On Monday night, the USA Softball International Cup began in Irvine, Calif., with both USA squads winning big. USA Blue crushed the Czech Republic 15-0 (in three innings) and USA Red demolished Peru 14-0 (in four innings)
In its win over Peru, Team USA Red was led by Janie Reed’s two-run home run that gave the Americans a lead they’d never relinquish.
USA Red 🔴 strikes first in the T3 on a two-run 💣 by @jtakeda19!#USASBIntCup 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/swRKA6L4Z7
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) July 10, 2018
After the win, Reed took to Twitter to share how special of a day this was.
https://twitter.com/jtakeda19/status/1016533169992896513
Janie says that the USA team she’s a part of has been developing a bond and a connection over the past few years, specifically in their spiritual lives.
“To spend time with the best softball players in the world on the field, but also we started a Bible study two summers ago and that has been absolutely incredible,” Reed shared on the Sports Spectrum podcast in March. “We baptized some girls last year when we were in the Dominican. Our group has grown from three to eight or 10 sometimes, and there’s only 20 girls on the team. It’s so clear that God is moving on the team.”
Reed says being on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team is a goal but she’s content with whatever plans the Lord has.
“All the girls that are on the team and the way God’s moving in collegiate softball as well, as long as there are girls on the team giving glory to God for the gold medal we’re going to win in 2020, I’m good,” Reed said. “It’s kind of obvious to me that God has wanted me to use this platform for Him, so I’m going to keep working as hard as I can. I’m at peace with whatever He decides.”
Reed’s husband, Jake, whom she married in November 2017, is a relief pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization with Triple-A Rochester, where he’s having a solid year (2.08 ERA in 26 innings) and could see his opportunity to pitch in the big leagues come to fruition at some point.
The USA Softball International Cup features teams from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. The tournament continues in California through July 15. On Tuesday, USA Blue will face Venezuela at 7:30 p.m. ET and USA Red will face China at 10 p.m. ET. You can learn more about the tournament and follow along with the results at USASoftballInternationalCup.com.
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