Ashley Bone’s European Vacation
January 8, 2009 North Carolina
By Charles Alston
Nashville Graphic
ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central High School softball pitcher Ashley Bone is going international.
The Bulldog junior has been selected to play in the Q-Sport Cup Softball Tournament Jan. 14-17 in Scheidam, the Netherlands.
When the Cup began 1996, it was originally called the French Cup. The Cup was originated in Lyon, France, but moved in 2002 to Schiedam. The tournament is governed by the Dutch Fastpitch Softball Federation.
Six American teams, with 10 players each (six on defense with two pitchers, two catchers) will be playing in Schiedam, a city of about 75,000 that is a one-hour drive from Amsterdam. All games will be timed and played indoors, where any ball that hits the ceiling is an out.
Her selection to the team came a bit early, however. Earning a spot on these select teams usually goes to a senior, but an injury to a pitcher on one of the squads moved Bone into the lineup and gave her a chance to take her game abroad a year early.
"I'm more excited than scared," said Bone, a two-time NEW 6 All-Conference selection, about going to the tournament, but flying for the first time ever. "I can't wait to get over there and get with the girls and hit the field. I expect it will be a wonderful experience for me."
Bone, ranked No. 3 in her class with a 4.485 GPA, is taking this chance to learn what it's like playing with new people and new personalities -- just like she will when she heads off to play college softball after her senior season.
"This experience will be invaluable," said Bone, who has been playing travel softball since the age of 9. "Playing in a different environment with different people can only help me down the line when I leave for college and it will also help me to be more focused in my game overall.
"The pace of the game will be faster (50-minute games)," said Bone, who at one time also played volleyball and basketball at Nash Central before deciding that her future was in softball. "Sometimes, you don't even get to get any warm-up pitches. It's more intense and you have be on your game. I like playing in those types of games. It will get me ready for the faster pace of college ball."
Bone, who guided Nash Central to a second place finish in the NEW 6 last season, says her involvement with the Queen of Diamonds Tournament opened the door for her chance to be in position to be chosen to go to Holland.
She just returned last week from a Queen of Diamonds event at Kent State University in Ohio, where they played games in a four-story arena despite the cold climes of the Midwest howling outside.
Her mom and dad, Ellen and Alvin Bone, will be accompanying her on the trip, but it won't be all softball. They will get to sight-see in the Netherlands and they have a stopover in the City of Lights -- Paris, France -- before heading home.
Travel expenses, however, are not covered by the event's organizers. Each player must raise the funds to get over to Europe and back. And with the stability of the dollar abroad in a flux, the expense numbers can change at a moment's notice.
If an area civic organization is interested in helping Bone with her expenses, please contact Alvin Bone at 443-9930 or online at WMKimber@aol.com. |
NATIONAL
NORTH CAROLINA
