Michigan State University Athletics
Tiffany Thomas Helps Lead USA To Silver Medal
6/25/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 25, 1999
Taipei, Taiwan - Michigan State softball player Tiffany Thomas (Ontario, Calif.) was the starting center fielder on the USA Junior National Team that won the silver medal at the International Softball Federation Junior Women's World Championship yesterday in Taipei, Taiwan. The USA lost to Japan in the gold medal game, 3-1. Overall, the Junior National Team posted a 9-2 record in the 16-team international tournament.
Thomas, who completed her freshman year at Michigan State in May, was one of just four players on the team to start all 11 games for the United States. She hit .375 (9-of-24) in the tournament with a team-high three doubles and one triple. She also contributed six RBI, eight runs and had five stolen bases.
In pool play, Thomas was 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double against Italy (June 18), while she was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases against Chinese Taipei (June 20). Thomas' best offensive performance of the tournament was a 2-for-2, three-RBI outing against Argentina on June 22. She had a double, a triple and a stolen base to help the USA to a 19-0 route in the game.
Thomas started 59 games in right field for the Spartans in her rookie campaign. She was fifth on the team with a .268 batting average and 23 RBI. Thomas didn't make an error in 72 chances in the field. Michigan State finished the 1999 season with a 41-23 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals in just its second NCAA appearance ever.
"Tiffany Thomas has had an incredible five-week span," MSU Coach Jacquie Joseph said. "She went from playing for MSU in the NCAA Tournament to playing at the national team festival in California to traveling half way around the world to represent the United States in a world championship.
"It was a great opportunity for her; one that she will gain a tremendous amount of experience from. We are very proud of the way she represented not only the United States, but Michigan State University as well."
