TAMPA, Fla. October 20, 2023 – When the USF softball program hosts the Puerto Rican National Team, there will be a decidedly Bulls flavor in Monday night’s exhibition game (free admission).
On all areas of the diamond.
Puerto Rico, ranked No. 3 in the world and preparing for the Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile, has three players in its lineup with USF ties — team captain Karla Claudio Rivera, the USF pitching coach who plays first base, along with two current USF players, sophomore shortstop Kathy Garcia-Soto and sophomore catcher Camille Ortiz-Martinez.
“I take this very seriously and I’m very intense in what I do,’’ said Claudio Rivera, 30. “The USF team will have my respect but on this night, it is just another opponent, just another team we’re trying to beat, like Cuba, Canada or the USA.
“I’m not even going to throw batting practice to them. It’s not like that at all. When I am in a game like this, it’s like I’m a different person. When it’s over, I’m back to being Coach Karla. But other than that, I’m a competitor and this is serious.’’
The USF trio competed for Puerto Rico in July, when it came from behind to defeat favored China 2-1 in Valencia, Spain, clinching a spot in next summer’s World Baseball Softball Confederation World Cup Finals. Claudio Rivera drove in the winning run.
“It was honestly surreal,’’ Garcia-Soto said. “There aren’t many words I can think of to describe it. Representing Puerto Rico is a passion. To put those 10 letters across my jersey … I just have so much pride.’’
“It was an unreal experience,’’ Ortiz-Martinez said. “It was like a two-month process from the training to the tournament. The chemistry of our team kept getting closer and closer. There was such a passion for winning and being there for each other. We’re not only chasing a medal for our team, but for the entire island.’’
Passion.
All three USF-trained players use the word when describing the Puerto Rican National Team experience.
For good reason.
“The whole island was living through what we were doing as a team,’’ Ortiz-Martinez said. “It was a unifying force. Everyone was following our games. And they aren’t just quietly watching. It’s not like at all. They are screaming, yelling, dancing, very involved in everything.’’
“Playing college softball for USF is so much fun, but this is different,’’ Garcia-Soto said. “Representing your country is huge. You feel like everybody is counting on you, rooting you on. And the little girls look at you in awe because you are on the National Team. You feel a great responsibility. There’s an intensity on every pitch that you definitely feel.’’
Ortiz-Martinez and Garcia-Soto agreed that a different level of intensity will exist when they compete against their USF teammates. They said it will be fun, but spirited. And probably noisy. Puerto Rican National Team fans are not passive observers. They do chants, play music and beat on drums.
“All of it is like music to our ears,’’ Ortiz-Martinez said. “It’s a fun way to play.’’
USF players are curious to play against one of their coaches, Claudio Rivera, and they have joked about her “advanced’’ age (30).
“She’s our captain and she’s a clutch player,’’ Garcia-Soto said. “She’s a great player. I think everybody is going to understand that pretty quickly.’’
“She’s still got it … definitely!’’ Ortiz-Martinez said.
Claudio Rivera, who is setting her sights on qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, was a two-way player for the Bulls in 2014-15 and became a unanimous All-American Athletic Conference first-team selection as a senior. She twice won Pan-Am Games bronze medals with Puerto Rico, while capturing gold medals at the Central America and Caribbean Games.
Claudio Rivera hoped to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were held in 2021 due to COVID), but Puerto Rico fell 2-0 against Mexico in a do-or-die qualifying game.
“I was bawling my eyes out afterward,’’ Claudio Rivera said. “So needless to say, I’m driven by any international competition and the chance to play in the Olympics.’’
Garcia-Soto was the AAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to earn that distinction, while being named to the All-AAC second team. She led the Bulls in runs (29) and assists (88), while hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the No. 9-ranked Texas Longhorns.
Ortiz-Martinez started 24 games at catcher last season, tallying two home runs and 11 RBIs, including a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance against Texas.
“Kathy and Camille have great futures with the USF program and the experience with the Puerto Rican National Team will give them tremendous experience,’’ Claudio Rivera said. “It’s interesting that we get a chance to play against USF. I’m sure that the atmosphere and experience will be great, something we’ll always remember.
“But we’ll all tell you the same thing. Don’t get this confused with a game we’re playing just for fun. This is serious business. And that’s how we’re treating it.’’
“It’s like our two worlds are colliding,’’ Garcia-Soto said. “We can’t wait.’’
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
