By Mike DeVader, Communications and Sports Information Intern
*Some Information Courtesy of Montreat Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Montreat (N.C.) student Marti Sementelli had her sights set on making an impact on the Team USA women’s baseball team, as she left to join the squad for the 2014 World Cup tournament in Japan. 

Sementelli returned from the weeklong event with a silver medal to show for her hard work.

In Sunday’s gold-medal game, the Women’s National Team fell 3-0 to host-nation Japan, but earned the silver medal for the second consecutive Women’s Baseball World Cup. Sementelli’s finish comes to no surprise to her coach back at home.

“She is one of the most hardworking young ladies I have ever had the privilege of coaching,” said Heather Maston, head softball coach at Montreat. “Once we finish softball practice, she will immediately begin working on pitching for baseball. She devotes hours of her own time each day to training, from footwork to pitching. We are extremely proud of her accomplishments and are thrilled that she is representing Montreat College on Team USA.”

On Saturday, Sept. 6, Sementelli led Team USA into a showdown with Japan. She finished with 4.2 innings pitched, allowed just five hits and one run. The U.S. dropped the game, 1-0, setting up a rematch in the championship game the next day.

Started in 2004, the Women’s Baseball World Cup is a bi-yearly international tournament in which national women's baseball teams from around the world compete.

This year’s field was made up of teams from Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, United States and Venezuela.

Team USA entered the tournament ranked No. 2 in the world, and has brought home a medal in every competition thus far – including gold medals at the first two events in 2004 and 2006, bronze in 2008 and 2010, and silver in 2012. Host country Japan currently holds the No. 1 ranking and is now the four-time defending champion of the event.

This is Sementelli’s fourth stint with Team USA. She has previously represented her country in the 2008 (Japan), 2010 (Venezuela), 2012 (Canada) World Cup tournaments.

Sementelli wasted no time making her presence felt on the mound for the Women’s National Team, starting and throwing a five-inning complete game shutout victory against the Netherlands, 17-0, on Sept. 2.

She allowed just three hits, registered six strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

Team USA finished the tournament 4-2, with both losses coming at the hands of Japan. Highlighting the early victories for the United States was a thrilling walk-off win over Canada, 8-7, on Sept. 3. The victory clinched the No. 1 seed for the United States in Pool B and setup the showdown with Japan.

The 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's Baseball World Cup will take place in South Korea.

Sementelli played baseball throughout high school and initially came to Montreat as part of the school’s baseball pitching staff before joining Montreat’s softball team for her sophomore year, where she earned a starting position in center field in 2014.

The Sherman Oaks, Calif., native has appeared in 38 games last year, starting in all but one contest. Sementelli hit .342 in 117 appearances at the plate, recording 40 hits, a double and 17 runs batted in. The senior scored 25 runs while tallying two stolen bases as well.

She also flashed her skills on the defensive end – recording 63 putouts and just one error – giving Sementelli a fielding percentage of .987.

In 2012, Sementelli appeared in 17 games on the mound as a relief pitcher for the Cavaliers’ baseball team, seeing 16.2 innings of work, recording seven strikeouts and two saves.