Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier To Travel With The Venezuelan National Team
8/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 25, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Mariangee Bogado will have a busy summer competing for her country as the Venezuelan National Team is set to play 28 games against the National Pro Fastpitch Softball League (NPF). The NPF, formerly known as the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL), has been in existence since 1997. The six-team league currently has franchises in Akron, Arizona, Chicago, New England, New York and Texas.
"The Venezuelan team has a lot of young talent, and i think if we play as a team this summer, we can make a lot of things happen," said Bogado. "We are going to be playing great teams and face some of the U.S. Olympic players like Jennie Finch, Natasha Wathley, Leah D'amico, and some other professional players that have a lot of experience."
Bogado is currently the top pitcher on the Venezuelan team. She arrived at Indiana in 2004 and quickly became one of the Hoosiers top pitchers, appearing in 43 games with 34 starts. She was 16-15 with four saves and a 1.63 ERA. The right-hander compiled a team-high 198 2/3 innings, allowing 138 hits while fanning 207 batters against 67 walks. Her 207 strikeouts were fifth most in a single season in IU history.
Her 2005 season was cut in half due to a line drive that broke a bone in her left wrist during IU's second contest of the season. The injury forced her to miss 30 games. She wound up appearing in 19 games with 13 starts, totaling 76.0 innings and a 3.32 ERA. Bogado came alive at the end of the season. In her last six appearances, four starts, the junior allowed just four earned runs and 14 hits in 29 2/3 innings. She also struck out 26 and walked 15. Against Evansville on April 26, Bogado threw her first collegiate no-hitter against a Purple Aces squad that had defeated then-No. 4 Texas, 2-0, on the road earlier in the year.
Bogado and the Venezuelan's tour starts with a trip to the East Coast to play the New York Juggernauts in a four-game weekend series from June 2-5. The Thursday, June 2, contest will be the season opener for the Juggernauts, who play their home games at Hofstra University.
The Venezuelans next series will be in the Windy City to face the Chicago Bandits from June 9-12. The Bandits are led by three-time All-American and 2004 Olympic gold medalist hurler Jennie Finch. Chicago's home games are played at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill.
The Arizona Heat will be the Venezuelans third opponent of the year with a four-game set from June 16-19. The Heat currently feature five Olympians, four Americans and one Greek, and 15 former All-Americans. The Arizona franchise plays at Hi Corbett Stadium, the spring training facility of the Colorado Rockies.
A four-game series with the Akron Racers is scheduled for June 23-26 at Firestone Stadium. The Racers are led by three members of the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal USA team in Crystl Bustos, Kelly Kretschman and Jenny Topping.
The Venezuelans travel back to the East Coast for a series against the New England Riptide from June 29-July 2. The Riptides are based in Lowell, Mass., and play their home events at Martin Field.
From July 7-11, the team will be in the Lone Star State to face the Texas Thunder. Texas is led by the 2004 NPF Pitcher of the Year and two-time Olympic gold medalist Christa Williams. The recently built Big League Dreams Sports Park in League City, Texas, will be the home facility for the Thunder.
The Venezuelans will end its summer tour with a four-game showdown against the Juggernauts from July 13-17.
" I think this summer ball is going to help me a lot," said Bogado. "It's going make me stronger physically and mentally for my last year at Indiana."
The 28-game schedule is part of the Venezuelans preparation for the 2006 Olympic qualifying tournament.
More about the NPF can be found at its official website profastpitch.com.
