From gousfbulls.com TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2005) – Former University of South Florida softball player Leigh Ann Ellis has been selected to compete with the United States Softball National Team in the 2005 Pacific Rim Sports Summit in Seattle this June, marking the first time in USF softball history that a former Bull has ever been selected to play with the national team. Ellis will be reunited with her former coach, USF head coach and 2004 Olympic gold medal assistant coach Ken Eriksen, who will return as the assistant coach for the national team at this event. The Barboursville, W.V., native is one of three newcomers selected to the national team after a three-day tryout camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., at the beginning of January. The 15-player squad that will compete in Seattle is made up of 12 players who won gold at the Summer Olympics in 2004. Although Ellis played for USF for only two years (2003 and 2004), she was one of the most prolific pitchers in Bulls history, rewriting the single-season record book in victories (43 in 2004), innings pitched (315.2 in 2003), strikeouts (320 in 2003), shutouts (15 in 2004) and saves (four in 2004). She is also ranked in the top five all-time in the following categories: earned run average (1.13-fourth), strikeouts (633-second), victories (77-second) and innings pitched (610-third). Last season, the former Bull pitched 294.1 innings without giving up a home run. She also had a stellar performance in an exhibition game against the USA Softball Team, getting the starting nod and holding the Olympic Team scoreless for 5 1/3 innings – the longest Team USA has been held scoreless by a United States pitcher. A force on the mound, she helped lead USF to back-to-back NCAA Regional Appearances in 2003 and 2004 while receiving numerous national and conference accolades. Ellis, along with the other 14 players, have been selected for this event only and must go through another team camp in mid-June to earn a spot on the 2005 National Team or Elite Team. This is a very good accomplishment for her and shows what kind of program we have if we get players that are that kind of calibur.