Aug. 2, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY - San Diego State softball signee Kayla Bufardeci has been selected to represent the USA Women's Baseball National Team at the IBAF World Cup, USA Baseball announced yesterday. Bufardeci, who will join the Aztecs in the fall, is one of 20 who made the team and is the second-youngest athlete on the roster.
The USA Women's National Team was built from a pool of athletes who competed at the women's regional tryouts in San Francisco (June 2), New Lenox, Ill. (June 9) and Cary, N.C. (June 16). The top-36 women from across the nation then advanced to trials in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah and Salt Lake City Community College from July 28-Aug. 1. After participating in a series of practices and scrimmages, the coaching staff selected its final 20 to represent the U.S.
The women's national team will remain in Salt Lake City until Aug. 6 when it heads to Edmonton, Alberta in its final preparation for the IBAF World Cup, which is slated to begin on Aug. 10. After a series of exhibition games, the World Cup begins with pool play from Aug. 10-17. Team USA is scheduled to play Netherlands (Aug. 10), Australia (Aug. 11), Japan (Aug. 12), Canada (Aug. 13), Cuba (Aug. 14), Chinese Taipei (Aug. 16) and Venezuela (Aug. 17). The top-four teams from pool play advance to the medal rounds beginning on Aug. 18 with the finals slated for Aug. 19.
A power-hitting utility player, Bufardeci played her club ball for Lady Hustle Gold in Pleasanton, Calif., and her high school ball at Castro Valley. Over her first three years (stats aren't available for the 2012 season), Bufardeci led the Trojans to three consecutive Hayward Area Athletic League titles, hitting .480 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples and 69 RBIs, while owning a .774 slugging percentage. In 2011, Bufardeci hit .486 with seven homers and 30 RBIs en route to being named HAAL Player of the Year. She was also a first-team all-East Bay selection and two-time all-league pick, while also excelling in basketball and baseball at Castro Valley HS.
In 2012, SDSU finished 32-24 for its seventh consecutive 30-win season before falling to Hofstra in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional final. It is the second straight year that San Diego State advanced to the NCAA Regional title game and fourth time overall, just missing out on a NCAA Super Regional appearance (equivalent of the Sweet 16). The Aztecs ended the season with votes in both national polls.