Novotny to be part of national camp staff

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. –Penn State Fayette Head Women’s Softball Coach Bethany Novotny will be part of the staff for the USA Preps softball camp and tournament beginning July 25 in Camarillo, Calif. This will be her second consecutive year that she has been selected for the event in Camarillo, Calif.

Last year Novotny attended and coached at the 3-day So Cal Sun-Sational camp and tournament for the first time.

“I had never attended anything quite like it,” she said of the event gives the opportunity for maximum exposure to some of the most talented softball players in the nation. I had an amazing experience last year and was honored to be invited back for a second year.”

During the camp, Novotny noted that she had the opportunity to work with other college coaches to teach skills and also had an opportunity to coach a team in the camp’s tournament.

And the players were not the only ones that had an opportunity to refine their softball skills. Novotny notes.

“I really provided me with an opportunity for professional growth as a coach as well.”

As a former Lady Roaring Lions softball player, Novotny had the opportunity to witness first-hand the challenges that are associated with recruiting student-athletes to a small campus.

That is why she believes that working at the camp is “critical” to the improvement of the program because it provides her with the opportunity to expand the program’s recruiting network beyond southwestern Pennsylvania.

While in California, the coach will strive to help student-athletes understand that “Playing college softball is playing college softball, regardless of the size of the school you choose.”

“Any athlete that is fortunate enough to play softball, or any other sport in college should be proud.”

USA Preps, headquartered in Camarillo, Calif, is the fastest growing Individual Collegiate Instructional Camp™ organization in the world. The organizations hosts camps and tournaments throughout the year that provide prospective collegiate athletes the unique opportunity to talk with and receive advanced instruction from collegiate coaches on the field.

 In 2014, Novotny led the Lady Roaring Lions to their most successful season in more than a decade.  The Lady Roaring Lions finished the year with an overall record of 13-13 and finished third in the final PSUAC standings, earning the team its first trip to the PSUAC playoffs in more than eight years. The team also was considered a “bubble” team for the USCAA National Softball Championships.