SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco State assistant softball coach Tara Tembey recently participated in the 2011 USA Women's Baseball International Friendship Series, August 2-6 in Cary, N.C. Tembey was one of 14 invitees to attend the five-day tournament, joining 20 holdovers from last season who are all hoping to secure a spot on Team USA at the 2012 Women's Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 

Tembey, who was selected to the USA Team Red squad, appeared in four games alternating between shortstop, second base and left field, before missing the final two exhibitions with a strained hip flexor. She finished with two hits, two RBI and scored four runs, including the game-winner in a 5-4 victory over USA Team Blue on Aug. 3. The two other rosters rounding out the tournament field included Team Canada and the Raleigh Red Sox, a men's team comprised of players 35 years and older. 

“The whole week was just an amazing experience,” Tembey said. “Representing your country and having the letters U-S-A stitched across your uniform was bigger than anything I've been a part of before.”

Following the Friendship Series, Tembey was invited back for one of three regional tryouts in 2012, with 36 competitors ultimately reaching the national trials to be held in Cary later in the spring. From that pool, Team USA will finalize a roster of 20-plus players for the trek north of the border next summer­.

“Baseball is not as quick as softball, but requires a larger skill base,” Tembey said when noting the difference in playing the two sports. “There is also more of a focus on a finesse style of play.”

The Women's Baseball World Cup has been held every two years since its inception in 2004. The United States captured titles in 2004 and 2006, while Japan won the last two tournaments in 2008 and 2010.