The Gold Standard: Ballston Spa Native Makes USA Softball Team

BALLSTON SPA — She’s one of the best softball players in the world and she’s from Ballston Spa.

Ana Gold’s professional accolades include earning Rookie of the Year honors from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), which wrapped up its inaugural season earlier this summer. She was also named to the league’s All-Defensive Team as a corner infielder. Gold led all rookies and was tied for fifth among all players in the AUSL with a .373 batting average. She also finished fourth in the league in slugging percentage (.667).

In college, her career slash line was .306/.408/.614. She smacked 54 homers, 7 triples, and 29 doubles for the Duke University Blue Devils. She also stole 53 bases and totaled 204 hits in 666 at-bats. She set a number of Duke softball records, including smashing two grand slams in one game and knocking in 8 runs in a single game. She also set the program’s all-time career home run record.

At Ballston Spa High School, she was ranked the No. 39 prospect in the country (according to Extra Innings Softball), was named three times to the Suburban Council’s First Team, and was a two-time Second Team All-Stater. She batted .411 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI as a freshman before improving to .418 with nine home runs and 34 RBI as a sophomore.

And now, she’s been named to the USA Softball Women’s National Team roster. 

The squad is set to compete in a series of exhibition games against the Australian Women’s National Team, the Aussie Spirit, from Dec. 31 through Jan. 3 in Brisbane, Australia. The games aim to promote the sport of softball as both nations advocate for its inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic program.

The 16-player roster features five newcomers, including Gold, who will make their debut alongside 11 returning veterans, including seven members of the 2025 World Games gold medal squad.

Leading Team USA in Australia will be Head Coach Patty Gasso, accompanied by assistant coaches John Bargfeldt, Trisha Ford, and Lincoln Martin.

“I am extremely excited to bring a strong group of young athletes, along with some experienced veterans, to Australia,” Gasso said in a press release. “This opportunity will allow them to showcase their talents and promote the sport of softball in front of fans and officials in Australia. With Australia hosting the Olympics in 2032, it’s crucial to put on a great show for the audience… We need to ensure that softball remains an important part of the 2032 Olympics!”

With sights set on inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic program, Team USA will take on Australia in a series of exhibition games beginning Dec. 31 at Redlands Softball Park in Ormiston, Queensland. The trip marks the Red, White and Blue’s first visit “down under” since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where Team USA captured gold.