Former Merrill High softball player Stacey Marcum, now a recent graduate at the University of Minnesota-Crookston (UMC), has been selected to compete in the USA Athletes International (USAAI) program in the Down Under Cup Challenge in Australia. Marcum is a part of a group of collegiate softball players who will compete July 21-Aug. 2, 2013 at the Olympic softball venue in Sydney, Australia.
USAAI is a non-profit organization that provides athletes and coaches with the opportunity to compete in an international Olympic-style sporting event all throughout the world.
After ending her career at UMC, she now holds the records for most appearances (103), most strike outs (215), games started (64), and innings pitched (371-1/3).
“I received an email stating that I was nominated in the fall and took time to decide that this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It also helps that I will be going with another teammate from UMC. I am very excited for this opportunity. I feel this is going to be a great way to end my competitive softball career by being able to go to another country and represent USA. Not many people can say they have gone to another country to compete in a sport to represent their own country. It’s going to be fun to meet other players from all over the nation as well and be able to do many different fun things in Australia. I expect for this to be an opportunity of a lifetime and I hope to be able to give my all one last time in the sport I have spent my whole life trying to get better at.”
To make a donation to defray expenses, send it to Marcum at 804 Jefferson St. Merrill, Wis., 54452.