Alabama Softball at the World Cup of Softball XII

Three players with ties to Alabama softball competed at the World Cup of Softball XII this past weekend at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Four-time All-American Haylie McCleney earned a runner-up finish with Team USA while Elissa Brown and Kaylee Tow placed fifth with the Junior Women’s National Team.

Team USA won its first six games to secure a spot in Sunday’s championship game with Japan, but ultimately dropped a 2-1 decision despite out-hitting Japan, 6-3. McCleney, a four-time All-American at Alabama from 2013-16, appeared in six of the team’s seven games this week, including five starts. She hit .474 with nine hits in 19 at-bats, including a solo home run in the July 7 win over Japan. She had six RBIs over the weekend, four of which came in a 4-4 performance against Puerto Rico on July 8.

The USA Junior Women’s National Team went 4-3 over the week’s seven games, finishing fifth. An SEC All-Freshman selection for the Crimson Tide last season, Brown appeared in all seven games for the JWNT, earning six starts. She was 8-18 at the plate (.444) with nine runs scored, three walks and just one strikeout. She drove in a pair of runs and scored three herself in a 14-7 win over the Philippines on July 7. Incoming Tide freshman Kaylee Tow, a native of Madisonville, Ky., appeared in three games with the JWNT, including two starts. She earned a hit and drew a walk in the July 6 loss vs. Australia.

Team USA will participate in a number of exhibition games over the coming weeks, including a stop in Tuscaloosa on July 20, before heading to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic for the Pan American Games/World Championship Qualifier August 4-13. They will then conclude the summer schedule with the Japan Cup in Takasaki City August 25-27. The JWNT will head to Clearwater, Fla., for the World Baseball Softball Confederation Junior Women’s World Championship July 24-30 before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio for the Major League Baseball RBI World Series.