Saturday, June 8, 2013

Saint Aug's White Headed to Italy on AIST U.S. Softball Team

Jo'Landa WhiteRALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Saint Augustine’s University standout Jo’Landa White will play in Italy on a U.S. all-star softball team from June 10 to June 21, 2013.

White will compete for the Stars squad of the American International Sports Teams (AIST) travel organization. She is one of 14 players on the softball team but the only one from North Carolina. Her teammates consist of 13 Division II players and one Division III player.

White is thrilled to represent her country against international competition.

“It is an honor,” she said. “I have never been away from home like this before. This will be my first plane flight. I am looking forward to seeing Italy.”

The Stars will play several games against teams from Italy and other countries during the tour, which includes sightseeing in places such as Milan, Florence and Venice. White expects to see action at catcher, shortstop and the outfield. She will wear No. 7.

White was invited to the AIST team based on her stellar play at St. Aug the past two seasons. A rising junior from Leland, N.C., White has 18 career home runs including a CIAA-leading 10 homers as a freshman in 2012. As a sophomore in 2013, she earned Daktronics All-Region honors after smacking eight homers, which tied her sister Daja for tops in the CIAA.

White also posted a .422 batting average and drove in 29 runs this season, which ranked her among the CIAA's top 10 in both categories. She helped lead the Lady Falcons to their first winning season in 10 years (17-12-1) and a fourth-place finish in the CIAA Championships, their highest finish in recent years.  As good as her numbers were this season, White looks to improve even more as a hitter in Italy.

“We will play good teams and face good pitchers,” White said. “This will be a great experience.”

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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