IRVINE, Calif. -- A handful of current and former Sun Devils competed at last week's USA Softball International Cup in Irvine California, including 2017 NFCA First Team All-American, Giselle "G" Juarez.
"It is exciting to see current and former players in the international game," head coach Trisha Ford said. "There is so much growth internationally and with softball being in the Olympics in 2020, opportunities that didn't exist a few years ago now are coming to fruition."
In total, six players with ASU ties made appearances for their respective teams including Dallas Escobedo, Sashel Palacios, Chelsea Gonzales, Sierra Rodriguez and Cielo Meza all for Team Mexico, while Juarez made four appearances in the circle for Puerto Rico.
While the two United States teams (Red and Blue) where able to fight their way to a pair of first place finishes in pool-play, Puerto Rico finished in fourth place in Pool A with a 3-3 record while Mexico finished fourth in Pool B with a 2-4 record.
Juarez, an All-Pac-12 First team honoree in 2018, finished the weekend with a 1-2 record following her 11.2 innings pitched in the circle. In her very first start of the event, Juarez led her team to a 5-0 win over China. In that outing, Juarez held China to just two hits while striking out 11.
In the circle for team Mexico, Escobedo finished the weekend with a 1-2 record. The former All-American pitched 17 innings during the event, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out 33.
Splitting time with her pro team, the Chicago Bandits, Palacios appeared in just three games for Mexico during the week long event. Gonzales was listed in Mexico's lineup four times, and contributed a pair of hits during the week, while Rodriguez picked up a hit in Mexico's 6-0 win over Columbia on Thursday.
Fans can keep up with ASU all summer by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
International Cup Final Standings:
"It is exciting to see current and former players in the international game," head coach Trisha Ford said. "There is so much growth internationally and with softball being in the Olympics in 2020, opportunities that didn't exist a few years ago now are coming to fruition."
In total, six players with ASU ties made appearances for their respective teams including Dallas Escobedo, Sashel Palacios, Chelsea Gonzales, Sierra Rodriguez and Cielo Meza all for Team Mexico, while Juarez made four appearances in the circle for Puerto Rico.
While the two United States teams (Red and Blue) where able to fight their way to a pair of first place finishes in pool-play, Puerto Rico finished in fourth place in Pool A with a 3-3 record while Mexico finished fourth in Pool B with a 2-4 record.
Juarez, an All-Pac-12 First team honoree in 2018, finished the weekend with a 1-2 record following her 11.2 innings pitched in the circle. In her very first start of the event, Juarez led her team to a 5-0 win over China. In that outing, Juarez held China to just two hits while striking out 11.
In the circle for team Mexico, Escobedo finished the weekend with a 1-2 record. The former All-American pitched 17 innings during the event, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out 33.
Splitting time with her pro team, the Chicago Bandits, Palacios appeared in just three games for Mexico during the week long event. Gonzales was listed in Mexico's lineup four times, and contributed a pair of hits during the week, while Rodriguez picked up a hit in Mexico's 6-0 win over Columbia on Thursday.
Fans can keep up with ASU all summer by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
International Cup Final Standings:
| Pool A | Pool B |
| USA Red 6-0 | USA Blue 5-1 |
| Chinese Taipei 2-3 | Japan 6-1 |
| China 3-2 | Canada 5-2 |
| Puerto Rico 3-3 | Mexico 2-4 |
| Peru 0-6 | Venezuela 1-6 |
| Scrap Yard Fast Pitch 3-4 | Czech Republic 3-3 |
| Colombia 1-6 |