RUSTON -- Three Louisiana Tech softball student-athletes earned some international experience this summer as seniors-to-be Berkley Calapp, Preslee Gallaway and Morgan Turkoly competed in the 2018 Canada Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada July 13-22.

The trio competed for Triple Crown Colorado, a team comprised of current and former Division I athletes coached by Triple Crown founder Dave King.

In addition to the LA Tech trio, TC-Colorado's roster included was comprised of Aubrey Leach (Tennessee), Kaitlin Lee (Ole Miss), Haley Donaldson (Colorado State), Kelbi Fortenberry (Texas A&M), Riley Sartain (Texas A&M), Trinity Harrington (Texas A&M), Kaylan Jablonski (Nebraska), Chelsea King (Colorado State), Jenna Jordan (Louisville), Kalea Snaer (South Carolina), Ashley Waters (Texas A&M), Ellen Renfroe Reed (Tennessee), Nickie Blue (South Carolina), Raegan Dykes (Alabama) and Amber Serrett (LSU).

"The last 10 days have been nothing short of amazing," said Calapp, who came up in the Triple Crown organization as a youngster. "Getting to play with my old Triple Crown teammates and coaches again while being mixed in with some of the best players in softball was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Playing in the Canada Cup helped me remember why I even play softball in the first place. Being able to get out there to play hard and to compete was so refreshing. It was so great that I get to share this experience with my two of my best friends (and LA Tech teammates).

"It will most definitely help my development as a player, for the last 10 days we faced some of the best pitching in the world and had to compete against some of the best defensive players in the world."

TC-Colorado was one of nine teams in the 10-day event, including five international teams from Canada, Korea, China, New Zealand and the Czech Republic. The marquee wins of the tournament for TC Colorado came over Team Canada, the third ranked team in the world.

"My trip to Vancouver reminded me of every reason why I fell in love with this sport," said Gallaway, the 2018 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. "I pitched to some of the best athletes from around the world. Triple Crown and Dave King gave me the opportunity to compete and play with a team of passionate girls that I am so proud to now know and call my friends. I was reliving my travel ball days and having fun."

The LA Tech trio helped lead TC-Colorado to an overall record of 11-2 at the event, outscoring its opponents 71-30 and advancing to the championship game. TC-Colorado was a perfect 2-0 in exhibition games before recording 3-0 records in both rounds of pool play, earning the No. 1 seed in the double elimination portion of the event.

"The experience in Canada was unforgettable," said Turkoly, the 2018 Conference USA Player of the Year. "Competing against players from all over the world was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made me appreciate softball so much more. To play the game at the international level was so rewarding, and just in the short time I was here, I was able to make lifelong friends and memories."

After being upset by the 4th seed New Zealand in the first game of the double elimination format, TC-Colorado fought back to win three straight elimination games, including a dramatic 4-3 10-inning win over the Czech Republic and a 7-2 victory over New Zealand.

TC-Colorado faced Team Canada for the third time in the tournament in Sunday's championship game, dropping a 3-0 decision to finish as the runner-up.