Hayes Named Spanish National Team Pitching Coach
May 22, 2003 | Softball
BOSTON - Boston University softball head coach Amy Hayes has been named the pitching coach for the Spanish National Softball Team and will spend the summer touring Italy as the squad plays in a number of international tournaments, including the Olympic Qualifier.
The National Team begins play in a tournament in Legnano, Italy from June 5-8. It will compete against the National Teams of Italy and Venezuela, as well as an All-Star team from the Italian club teams.
The team will attempt to gain a spot in the 2004 Athens Olympics when it participates in the Olympic Qualifier from June 22-29. The Qualifier is comprised of teams from Europe and Africa. One team will emerge from the tournament with an Olympic invitation.
The European Softball Championship takes place from July 6-12 in Saronno, Italy. The Championship is used as a qualifier for the World Championship, with the top four teams qualifying. Spain will be competing in Pool A along with Great Britain, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Italy.
"I'm very thankful to be given the opportunity to work with a National Team that is vying for an Olympic position in the 2004 Olympics," said Hayes. "I'm excited to work with the young athletes and to work with coach Beitia and coach Takasaki. It's also a great way for Boston University to send a message internationally about where the Terrier program is heading and to help us in recruiting student-athletes."
"For us to win the Olympic Qualifier this summer, our pitching must be the best that it has ever been," said Spanish National Team head coach Jim Beitia. "We are hoping that coach Hayes will have the success with our pitchers that she has had in her NCAA coaching career. I am confident that the addition of coach Hayes to our staff will have an immediate impact on our performance level."
In her three seasons at Boston University, Hayes has coached the Terriers to two America East Conference Championships, three straight conference regular-season titles, and two consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. She has amassed a 95-63 overall record at B. U.
Beitia is the former head softball coach at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of Tennessee. He is assisted by Megumi Takasaki, who participated in the NCAA Women's College World Series while attending the University of California - Berkeley from 1996-99.
