OTTAWA – Former Austin Peay State University softball standout Morgan Rackel has been chosen as one of 15 players to represent Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games, August 4-10, in Lima, Peru, as selected and announced by the Canadian Olympic Committee, Wednesday.

Approximately 6,700 total athletes from 41 countries in the Americas will participate in the Pan America Games that will feature 39 sports.

Rackel -- a native of Calgary, Alberta -- is currently playing professionally for the Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois of the National Professional Fastpitch League (NPF). She wrapped up her senior year at Austin Peay by posting a 21-9 overall record, with a 1.93 ERA and 242 strikeouts in 199.2 innings pitched. She also batted .293 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs.

The Pan American Games will be an important final tune-up for Rackel and Team Canada as it gears up for its push to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, with the World Baseball Softball Confederation Americas Softball Qualifier scheduled for August 25-September 1 in Surrey, British Columbia.

Canada, who took the bronze medal at the 2018 WBSC World Championships is currently third in the world ranking behind the United States and Japan.