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HomeSportsAPSU Softball's Shane Showalter added to Greek National coaching staff

APSU Softball’s Shane Showalter added to Greek National coaching staff

APSU Sports Information

APSU Softball - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TNShane Showalter already knows what he’s doing for his next summer vacation.

Austin Peay State University softball’s head coach won’t be hitting the beach or taking extended time away from softball. Quite the contrary—Showalter will be on staff for the Greek National Team at the 2017 European Softball Championships in Bollate, Italy.

APSU Softball's Shane Showalter added to Greek National coaching staff. (APSU Sports Information)

Showalter, as you might have noticed, is not exactly your typical Greek name. Do you speak fluent Greek, Coach?

“No Greek,” he said. “A little Spanish, but that probably won’t be much help there.”

Good thing the language of softball is universal. This won’t be the first time Austin Peay has been represented on the international—particularly European—stage; Christiana Gable represented Germany at the 2014 European Junior Women’s Softball Championships.

And if things break right, the rising senior and her head coach could find themselves in opposing dugouts next summer.

Showalter’s shot at international coaching came via Tony Foti, an assistant at Middle Tennessee who took over as head coach of the Greek national program earlier this year and identified Showalter as a coaching candidate.

Since the opportunity to instruct on the international level doesn’t come along every day, Showalter jumped at the chance to enhance his connections in the international softball world.

“In talking with Tony, they’re still putting a team together, looking at different athletes and identifying prospects,” Showalter said. “They’ve got a decent pool they’re looking at. Not sure how many will be Greek-Americans and how many will be Greek nationals.

“My expectations are to dive in with a great group of athletes and try to help them win at that level. It’s the European Championships, World Championships… we could go as far as the Olympics. My expectation is to get in the middle of it, teach them what I know and help them compete.”

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