Malibu native Jamie Samuel has been selected to play for the United States softball team competing in the 19th World Maccabiah Games, taking place in Israel beginning July 17. Samuel is currently a senior at Kenyon College in Ohio.
“It’s quite an honor to represent the U.S. and to be able to showcase a sport that was taken out of the Olympics,” Samuel said in a statement. “We have a chance to put softball back in an international light and hopefully create future opportunities for the sport.”
Nearly 50 athletes were considered for the team, but only 15 were selected. The U.S. team is coached by Donald Linsky.
Through her first three seasons at Kenyon, Samuel has a .411 career batting average and has struck out only five times in 331 at-bats.