When third baseman Nathalie Fradette received the letter confirming her spot on the Olympic team this summer there was a bonus. Fradette was named co-captain of the squad along with Jacqui Nichol. It certainly made all those hours in the family attic worthwhile. "I had nowhere to hit the ball in the winter so my father hung a carpet from the ceiling in the attic so I could train," she said. "It was hot, dusty but in the end worth it."

 Fradette was a 1998 world championship team member and also a Pan Am silver medallist in Winnipeg in 1999, and a Canada Cup All-Star the same year. A recent graduate of the exercise science program at Columbus State University, she was voted scholar athlete of the year in 1997-98 and player of the year in 1999. She aspires to work in massage and physical therapy after the Olympics. She is known as a strong defensive player, and will be called upon for her hitting as well in Sydney.

2000 Games
Sept. 23: Canada lost 1-0 to China, finishing with 1-6 record in round-robin schedule.
Sept. 21: Canada lost 4-3 to Japan in 10 innings, dropping to 1-4 in round-robin play.
Sept. 20: Canada def. Italy 7-1 in round-robin play, raising record to 1-3.
Sept. 19: Women: Canada lost 1-0 to Australia, dropped to 0-3 record in round-robin play.
Sept. 18: Canada lost 3-2 to New Zealand in 10 innings of women's preliminary round, dropping to 0-2. Sept. 17: Canada lost 6-0 to United States in round-robin play.

Photos
Nathalie Fradette tags out the runner
Nathalie Fradette makes the play


2000 Games Softball Coverage