I'm truly proud and hold my head high when I wear that jersey that says Mexico across my chest. – Gordy Bravo
For the second year in a row, BYU center fielder Gordy Bravo will represent Mexico by playing with the national women's fastpitch softball team this summer in a series of international competitions beginning with the World Cup of Softball X, June 29-July 5, in Irvine, California.
"Playing for Team Mexico is all for the love of the game and the love for your country,” Bravo said. “I'm truly proud and hold my head high when I wear that jersey that says Mexico across my chest."
In 2014, Bravo played with Mexico in the World Cup of Softball where it placed sixth. She also played in the Canadian Cup where she was named to the all-tournament team. Bravo's grandparents are from Mexico, which qualify her to play with the team.
The soon-to-be senior grew up in Southern California in the city of Corona and prepped at Eleanor Roosevelt High School while playing club softball for the Firecrackers. She was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2015 and ranked No. 19 in the nation in batting average.
Bravo hit .444 with four home runs, two triples, nine doubles, 76 hits and 30 RBIs, notching the second best single-season average in school history. She led the WCC in hits (24), runs (20) and on-base percentage (.569), and she was second in batting (.490) and total bases (33) while recording a career-long 26-game reached base streak.
"This sport has given me everything and more. It's my getaway and I'm thankful for all the opportunities it has given me," Bravo said. "It's just a game to some, but it's everything to me."
Along with Mexico, the current tournament field includes seven other teams with the USA Women’s National Team and Junior Women’s National Team, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Venezuela.
Mexico softball faces USA in its first game of the cup on June 29 at 7 p.m. PDT, at Bill Barber Park in Deanna Manning Stadium. Live stats and a live video stream are available on Team USA's website.
McKay Perry is the sports information director for BYU softball and an assistant sports information director for BYU football. Contact him at softball_sid@byu.edu