Two local softball players have been invited to compete in the “Big Show” of 16-under fastpitch softball.

Shelby Duff and Katie Rietkovich from the South Effingham Angels are heading to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the USA/ASA Nationals, which is Saturday through Aug. 5.

Since the Angels did not qualify for a national berth, the players were eligible to join a qualifying team from Georgia.
Duff will play for the Georgia Mustangs Gold out of Luella, while Rietkovich will play for the Georgia Knockouts of Norcross.

“This is quite a surprise and honor, because obviously our first goal was for us to go with our own team, the Angels,  like we did last year, but when that did not happen, this was the next best thing,” said Duff and Rietkovich.

“We wish that we could go as the Angels with all our teammates, and that will be our goal and our team goal for 2008, but for now we just have to take advantage of this opportunity to go out there and compete against the very best 16-under teams from all 50 states.”

The tournament will have more than 140 teams from all 50 states and college coaches will attend.

“In softball, you always hear and read about the teams from California and out West, so it will be interesting to play against them and really see how good they are,” said Rietkovich.  

“Guess we will just have to show them, us girls from Georgia can play too,” Duff said.

Both girls will be entering their junior year this fall and have played for the local high schools the past 2 years. Duff has played for ECHS and Rietkovich for SEHS. ECHS and SEHS will open their seasons on August 17 at SEHS.