Ceres High School grad/University of Washington senior Sis Bates has earned an invitation to participate in the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team Olympic Selection Trials later this year in Oklahoma.
“I am just so thankful that this sport has provided me with these opportunities,” said Bates, a 2017 USA Junior Women’s National Team member and two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-American shortstop with the Huskies.
The Selection Trials will take place, Oct. 1-6, at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City.
Bates and 29 other invitees will vie for 15 roster spots and three replacement athlete roles.
USA Softball will choose from a talent pool that includes Bates, Monica Abbott (Tennessee, 2007), Ali Aguilar (Washington, 2017), Valerie Arioto (California, 2012), Ally Carda (UCLA, 2015), Amanda Chidester (Michigan, 2012), Taylor Edwards (Nebraska, 2014), Megan Faraimo (UCLA, 2022), Hannah Flippen (Utah, 2017), Montana Fouts (Alabama, 2022), Rachel Garcia (UCLA, 2020), Chelsea Goodacre (Arizona, 2015), Carly Hoover (LSU, 2018), Jazmyn Jackson (California, 2018), Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU, 2017), Amanda Lorenz (Florida, 2019), Haylie McCleney (Alabama, 2016), Kirsti Merritt (Florida, 2016), Michelle Moultrie (Florida, 2012), Dejah Mulipola (Arizona, 2020), Aubree Munro (Florida, 2016), Bubba Nickles (UCLA, 2020), Cat Osterman (Texas, 2006), Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza (Arizona, 2020), Shelby Pendley (Oklahoma, 2015), Janie Reed (Oregon, 2015), Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma, 2013), Sydney Romero (Oklahoma, 2019), Delaney Spaulding (UCLA, 2017) and Kelsey Stewart (Florida, 2016).
Bates and Co. will participate in position drills as well as simulated games and be evaluated by the USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Committee.
The final roster will be announced on Oct. 8.
“She’s so blessed,” said John Bates, Sis’ father. “There are so many kids out there that don’t get this opportunity. She’s made her mark in the game. It’s gotten to a point even if I told somebody she was my daughter, they wouldn’t believe it.”
Bates batted .387 from the plate with three triples, 11 doubles, 77 hits, 30 RBIs, 60 runs and 10 stolen bases during her junior year at Washington.
She was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.
She earned Pac-12 All-Academic honorable-mention accolades for the second consecutive year.
She was also voted a National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-American for the second year in a row.
Bates had a .988 fielding percentage. She committed just two errors.
Washington posted a 52-9 overall record, advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division-I Women's College World Series and tied for first in the Pac-12 standings (20-4).
Bates starred on Ceres High's varsity softball team for four seasons (2013-16).
She was named Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Softball State and Medium Schools Player of the Year following her final season with the Bulldogs. She was selected to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Super Elite and Medium Schools First Teams. Bates earned FloSoftball All-American First-Team honors and PGF West Regional All-American Team accolades. She also earned membership to the Louisville Slugger Hit Club, which recognized 11 of the nation's top hitters. She competed in the Premier Girls Fastpitch High School All-American Game as well.
In 114 career games at the prep level, Bates batted .512 (205-for-400) with 14 homers, 22 triples, 31 doubles, 102 RBIs, 171 runs, 52 stolen bases and 32 walks with just 13 strikeouts. She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.356.
She helped lead Ceres High to 85 victories, one section championship, three Western Athletic Conference titles and four playoff appearances.
Bates played for the Huntington Beach-based Firecrackers-Rico competitive softball team her last three years of high school.
“She’s so goal-oriented,” John Bates said. “When she made the decision to go to Southern California to play for Tony Rico and give up her weekends, she was all in. She wanted to become the best player she could be.”
