Ritchie Represents Team Israel at European Championship

Before she officially joins the Buff and Blue this fall, GW softball graduate student Arizona Ritchie donned the blue and white of Team Israel at last month's European Championship in Barcelona, Spain.

Representing Israel at the event for the second consecutive summer, Ritchie started all nine games at shortstop and helped the squad finish sixth out of 21 entrants with a 4-5 record over six days of competition. The Virginia transfer collected five hits on the week with four runs scored and a pair of RBIs.

Ritchie's top offensive performance came on July 26 in a 6-4 comeback victory over France that helped Israel secure a spot in the top six and remain in contention for a medal.

With two outs and the game tied in the fifth, the veteran infielder came up clutch with a perfect bunt to the right side that brought home two runs and ended up as a double. She then stole third and scored an insurance run on a single.

Ritchie closed the tournament strong with another multi-hit effort in Israel's finale vs. eventual champion The Netherlands on July 29.

GWsports.com caught up with Ritchie to find out more about her experience playing against some of the world's best in Spain.

What does it mean to you to get to represent Israel in international competition?

Representing Israel has a lot of layers to it. Of course, we love to compete and face other countries, but at the end of the day, it's about showing off the pride my teammates and I have in being Jewish and being connected to a history and a group of people that are so strong and resilient.

In representing Israel softball, I get to represent my family, ancestors, culture, and those that came before me and sacrificed so much for a Team Israel to even exist.

Arizona Ritchie represented Team Israel at the 2022 European Championship in Barcelona, Spain.

What is your mindset when you're going against world-class competition in a tournament like that?

It's really cool to face world-class competition, especially with some players being in their 30s and so experienced. I always welcome the challenge and study how they play the game so I can learn as much as possible.

How did the experience of playing in the event last year prepare you to be ready this time?

Participating last year definitely helped prepare me for what to expect this year. Playing in a tournament like the Euros takes a different kind of toll on your body than regular weekend series do, so I felt more prepared for that this year.

It was also nice to keep building on the bonds and connections I'd made with my teammates the previous year. We only see each other every six months or so, and it's cool that we don't skip a beat when we reconnect.

How did you view your role on this team?

Something great about Team Israel is that no one is ever playing for the individual. We're all playing for each other and represent something bigger than ourselves, so my role was to do whatever I could on defense and offense to put the team in a better position to win.

You were able to showcase some really effective small ball over the course of the tournament, whether it was getting down bunts or using your speed on the bases. What was it like to be able to make an impact that way?

Using small ball is definitely something I'm proud of. I always want to be the toughest out possible while being productive for my team and having that in my tool kit helps me be a tough out.

How did you feel about the team's performance and being in contention for a medal into the final round?

I'm really proud of the team for making the top six for the second year in a row. It absolutely helps put Israel on the map and hopefully helps expand the sport in Israel.

What was your favorite on-field memory from the week?

My favorite on-field memory was playing France. We were losing for the majority of the game and struggling to get runs across, and then we had a breakout inning where we strung a lot of quality team at-bats together and he energy was just awesome and electric. I think that game, and really that inning, helped propel us into the next couple wins.

Were there any highlights away from the diamond?

I had never been to Spain before, so a highlight was definitely seeing some famous architecture like the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. I also love seeing different cultures and different ways of life, so it was nice to be able to explore Barcelona.

How does an experience like this prepare you to hit the ground rolling at GW in a couple of weeks?

Playing for Team Israel definitely helps me stay ready for the fall in terms of training and staying in shape. I love competing with my team, so my short time with Team Israel this summer got me really excited to go to work with my new GW family!

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