the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team (JWNT), USA Softball announced today. Selected by members of the Women's National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC), these athletes will compete in a training camp and exhibition games in Oklahoma City and at the World Cup of Softball XII. Following the conclusion of the World Cup of Softball XII, the final 17-player roster for the 2017 USA Softball JWNT will be determined. That roster will be competing at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women's World Championship, which will be held July 24-30 in Clearwater, Fla.

"I'm looking forward to seeing this team and how they develop," said Head Coach Laura Berg (Corvallis, Ore./Head Coach at Oregon State). "It's going to be a fun and long process, but I am expecting great things to come out of this group. We're here to defend a Gold Medal, and anything less than that is not good enough."

2017 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team

Hannah Adams - San Jose, Calif. Infield (Florida), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 10
Alexis Allan - Roopville, Ga. Infield/Outfield (Michigan), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 8
Holly Azevedo - Hesperia Calif. Pitcher/Infield (UCLA), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 26
Nicole Bates - Ceres, Calif. Infield (Washington), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 12
Elissa Brown - Ecletic, Ala. Outfield (Alabama), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 22
Julia Cottrill - Stillwater, Okla. Catcher (Florida), FloSoftball 2019 Hot 100 No. 3
Alissa Dalton - Okmulgee, Okla. Infield (Oklahoma), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 47
Gabi Deters - Bowling Green, Mo. Catcher (Kentucky)
Amanda Doyle - Canyon Country, Calif. Infield (LSU), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 20
Jessica Harper - Valencia, Calif. Infield (Arizona), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 43
Mary Iakopo - Carson, Calif. Catcher (Oregon), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 12
Giselle Juarez - Glendale, Ariz. Pitcher (Fresno State), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 45
Bethaney Keen - Brandenton, Fla. Infield (South Florida), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 75
Alexis Kilfoyl - Land O'Lakes, Fla. Pitcher (Alabama), FloSoftball 2019 Hot 100 No. 81
Baylee Klingler - Alvin, Texas Infield (Texas A&M)
Natalie Lugo - West Covina, Calif. Pitcher (Florida), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 22
Dejah Mulipola - Garden Grove, Calif. Catcher (Arizona), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 5
Maddy Nickles - Merced, Calif. Infield/Pitcher (UCLA), FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100 No. 2
Briana Perez - Martinez, Calif. Infield/Outfield (UCLA), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 1
Alyssa Rivera - Eagle Lake, Fla. Infield/Outfield (Auburn)
Kathryn Sandercock - McLean, Va. Pitcher (James Madison)
Sydney Sherrill - Moore, Okla. Infield (Florida State), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 30
Taylon Snow - Chino Hills, Calif. Infield (Auburn) - Chino Hills, Calif. Infield (Auburn), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 5
Kylee Tow - Madisonville, Ky. Outfield (Alabama), FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100 No. 15



In all, ten athletes will be competing with their NCAA Division I universities while 14 athletes will still be a part of their respective high schools prior to the 2017 season. Of those selected to the training team are five athletes who participated at the USA Softball Junior Women's Open Tryout held on December 30.

Led by Head Coach Laura Berg (Corvallis, Ore./Head Coach at Oregon State), Assistant Coaches for the 2017 USA Softball JWNT are Trisha Ford (Fremont, Calif./Head Coach at Arizona State), Kristie Fox (San Diego, Calif./Head Coach at UT- Arlington), and John Rittman (Valencia, Calif./Associate Head Coach at Kansas).

The 2017 USA Softball JWNT will look to defend the Gold after a record-breaking performance at the 2015 WBSC Junior Women's World Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla. In Oklahoma City, the JWNT went undefeated, finishing the tournament as the leaders in batting average (.425 team batting average) and runs scored (119) while limiting opponents to just six runs in a 10-0 performance.

For more information on the USA Softball JWNT, visit USASoftball.com.