Olympic hopes

College Park resident makes first cut for new Israeli National Softball Team, sets sights on Beijing in 2008

Friday, Aug. 4, 2006

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by Ted Black

Staff Writer

Click here to enlarge this photo

Christopher Anderson⁄the gazette

College Park resident Sarah Koppel (right) of the Outlaws dives back into first base as Tornadoes first baseman Rita Horning fields a pick-off attempt during a Greenbelt Fast-Pitch Softball League game on July 24. Koppel is hoping to join the Israeli National Softball Team.

Among the numerous talented players in the Greenbelt Recreation Women’s Fast-Pitch Softball League are several players with prior Olympic aspirations. At least one of them, College Park resident Sarah Koppel, still has the chance to fulfill her dreams of Olympic glory.

Koppel is currently on the 15-player roster for the Israeli national team that is looking to earn a spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Koppel, a 2002 Harvard University graduate who currently works for the Environmental Protection Agency the District, is trying to balance working, playing and her pending wedding next June.

‘‘It would be great to have the chance to play for Israel in the Olympics,” Koppel said. ‘‘I know everyone of Jewish descent feels entitled to visit Israel at least once in their life. I’ve never been, but I’m looking forward to the chance to live and train with the team in Israel next year. Right now, there are 15 girls on the team, but they may reduce the team to 12 players before next summer so I’m hoping to make the cut.”

The Israel Baseball League is forming a softball team comprised of American players of Jewish descent to participate in qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. Thirty players attended a tryout earlier this year in New Jersey, and Koppel was one of 15 players to make the initial cut.

Koppel started all four years at Harvard and was one of the Crimson’s most productive and feared power hitters. She is still among the Harvard leaders in career home runs and single-season home runs.

Growing up in California, Koppel once had Lisa Fernandez, a former U.S. Olympic gold medal winner and considered among the best college players ever, for a pitching coach. Koppel thought about enrolling at perennial powerhouse UCLA, where Fernandez is part of the coaching staff.

‘‘I really enjoyed having Lisa Fernandez for a pitching coach,” said Koppel, who was invited to walk on at UCLA. ‘‘She was amazing. She had so much talent and she knew how to attack the hitters. But seeing her and the other girls at UCLA made me realize that I might make the team, but I wouldn’t get much playing time. So, I decided to go to Harvard for a great education and to get more playing time. It worked out really well.”

Twice during Koppel’s career at Harvard, the Crimson reached the NCAA Tournament. They were eliminated by Northwestern one year and then were ousted by Oklahoma State in another. Coincidentally, one of the Tornadoes more recognizable names, Clarissa Crowell, a McDonough High School and Virginia Tech graduate, recently was named the pitching coach at Oklahoma State.

In the midst of the ongoing strife in the Middle East, Koppel does have some concerns about traveling to Israel.

‘‘That was a concern for us back in 2004,” Koppel said. ‘‘There was a similar conflict and so I decided not to go for safety concerns. You’re always hoping that there will be less conflict over there, but it seems like something that will happen for another 1,000 years. If things calm down and it looks like it’s safe to travel there and train there, then I’m definitely going to go.”

Koppel played in the Greenbelt league for the Outlaws, under coach Kelly Ivy. She primarily batted cleanup and played center field.

‘‘She can really hit the ball,” Ivy said. ‘‘If we had the snow fences like we did last year, I know she would have hit one or two out.”

E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.