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News Release

UMBC Softball’s Denischuk Invited to Try Out for Team Canada

11/30/2006

Melanie Denischuk was invited to try out for Team Canada.

Baltimore-UMBC senior first baseman Melanie Denischuk has been invited to the Canadian Senior Women’s National Team Selection Camp in Las Vegas on Jan. 2-7, 2007, where she will compete against 32 girls for one of 24 spots on Team Canada’s roster.

Three teams will be named from the selection camp, and players may be asked to participate on more than one. The National Team will represent Canada at four events during the summer of 2007. Competitions will include the Canada Cup, the U.S. World Cup, the Pan-Am Games and an event still to be scheduled. The Elite Team will represent Canada at the Canada Cup only, while the World University Games team will represent Canada at the World University Games in Thailand and will likely consist of players from the National Team and the Elite Team.

All three rosters will be announced in part or in their entirety on or before Feb. 9, 2007.

“I’m very proud of Mel,” UMBC head coach Joe French said. “This is a great accomplishment for her and for this program. She deserves it.”

Denischuk, a native of Carstairs, Alberta, Canada, had one of the best seasons in UMBC softball history in 2006. She shattered school records for home runs (24) and RBI (82) in a season, as well as total bases (161), slugging percentage (.880), walks (39) and on-base percentage (.545). Her .432 average was tied for best on the team. She had 79 hits, including 10 doubles, and scored 45 runs on the season. Denischuk was also spectacular in the field, committing only three errors in 359 chances for a .992 fielding percentage, second-best on the team among regulars.

Along with her monster numbers came a long line of accolades, including NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team, America East Conference Player of the Year and UMBC’s Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year. She received five conference Player of the Week nods and was selected as a top-25 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.