Collegiate Times

Angela Tincher is making progress on an equally great career as a professional. This spring, Tincher played with LeoPalace 21 of the Japanese softball league, and after the first half of the season, the team stands in fourth place in the 12-team league, only two games out of first.

"Going to Japan was amazing. I was nervous about doing it at first because it is a such a big commitment being six months out of the year living in another country," Tincher said.

Two weeks ago, she returned to the United States to try out for the national team in Chula Vista, Calif., with the nation's best players.

This was not the first time Tincher had been invited to try out for the team, although she came out of the last attempts having failed to make a roster. The experience paid its dividends this time around, however.

"The camp was similar to the ones in the past, time-wise and everything. I think being invited before helped me tremendously. I had an idea of what would happen now, but I still had not made the team I wanted to, so I was still nervous," Tincher said.

At the conclusion of the camp, one National Team was selected to play in the World Cup in Oklahoma City and the Canadian Cup this summer.

Two other teams were split to play in the Pan Am games in Venezuela and the Japan Cup. The National Team will split its roster to complete both teams headed to Venezuela and Japan. Tincher made the squad that will represent the U.S. in the Pan Am games starting July 31.

 "It's always good to have our players play on international squads", Tech softball coach Scot Thomas said.

"We've had several players play on international teams, which is great to show recruits that we have sent players on to play at that level; having Angela playing for our own team is even better."

The Angela Tincher Show has hit the road now in Akron, with the Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch league.

She has teamed up with fellow former Hokie Kelsey Hoffman on that squad, and as of June 23 the Racers were 4-6 and in third place in the league.

Tincher has pitched in one game, falling to the Rockford Thunder. She allowed three runs and struck out six in the loss.

The Thunder's roster includes recent Tech graduate Jenna Rhodes, and Barb Sherwood as one of the coaches. Several other Hokies made the trip up for that series, including manager Kevin Price and Tincher's former roommates.

"It was kind of cool that Kelsey, Jenna and I were all on the same field, and then to have those other people coming up to watch, it was a nice little Hokie reunion up there," Tincher said.

Coach Thomas spoke of having three Hokies in the pro league, saying, "It's good they have a chance to go to a new level, as long as the league keeps going it is a great chance to make a little money at a higher level. The riches come more from the experience, though. If I had the chance to do the same thing they are doing I would. It is great for recruiting to be able to show girls what our program has produced."

Only six years ago, Tincher was only a local hero from a small school at James River High in Virginia. After too many awards and honors to count, a College World Series appearance, and a degree from Tech, she has come a long way since then.

"I didn't know a lot of this was possible," Tincher said. "I was just happy to have an opportunity to play Division one softball, it was only after that I saw all the opportunities that were open to me."

Tincher will continue to play in Akron the rest of the summer until the Pan Am games.

On September 5 the second half of the Japanese League starts again, where she will return to play. The experiences have been many for the former Hokie, who is the first and only player to have her number retired by the program.  All of her travels continue to expand her worldwide experiences of a lifetime.