May 5, 2004

OTTAWA, Ontario - Former University of Massachusetts softball pitcher and current assistant coach Kaila Holtz has been named to the Canadian Olympic team which will compete in the 28th Summer Olympic Games, Aug. 14-23, in Athens, Greece, Softball Canada announced today. Holtz, who is a four-year member of the national team, is making her first appearance in the Olympics. She joins Danielle Henderson as the only two UMass Softball players to compete in the Olympics. Holtz will be honored briefly before the UMass/Boston College game on Sunday. She will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"This is such a tremendous honor," said Holtz. "I was driving home from a meeting with the pitchers when I got the call. I had coach [Mike] Renney's number memorized in my cell phone. I knew the call would be coming any day so when I saw his number pop up, I said to myself 'this is it.' When he congratulated me and said that I was selected, I couldn't speak."

In her four years in Amherst, Holtz went 75-25 with a 1.40 ERA in the circle. Her 75-career victories rank fourth all-time in school history while her ERA is ninth lowest. Holtz tossed 92 complete games including 35 shutouts, both good for second-best on the school's all-time chart. She hurled five career no-hitters and one perfect game. Holtz fanned 596 batters in her four years to also rank second in school history. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year, three-time NFCA All-Region selection, three-time A-10 All-Tournament team member and the MVP of the 2002 A-10 Championship.

"My mechanics are cleaner than they have ever been and that has enabled me to throw the ball harder than when I was in college," said Holtz. "More than anything, I think my mental game has improved. Playing Internationally, you see that every player on the field has figured it out. In order to survive at this level, you have to either figure it out quickly or go home. There is no margin for error."

She was no slouch off the field either. A three-time Verizon Academic All-District first team member, Holtz was a first-team Academic All-American in 2003. She was among the recipients of an NCAA and Atlantic 10 Postgraduate Scholarships and is taking graduate classes at UMass this year while serving as the top assistant on Elaine Sortino's coaching staff. The four-time Canadian National Team member also compiled a .276 career batting average. She recorded 34 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 104 RBI.

"I was so thrilled when Kaila told me that I cried," said UMass Head Coach Elaine Sortino. "She has done everything that a human being could do to put herself in this position. She has maximized her opportunities and works harder than any person I have ever met. Kaila deserves it all. This is a great moment for UMass to have a second Olympian in the same sport."

After the UMass season is over, Holtz will be off to training camp in early June. She will then return home to Vancouver briefly prior to the Canada Cup, July 3-11. The Canadians will also continue training over the summer with a possible tournament in California, July 14-19. On July 25, Holtz and her teammates will leave for Europe. They will spend the next three weeks training in the Czech Republic prior to the Olympic games. The Opening Ceremonies will be August 13 and Canada's first game will be on the 14th against Chinese Taipei. The Canadians will also play Greece (Aug. 15), China (Aug. 16), Japan (Aug. 17), the United States (Aug. 18) and Italy (Aug. 20) in pool play. The play-offs will be held Aug. 22-23.

Canada is making its third appearance in the Olympics. They finished eighth in 2000 and fifth in 1996. Canada qualified for this summer's games by winning the Americas Cup Qualifier last July. Team Canada went 8-0 in double-elimination round-robin play and then swept the Dominican Republic by scores of 3-2 and 3-0 in the best-of-three championship series. Holtz tossed 10 scoreless innings while fanning 12 batters and walking just one in the tournament. She scattered five hits in her two games in the circle.