Bound for Beijing: Husker Olympic Softball Blog #1

This is the first installment in a series of blogs from Team Canada Head Coach Lori Sippel and starting first baseman Sheena Lawrick about their preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Sippel, NU's associate head coach, is entering her 20th season as a member of the Husker coaching staff, while she was an athletic and academic All-American for the Huskers as pitcher from 1985 to 1988. Originally from Stratford, Ontario, Sippel pitched in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and will be coaching in her first Olympics this August.

Lawrick was a Husker from 2002 to 2005, where she helped lead NU to two Big 12 titles and one Women's College World Series appearance. She is competing in her second straight Olympic Games, as she overcame a torn ACL injury that cut her Husker season short to return in time for the Olympics in Athens. Canada opens its Olympic schedule on Aug. 11 against Chinese Taipei.

Team Canada Update
Coach Sippel guided Team Canada to a 9-5 record in the month of June, including a 9-3 record in a 12-game tour through the National ProFastpitch League. The Canadians opened the month with the Oklahoma City Olympic preview, where they had one game cancelled due to inclement weather before losing late leads in close losses to China and USA.

The pro tour began with a 3-1 series victory over the Chicago Bandits. Lawrick was on fire in the four-game series, finishing 8-for-13 (.615 average) with two doubles, a homer, four runs scored and four RBIs. In game two of the series, Lawrick went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a home run while producing two RBIs in Canada's 6-1 victory. The Canadians took the first three games but missed a chance for a sweep when former Husker Nicole Trimboli hit a game-winning two-run home run as Chicago won the final game, 3-1.

Team Canada was able to complete a four-game sweep of the Rockford Thunder the next weekend. Lawrick once again recorded a hit in every game, as she opened the June competition with a 10-game hitting streak. She finished the Rockford series with a .400 average (6-for-15) and six RBIs. All six of her RBIs came in the first two games, as she combined to go 4-for-7 with a double and a home run.

In its final trip of the pro tour, Canada pushed its winning streak to six before dropping the final two games to the Akron Racers. Lawrick singled and walked in the two victories, but was held hitless (0-for-6) in the two losses.

After June, Team Canada's overall pre-Olympic tour record stands at 33-10. Up next for the Canadians are the Tri-Nations Cup and the Canada Cup.

Head Coach Lori Sippel Blog
Happy Fourth of July!   

Canada just celebrated our Canada Day on July 1st when we played Venezuela to a 1-0 victory in front of a homeland crowd.  Generally speaking, the National team does not get to play in Canada much so this was certainly a special occassion. After the game the team was granted a two-day break in which they either went home if they lived locally or just took the time to catch up on rest and relaxation.   We have been on the road now since May 31 which makes today the mid-point of our preparation tour. 35 days into the tour and exactly 35 days to go until the Beijing Olympics. A recap of the events to date and a heads up on what the future holds....   We started our tour in OKC with games against the National Pro fastpitch All-stars, China and team USA. The game vs. NPF was shortened due to rain and Canada came up short vs. China and USA.  Overall not the start we had planned for but we were glad to be jumping into international play with both feet.  We certainly began with the end in mind and expect the results to be different when we meet again.   Up next was the Pro Tour in which we played four game series in Chicago, Ill.... Rockford, Ill. ... and Akron, Ohio. The weatherman was on our side as we dodged rain at all locations to complete the schedule. Canada finished with a 9-3 record.   Last night (July 3) we enjoyed a banquet which was hosted by the organizing committee for the Tri-Nations Cup here in Kitchener, Ontario. I got to sit and spend some time with my family and friends... treasured times as it just doesn't happen enough.   Up next... The Tri-Nations Cup                          July 6             Vs. Australia                                                       July 7              Vs. Japan                                                       July 8              3 vs. 4  /      1 vs. W3 vs. 4      Canada Cup    July 12-20                  www.canadacup.com (schedule)   Japan Tour       July 22 - Aug. 4   Beijing             August 4- 25          Olympic Schedule        August 12- 21

Sheena Lawrick Blog
The countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games is at 35. To some people that might seem like a lot days but to me it's starting to feel like only minutes. Every day since August of 2004 and my last game at the Athens Olympic games where we placed 5th, I've had one consistent purpose...to help get Team Canada on the podium. Four years have already gone by and we are so close to achieving this dream. Team Canada softball has made leaps and bounds in our ability and belief that our program can win a medal at the Olympic Games. I can remember the day that Coach Sippel was announced as the new head coach of Team Canada and the excitement I felt within. Our team knows she is the right person for the job, our leader to the podium. I consider myself more than lucky to have had to opportunity to learn from Coach Sippel and the entire staff at the University of Nebraska. I can say with absolute certainty that I am able to pursue my softball goals only because my family and my Husker coaches showed me my potential. I would not be able to give Canada my best self without first having learned what my best self was as a Husker.

So with 35 days of training, playing, success, frustration, exhaustion, and every emotion in between left until the opening ceremonies, it's tough to take every day for what it is; another opportunity to build trust between teammates and take another small step toward the top of the podium. Thank you to all the Husker fans supporting the Canadian red!