SOFTBALL Patteson will play in world tourney

The Canadian member of the YSU softball team will play for Team Canada.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tiffany Patteson has spent most of the last three years in Ohio, but she still thinks "O Canada" is the most beautiful song she's ever heard.
Patteson, a junior member of the Youngstown State softball team and a native of Guelph, Ontario, has been selected to play for Team Canada at the World University Softball Championships in Plant City, Fla., later this month.
The 5-foot-6 shortstop has been a starter ever since she walked onto the YSU campus, and has been one of the team leaders in each of her two seasons.
Playing for her country is not something new for Patteson. She was selected to the Canadian National team in 2003, and competed in the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Earlier this summer, she was named to the Canadian Olympic Developmental team and competed in the 2004 Canadian Cup.
"It's been an unbelievable experience," said Patteson. "Just representing your country against some of the best competition in the world is so unbelievable for me."
Teammates in Olympics
Four of Patteson's teammates from the Canadian National Team were selected for the Canadian Olympic team that competed in Athens, Greece, this summer.
"This tournament we're going to this month will go a long way in determining who will make the 2008 Olympic team," said Patteson, who has dreams of playing in the Olympics.
Patteson said that the level of competition is tremendous at the international level.
"Just a couple of weeks ago we were playing Ohio State and their pitcher was throwing 62 mile-per-hour fast balls down the middle," she said.
"In international play you will see 70 mile-per-hour fastballs, but none of them will be down the middle."
Canada didn't fare well in the Olympic games, but Patteson foresees a big improvement coming for the 2008 games.
"United States still has the best pitching in the world, but we're coming. This game still is all about pitching and defense," she said.
Help from YSU coach
Patteson said that she's had a great deal of help from her coach at YSU, Christy Cameron.
"Coach Cameron is the type of coach who will do anything to help her players and she has worked extra hard with me," she said. "I'll be playing some second base with the national team and she's helped me adjust to the position."
"This is a great opportunity for Tiff," said Cameron. "She has really worked hard during her time here at Youngstown State and this experience should only make her a better player. She is getting a chance to play against some of the best competition in the world."
The Penguins just completed their fall season with an 11-4 record, surprising Patteson.
"When we first got together there were more new faces than old ones on the roster, but it was just unbelievable how quickly we came together as a team," she said.
"The newcomers just blended in so well with the returning players," she continued. "We lost four games, but three of them were by one run."
In the last two years the Penguins have become a power in the Horizon League and Patteson expects the same this season, which will get underway at the end of February when they compete in the Eastern Kentucky Invitational.
Set YSU record
Last year, Patteson hit .352 with two triples and three home runs while driving in 33 runs. She also set a YSU single season record with 19 doubles and 37 runs scored.
In 2003 she set the school record for triples in a season (9) and ranked fifth in the nation. She has a career average of .336 with 29 doubles, 11 triples and six home runs. She also owns the school record for best slugging percentage with .547.
"I have to believe that my play at YSU has been the reason I've been selected to play with the Canadian National team," she said.
"I know that there is a lot of politics that go into the selection of these teams and since I don't really know anybody, I have to believe it's been my play here at Youngstown State that got their attention."
Patteson will leave for Florida on Oct. 22. The tournament is Oct. 26-31.
mollica@vindy.com