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July 27, 2010

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Former Lady Vol standout pitcher Monica Abbott (2004-07) guided the U.S. Women's National Team to the championship while Tennessee rising sophomore All-American outfielder Raven Chavanne helped lead the U.S. Women's Futures National Team to a surprising bronze medal finish at KFC World Cup of Softball 5 over July 22-26 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

In her first major event action for the U.S., Chavanne played in all seven contests for the Futures squad (3-4 record), either as the starter in right field or as a pinch runner, hitting .389 overall (7-of-18) while totaling three runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native was at her best at the plate during a 2-1 upset of 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Japan on Sun., July 25th, as she went a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish and scored the eventual winning tally after delivering a single to lead off the sixth inning. During the bronze medal contest, Chavanne knocked in a run on a single through the left side of the infield during a six-run, seventh-inning explosion as the U.S. Futures trounced Canada, 9-3.

As usual Abbott was outstanding from the circle for the U.S. National Team (6-1 record) on the way to the event title. The 6-3 lefthander recorded a miniscule 0.37 ERA, struck out 35 batters and allowed just seven total hits and one earned run over 19 total innings of work. During Team USA's opener against Canada (9-0 in six inn.), the Salinas, Calif., product permitted just two hits over six frames while striking out a staggering 16 batters, including the first nine of the contest. After firing a one-hit shutout with nine K's against Japan in the preliminary rounds, Abbott finally gave up a run during the rematch with the gold medal on the line but struck out 10 Japanese batters as Team USA downed Japan, 5-1.