Temple University Athletics
LYNSEY GRACE SIGNS WITH HARLEM DIAMONDS
1.25.05 | Softball
FORT COLLINS, CO -- The new touring all-women's softball show, the Harlem Diamonds have announced the signing of Lynsey Grace, an outfielder from Temple University, for the 2005 inaugural season. The 5-5 New Bedford, Massachusetts native was first team All Atlantic 10 Conference selection in 2002 and in her senior season of 2004. In 2004 she led the Owls to the A-10 Tournament Championship, defeating the University of Massachusetts and ending a streak of nine consecutive tournament titles by UMass.
In making the announcement, Harlem Diamonds president and general manager Dale Moss said that Grace's upbeat personality and sense of humor were as much a part of her attraction for the show softball team as was her softball skills. "When I read a Temple News profile that described her as being the team joker, I was curious," said Moss. "After I got to know more about her, I've found that she has such a positive spirit and dynamic personality. I know she'll be a great addition to our show and we want to cultivate that natural comedic playfulness," he added.
"Lynsey is the kind of team leader that uses her humor to break the tension at just the right moment and keep the entire squad loose," said Temple assistant coach Terri Adams.
"Of course, she couldn't be with us if she didn't have great softball skills," Moss noted. A four-year starter for Temple, Grace batted .298 with 13 home runs and 101 RBI for her college career, finishing in 2004 with her highest season average of .331. She led the Owls into the NCAA Regionals in 2004 and was part of the scoring in the Owls first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating UC Santa Barbara, 3-0.
An enthusiastic supporter of Temple athletics as well as a tireless promoter of Temple's softball program, Lynsey Grace even convinced Temple's Hall of Fame men's basketball coach John Chaney to attend a softball doubleheader. "She got him to come to both games and he even gave a motivational talk to our players between games", said Coach Adams. Grace will graduate from Temple in May 2005 with a degree in Sport and Recreation Management.
The Harlem Diamonds will begin play June 10, 2005 and will perform nearly 60 fundraising events throughout the summer months. The Diamonds will feature a squad of African-American women players with just five field players. The world-class Diamonds players will be performing a softball show that includes comedy routines, diamond artistry, and a great deal of fan interaction. The team is owned by Harlem Ambassadors, Inc., a Fort Collins, Colorado-based producer of show basketball events. The Harlem Ambassadors are in their seventh season of play, and have two touring teams playing more than 200 events annually. The team uniquely features women players starring for each of the two teams. The Harlem Ambassadors are also the largest provider of entertainment services to the United States military worldwide. For more information about the Harlem Diamonds, check the website at www.harlemdiamonds.com
