STANFORD, Calif. – Senior outfielder Molly Fowkes has been added to the Israeli National Softball Team, joining a squad that already includes former Stanford standout Leah White.
Fowkes, White and their teammates will compete at the European Championships in late June. The top six teams will then move on to compete at an Olympic Qualifying tournament in July.
Fowkes appeared in 49 games for Stanford in 2018, finishing the year hitting .195 with nine runs scored and four doubles. The native of Loomis, Calif. was second on the team in walks with 16. Through three seasons with the Card, Fowkes has appeared in 100 games, including starting 80.
In order to play for Israel, athletes are required to have at least one Jewish parent or grandparent and must travel to Israel to receive dual citizenship.
Israel's current roster, and where they play(ed) in college, include:
Rebecca Blitz, Indiana
Vanessa Foreman, Arizona
Molly Fowkes, Stanford
Olivia Gott, Virginia
Alexis "AJ" Kaiser, Syracuse
Jamie Morgan, Ole Miss
Lily Novak, Northwestern
Sabrina Rabin, Northwestern
Darby Rosen, North Carolina
Zoe Shaw, UCLA
Tamara "T" Statman, Arizona
Sarah Tannenbaum, Drexel
Leah White, Stanford
Noa Yakir, Cal Poly
The Israel Softball Association was established in 1979 by a group of North and South Americans who immigrated to Israel and felt the need to continue playing softball.
Israel hasn't had a team sport qualify for the Olympics since 1968, and softball could be the first.
Stacy Iveson, University of Arizona Director of Operations, has been tabbed as the head coach of the team, while Cal Lutheran Head Coach Debby Day and Lisa Bernstein will serve as assistant coaches.
Fowkes and the Cardinal are preparing to open the 2019 season on February 8 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Season and individual game tickets are now on sale for the 2019 campaign.