6-25-2007

 Former Walters State catcher and 2007 TJCCAA softball player of the year, Elisha Collins, will be traveling to Bangkok, Thailand as part of the USA/NJCAA softball team.  She is one of 15 current and former softball standouts who will play in the 2007 World University Games Aug. 11-17.

“I am very proud of Elisha,” said WSCC head coach Larry Sauceman.  “She has had some remarkable opportunities.  Last year she played in Belgium and now Thailand.  It shows you how far hard work and dedication will take you.”   

The International University Sports (Universiade) is similar to the Olympic Games. The games are held every two years, and students from 200 countries in 20 different sporting events will participate

"We are proud to send a group of some of our most outstanding student-athletes to represent the United States," said NJCAA associate executive director Mary Ellen Leicht. "It is not only an honor for these young ladies and for the NJCAA; it is a great opportunity to show the world the amount of talent there is at the two-year college level."

The tournament is a round-robin format. Team USA/NJCAA will be grouped with Japan, Australia, Korea and the Czech Republic.   Other teams include Thailand, Chinese Taipei, South Africa, Canada and Italy.  The top four teams from each pool advance to a bracketed tournament which will be played over the final three days of the games.

In 2007, Collins finished the season sixth in the nation in home runs with 18.  She amassed 59 RBIs and threw out 17 of 23 attempted stolen bases.  She has signed with Carson-Newman College.

Team USA/NJCAA is comprised of players from Arizona, Florida, Idaho and Tennessee.  The team will practice and have exhibition games at Chattanooga State Technical Community College until they depart for Thailand.