Three Bruins join 2017 USA Softball Women’s National Team
UCLA alumna Ally Carda earned her third stint with the Women’s National Team. The former Bruin pitcher/first baseman earned back-to-back Pac-12 Player of the Year honors in 2014 and 2015. (Daily Bruin file photo)
By David Gottlieb
Jan. 9, 2017 9:28 p.m.
Three UCLA softball players secured spots on the 2017 USA Softball Women’s National Team.
Bruin alumna Ally Carda, sophomore Paige Halstead and senior Delaney Spaulding were all named to the team after a four-day tryout camp last week.
The three will represent the U.S. this summer at the World Cup of Softball XII and the Pan American Games/World Baseball Softball Confederation World Championship Qualifier.
[Related: Two Bruins help Team USA win gold at softball world championship]
Carda will join the Women’s National Team’s roster for a third time. The pitcher and first baseman earned back-to-back Pac-12 Player of the Year honors in 2014 and 2015, but never won a national championship with the Bruins.
Spaulding led the Bruins with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs in her junior year – the shortstop was a second-team All-American in 2016. Last year with the Women’s National Team, she hit two home runs, including a grand slam against Austria.
Halstead will make her second appearance on the team after making the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2016, although the catcher and utility player did not play in any games for Team USA. She batted .289 in her rookie campaign.
[Related: Spaulding and Halstead represent U.S. in all-star game against Japan]
UCLA softball’s first game of the season is on Feb. 10 at home.
