WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Joey Lye ‘09
(Toronto, ONT), a four-year starter for Williams softball and
women’s ice hockey teams and current Eph assistant coach in
both sports, has been selected to play for the 2010 Canadian
National Softball Team.
The Canadian Team will be competing in the International Softball
Federation World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela, June 24
– July 2. In Caracas the Canadians will be grouped with Cuba,
Chinese Taipei, Argentina, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa and
The Netherlands. Canada’s first opponent will be Cuba on June
24th.
Lye endured six days of the Canadian National Team Evaluation Camp in Surrey, BC to gain selection. A year ago Lye made it to the final roster cut with the Canadian National Team and just missed out. She left the 2009 tryouts with a training guide and instructions from the coaches on what she needed to do to improve her game.
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| Lye at shortstop for the Ephs |
“Last year Joey was very close to making it,” said Eph head softball coach Kris Herman. “The national team coaches told her they liked her a lot and they gave her some information on how to prepare for this year’s camp. Joey did everything the coaches told her to do and it paid off. They loved her short game, but wanted her to hit away too, so she worked on that indoors and outdoors. After our season our pitchers pitched to her almost every day. We hit balls to her in the outfield and second base to get her ready.”
“Joey spent a lot of time in the weight room, working on her running, especially sprints,” said Herman. I’m thrilled all of her hard work has paid off for her.”
Lye had texted Wednesday night that she did not have a good day
at practice and feared she might not make the team. Her email
Thursday morning said, “ I MADE THE TEAM :)”
"I was preparing myself for the worst on the way to my meeting
this morning [Thursday], while still hoping to be lucky enough to
make the team,” said Lye. “I was speechless when I was
told I had performed well enough to earn myself a jersey. I am
so excited and honored to have the opportunity to represent my
country this summer."
Joey Lye is listed on the Canadian National Team roster as a utility player and coach Herman thinks Joey is likely to see time at second base, outfield or even as a pinch runner.
“There really is no reason not to have Joey Lye on your team – she’s versatile, fast, has an awesome short game and her leadership, attitude and work ethic are second to none,” stated Herman.
During the first three weeks of July the Canadian team will play
numerous exhibition games. Later in July Canada will travel to
Oklahoma City to participate in the KFC World Cup of Softball July
22 -26. Kris Herman has already made her travel arrangements for
the games in Oklahoma City.
Lye’s team will open the World Cup with a game against the
USA at 7:00 pm on Thursday the 22nd in a game that will
be televised live on ESPN. ESPN2 will also televise the USA –
Canada contest on Sunday the 25th at 4:00 PM. Japan will
also be participating along with another team from the USA dubbed
USA Futures.
Lye started off as an outfielder for the Ephs and finished her career at shortstop. In ice hockey Lye played 100 games for the Ephs as a defender and she netted 18 goals and assisted on 23. Three of her 18 tallies were game-winning goals.
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| Lye holds 5
Eph career records |
Lye set five career softball records at Williams and finished
among the top 10 in 11 different offensive categories. She was
named the ECAC 2009 Division III New England Player of the Year,
named to the NFCA's New England Region First Team, selected as the
2009 NESCAC Player of the Year and was a New England Softball
Coaches Association First Team selection.
Her 2009 batting average of .563 led the nation (Div. III) and is
a Williams single-season record. In 2009, Lye led the Ephs in runs
scored (43), hits (63), total bases (73), walks (13), on-base
percentage (.608), and assists (74) as well as the batting average
and stolen bases (22).
Lye finished her career as the all-time leader in batting average
(.457), runs scored (150), hits (211), total bases (267) and stolen
bases (62). That in 148 games played, third best all-time.
