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CORDELE— Crisp County High School junior softball player, Riley Blampied, was recently selected to take part in tryouts for the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) later this year.

28 total softball players from across the country accepted the invitation to attend the camp, which will be taking place from December 28 to January 1 in Clearwater, Florida at the Eddie C. Moore Softball complex.

Blampied was one of five players from the state of Georgia selected. Among the participants are several college freshmen and high school seniors, while Blampied is one of four high school juniors to be selected in the group.

According to a press release from USA Softball, the 28 athletes will be competing for 20 available roster spots for the 2019 USA Softball JWNT training team, which will participate in the USA Softball International Cup later in 2019. The team will later be cut to 17 players that will participate in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Cup in Irvine, California in the middle of August next year.

According to USA Softball, the tryout process requires the selected athletes to participate in position drills and simulated games for an evaluation by USA Softball’s selection committee. Those who make the final 2019 roster will then attempt to win a third straight title at the Junior Women’s World Cup after USA titles in the event in 2015 and 2017.

Blampied, a University of Alabama commit, helped lead the Crisp County Lady Cougars to a GHSA region 1-AAA title and the second round of the state playoffs this season with several crucial home runs, hits and RBIs along with some big plays on defense from her shortstop position.

Crisp County softball Head Coach Ben Robbins had high praise for Blampied and her efforts throughout her time in the Crisp County softball program to this point in her athletic career.

“We’re very excited for Riley. It’s a tremendous honor to receive an invite. She’s worked hard to earn this opportunity,” said Coach Robbins.