June 13, 2007
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech softball standout Aileen Morales was invited to play second base for the Puerto Rican National Softball Team. She becomes the first Yellow Jacket to compete on the international softball scene.
By making the national team, Morales will have a shot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Morales spent six days in Salinas, Puerto Rico, this past week trying out for the national team. She found out Sunday before leaving Monday that she was one of 17 players selected to the national squad, earning a spot at second base. She now has two weeks off before having to return to Puerto Rico on June 26. From there, the team will train before leaving to participate in the 14th Canada Cup June 30-July 8 in Surrey, British Columbia. The team will also play in the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 23-29.
Her team will compete in the Americas Olympic Qualifier Aug. 18-26 in Valencia, Venezuela, to determine the eighth and final participant in next year’s marquee sporting event.
Morales had her finest season as a Yellow Jacket in 2007. She helped lead the team to a school-record 54 wins, and a final national ranking of 16. Morales garnered All-America third team honors and was named to the first team All-Southeast Region and All-Atlantic Coast Conference teams. She also earned Academic All-District III second team accolades.
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