For the second year in a row I was chosen to represent Region 8 in Oklahoma City, OK at the USA SOFTBALL ALL AMERICAN GAMES.  The event took place June 8-10, 2019 at The Hall of Fame Stadium.  The same place where the Women's College World Series was just one week earlier.  It is such a  great honor to wear "USA" across my chest and represent Region 8 in this exciting event!

Prior to the event, as well as during, USA Softball runs contests on social media where we could win chances to sing the National Anthem (glad I didn't win that one) or throw out the first pitch and fun stuff like that.  It's always super hot in OKC, and usually rains some while we are there.  This year we were lucky enough that it didn't rain enough to get any of our games cancelled.  We ended up playing three pool play games, before bracket play on Monday.  We lost our game on Monday 2-3 in a very close, intense game.  

On Friday we got a chance to get together and meet all of our teammates and have a practice.  We practiced right across the street from the Oklahoma Sooners Softball Complex.  After practice we got to check out the OU Stadium and that was super cool.  Friday night we all went to a Player Camp put on by "Softball Factory", where we received extra instruction in fundamental skills and did lots of testing.

Saturday morning we had another practice at the main fields before receiving our Team Jerseys and getting to do a Meet & Greet with three USA Athletes.  We got to meet and get Autographs from Michelle Moultrie, Haylie McCleney and Delaney Spaulding.  Then the three of them joined us for a Team Picture with our coaches.  My dad was one of our coaches (he said I needed to mention that in this article).  After that was Opening Ceremonies, where we received our Medals and got introduced.  They also introduced all the Umpires and had a motivational guest speaker.  The speaker was famous UCLA Coach Sue Enquist, and she gave her "Bring it Sister!" speech which got everyone fired up!

Right after that the Tournament started and we were the first game on the Stadium Field.  This is the best, because everyone gets their picture and name up on the big scoreboard when you bat.  I got a chance to pitch, catch and play infield throughout the games.  We had a lot of fun watching other games, going out to eat and just hanging out and getting to know all our teammates.  I got a chance to meet several girls from other states and still keep in contact with them now and we talk about how our seasons are going this summer.  What a great experience it was again and what an amazing event.  If anyone gets a chance to go next year definitely do it,  you will have a blast and make the best memories.

Brielle Wrangham
Region 8