Wolf Brings Her Softball Talents Overseas

By Andy Hutchison

Christina Wolf has had a chance, throughout the years, to travel to different states and play competitive softball. Now the 23-year-old Newtown resident can say something not too many athletes can: that she’s laced up the spikes and stepped into the batter’s box overseas.

Wolf recently went to Europe — visiting to Belgium and Amsterdam — to play in a softball tournament as part of the American International Sports Teams (AIST) softball program. Wolf, who graduated from Southern Connecticut State University three years ago, was among a group of collegiate and postgraduate college athletes to represent the country and tour parts of Europe in the Amsterdam Canal Series.

“I’ve never been to Europe before, so I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to do two things — play a sport I love and travel to places I’ve never been before,” Wolf said. “It was such an amazing sight to see how different it is over there compared to back home.”

Win or lose, this was a unique opportunity, but the US squad made the trip especially memorable by capturing the tournament title.

Wolf’s team went 6-0, beating competition from both Europe and the United States. Wolf and company bested the Netherlands’ U17 National Team and Tuscany both by 9-1 scores, nipped an Amsterdam group 2-1, blanked a squad from North Carolina 6-0, and knocked off a combination USA/Netherlands team twice, 5-2, then 1-0 in the championship game.

“It’s different,” said Wolf, comparing her exposure to softball in Europe to the game on this side of the ocean. “It’s competitive, but not as competitive as it is back home.”

The AIST organization, which provides current and recent Division I and II college athletes an opportunity to compete and travel abroad, had recruited Wolf for an overseas tour in her junior year, she said. Wolf couldn’t make the commitment then since the participants have to come up with the money to cover their expenses. After earning her master’s in sports management at the University of New Haven this past year, the timing and situation was right. She contacted the organization to see about traveling and playing this summer. The former Newtown High and SCSU standout slugger was chosen for the Amsterdam Canal Series, along with players from Massachusetts, Florida, Arkansas, Indiana, and California.

Among her teammates was one familiar face, soon-to-be Southern junior Krissy Whitley. For the most part, though the players all had to get to know each other and come together in a short time. Wolf said the best part about playing during the trip was how quickly the newfound teammates got on the same page and experienced winning ways. “That was a lot of fun — how we just came together,” Wolf said.

The ten-day softball/sight-seeing trip concluded in early August. Wolf helped bring back the first-place trophy after going 6-for-19 with two triples, two doubles, two singles, and three walks. She also drove in a handful of runs along the way. A catcher and infielder throughout her career, Wolf was a utility player during the European tourney, contributing time at third base, second base, and right and left field.

Wolf has played on the diamonds since she can remember, but it wasn’t always softball. Always competitive and athletic, she played Little League baseball during the early stages of her career before getting into softball.

The Newtown softball enthusiast, who earned her bachelor of science degree in physical education with a minor in health, has been teaching PE for three years. She recently accepted a new teaching position in Stamford and certainly made the most of her free time this summer when it comes to softball.

Wolf competed in the Connecticut Women’s Softball League, for which she is a member of the Bristol Falcons. In addition, Wolf plays in the Danbury Women’s Softball League.