AKRON, OH- The Akron Racers of National Pro Fastpitch announced today the signing of three members from the 2004 Gold Medal winning USA Olympic team. Infielder Crystl Bustos, outfielder Kelly Kretschman, and catcher Jenny Topping will all be members of the 2005 Racers Team.

Bustos will be making her return to Firestone Stadium after playing for Akron in 1999 where she hit a team high .346 with six homeruns and 22 runs batted in. The hard-hitting third baseman will bring some muscle to the middle of the batting order this season. Crystl is a two time Olympian leading the USA to gold at the Sydney games in 2000 and again at the Athens Olympics in 2004. In 2000 Bustos lead the team in hits (10), homeruns (3) and runs scored (5). Crystl continued her international assault in 2004 as she hammered a team high five round trippers, scored nine runs, and drove in ten runs while batting .346 in the nine games in Athens.

In a phone interview with Bustos she was definitely excited to be making her return to the Racers. “The City of Akron and the people are great. It’s a perfect city for sports especially for softball. I am really looking forward to getting back to Akron and hopefully with the talent that we have on this year's team we will bring home a ring.”

Kretschman will make her way to Akron via the University of Alabama where she racked up several honors including being named a four time All-American. She was an alternate on the 2000 Olympic Team, and in 2004 she made her mark in Athens batting .333 with four runs scored, three doubles, a triple, a homerun and five runs batted in.

Topping will look to continue her hot hitting for the Racers. In Athens she hit a team high .667 in limited action. Jenny was a three time Big West Conference Player of the Year at Cal State Fullerton.

While the team went a perfect 9-0 in Athens Bustos, Kretchman, and Topping were nearly as flawless at the plate as the trio combined to bat .377 (20-37) with 13 runs scored, three doubles, two triples, six homeruns, 15 runs batted in, and a .849 slugging percentage.

For Racers game and season ticket information, call the Akron Racers Foundation at 330-376-8188.

#####

Contact: Josh Baker Director of Media / Public Relations
330.376.8188 FAX 330.376.8348