SACRAMENTO -- Senior outfielder
Lafulafu Malepeai has been selected to the American Samoa Softball Association (ASA) National Team player pool, and is among 42 players invited to training camp in late May.
The ASA National Team, led by Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts, will play at The Canada Cup in Surrey, British Columbia July 6-12, and the USA Softball International Cup in Oklahoma City July 28-August 3.
International play this summer will help countries in the qualification process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics where six nations, including host United States, will compete. The remaining five qualifiers for the Olympic Games will be determined by the 2027 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup, regional championships and a last-chance qualifier tournament.
The final roster will be the first-ever national softball team from American Samoa, and Malepeai will attempt to become the third Hornet softball player to appear in the Olympic games. Former Hornet Suzy Brookshire competed for Mexico in 2020, and Susie Bugliarello pitched for Italy at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Malepeai has been incredible this season for Sacramento State, leading the team in batting average (.409), runs (35), hits (52), home runs (15), RBIs (41), slugging percentage (.835), walks (28), on-base percentage (.519), multiple-hit games (18), multiple-RBI games (8), average with runners in scoring position (.541), and average vs. Big Sky Conference opposition (.533).
The South San Francisco, Calif., native is currently riding a 14-game hitting streak, and has reached base safely in 24 straight games. Her 15 home runs are three shy of the program record, and, if the season ended today, her on-base and slugging percentages would be the top single-season marks in school history.
Malepeai leads all Big Sky players in slugging percentage, OPS (1.354), home runs, RBIs and walks. She is also 8-for-10 in stolen base opportunities, has committed just one error all season in the outfield, and is one of three Hornets to start all 41 games.
