USSSA Pride Sign Team's First Japanese Player
April 30, 2013 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
USSSA Pride News Release
Kissimmee, FL- The USSSA Pride signed Japanese infielder Haruna Sakamoto last week. She joins the Akron Racers and Chicago Bandits as the third NPF Franchise to add talent from the Japanese Pro League. Earlier this month, the Akron Racers signed Ayumi Karino and the Chicago Bandits signed Eri Yamada and Kazuki Watanabe.
In February, USSSA Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis got a first hand look at Sakamoto in two exhbition games against the Pride in Palm Springs, CA and came away extremely impressed. In the two games against Team Toyota of the Japanese Pro League, Sakamoto batted clean up and homered in both contests. Shortly thereafter, the decision was made after the two parties met that there was mutual interest in making Haruna part of the USSSA Pride. Sakamoto brings a different international dimension to the Pride and a power bat to go along with another solid infield glove. Sakamoto joins Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling (Both from Canada) on the Pride as three athletes with international ties.
Sakamoto has competed with the Japanese National Team since 2008, and also plays in the Japanese Softball League. She joins an already loaded Pride roster for the 2013 season and will be competing for a starting job come spring training. Sakamoto will continue wearing her #6 jersey with the Pride, just as she wore playing for Japanese National Team.
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