University of Connecticut Athletics
Marcelino Selected to Participate in 2020 ‘Stand Beside Her’ Tour
2/26/2020 9:59:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. – Junior infielder Briana Marcelino has been selected to participate in the 2020 'Stand Beside Her Tour', which will take place later this summer. The game will be held on June 18, 2020 at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, MA.
"It's an incredible opportunity! I'm so appreciative to be a part of the Brakettes program and be selected to play against the Olympic team," said Marcelino. "It's going to be a surreal experience because not many people have the opportunity to compete against the Olympic team."
The "Stand Beside Her" tour is a series of competitions and training opportunities for the 2020 USA Softball Women's National Team (WNT) as they prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The "Stand Beside Her" message encourages fans everywhere to stand united in their support of the WNT and the United States in their journey to the Olympic Games.
"I'm very much looking forward to watching Bri compete against the best players in the world," said head coach Laura Valentino. "Bri is a tough hitter to get out three times so it will be exciting watching her competitive edge go up against legends in our game."
The tour evokes a powerful message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.
"Softball is such an amazing sport that not only brings athletes rewards on the field, but so many lessons off," Valentino added. "I love that the Women's National Team is rallying support around our game with the "Stand Beside Her" tour. It shows their dedication and continued commitment to grow the game of softball."
Marcelino has gotten off to a nice start in her junior year. The Easton, Conn., native has started all 10 games for the Huskies, racking up eight hits, nine runs, nine RBI's, one home run, three doubles and a .273 average.
A 2019 First Team All-AAC selection, Marcelino spent this past summer competing with the Stratford Brakettes, where she is a two-year program member.
"The Brakettes program has been so wonderful for me and very accommodating to me and my schedule," said Marcelino. "They offer such great opportunities for local players and the ability to get better over the summer, and I'm very thankful to be apart of such a legendary program."
When asked if there was anything in particular she was looking forward to, Marcelino just expressed how surreal the moment would be for her.
"It's going to be a fun and unique experience to see and play next to those great players because a lot of them I've grown up admiring and wanting to be like them – Monica Abbott or Cat Osterman, they're such legendary players in softball and I think it's going to be a little surreal sharing the field with them."
Fast Start to the Season
Winners of their last seven games, the UConn softball team boasts an 8-2 record after the first two weeks of the season. This is the program's best start through 10 games since 2007, when the team started the year 9-1.
As a team, the Huskies have accounted for 79 hits, 52 runs, 49 RBI's, 18 doubles, three home runs and a .375 BA. Defensively, UConn has accumulated 68 strikeouts and limited its opponents to just 24 runs, 24 hits through 274 at-bats, and a .188 opponent batting average.
Up Next
UConn heads out west to California to compete in the Capital Classic this weekend from Feb. 28-March 1. The Huskies compete against Santa Clara (2), UC Davis, Saint Mary's and Sacramento State across the three-day event.
