Softball Southern Conference

Elon Softball Coach Named To Baseball National Team

DURHAM, N.C.-- Elon University head softball coach Patti Raduenz was named to the first-ever USA Baseball Women's National team on Monday afternoon. USA Baseball announced the 18-member team after a weekend tryout in Lynn, Massachusetts that consisted of 34 women who were selected from regional tryouts. The team will travel during the summer and will represent the United States in the 2004 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women's World Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, July 30-August 8 and the World Series held in Japan. For a full roster of the 2004 USA Baseball Women's National Team, log on to www.usabaseball.com/womens_wcup_headquarters.html.

"We're excited to have Patricia on the team, and know she will be a great contributor as we try to capture the gold medal in Edmonton," said Team USA General Manager Nick Lopardo.

"I'm speechless right now," said Raduenz after learning she made the squad. "I'm extremely proud to go represent the USA internationally and honored to be one of 18 players selected to be on the USA Baseball Women's National Team."

Raduenz, a native of Burlington, Wis., recently completed her fourth season as Elon's head coach. During the 2004 season, her team compiled a 33-23-1 record including an 11-10 ledger and fourth-place finish in Southern Conference play. The 33 wins are the most for the program since moving to Division-I play five years ago and tied for the third-most wins in program history. Raduenz witnessed five of her players receive All-Southern Conference honors during its first year in the league. The 2004 team finished the season ranked third in the nation with a .976 fielding percentage. Following the 2002 season, Raduenz earned Big South Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading her team to a second-place finish.

Prior to her arrival at Elon, Raduenz was an assistant at the University of North Carolina. She served as the hitting and infield instructor for the Tar Heels during the 2000 season. Under her tutelage, the Tar Heels posted the fifth-best batting average in the nation. Raduenz has also served as an assistant at California State University of Sacramento and at Iowa State University in Ames.

In her four seasons at Michigan State University, Raduenz put together a .372 career batting average. During both her junior and senior seasons, her batting average topped the .400 mark. After her senior campaign, she was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Raduenz also earned All-American honors and was a two-time Academic All-American. Raduenz's Michigan State teammate and second baseman Keri Lemasters also made the USA Baseball Women's National team.

After leaving Michigan State, Raduenz played for the Georgia Pride and the Durham Dragons in the WPSL. She was the first player traded in league history. In 1997, Raduenz finished second in batting average and doubles in the WPSL.