USA Fastpitch

Monica Abbott

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:54:16 +0000

(born July 28, 1985) Monica pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004-2007. In 2008, Abbott participated in the Beijing Olympics with United States women’s national softball team. On May 4, 2010, she and catcher Shannon Doepking were traded by the Florida Pride to the Tennessee Diamonds in exchange for pitcher Cat Osterman and catcher Megan Willis.

During her senior season in college, she set the record for the most strikeouts in a Division I softball season and became the NCAA Division I Softball all-time leader in career wins, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched, games started and games pitched. She was the recipient of the 2007 Honda Sports Award for the sTop Collegiate Softball Player in the country and was named the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. She was also named the 2007 Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year.

Early life
Abbott was born in Washington D.C. and attended North Salinas High School from 1999 to 2003; her parents are Bruce and Julie Abbott, and her siblings are Jessica (born 1984), Jared (born 1988) and twins Bina and Gina (born 1991).

College career
Abbott pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004-2007.
500 Strikeouts in a Season for the Fourth Time
On April 21, in Abbott’s 33rd game started of the season, Abbott struck out her 500th batter of the season, thus becoming the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in all four years of her collegiate career. Before Abbott started her collegiate career, only two pitchers had ever reached the 500-strikeout mark in any season Courtney Blades, and Cat Osterman. During Abbott’s career from 2004 to 2007, Alicia Hollowell, Brooke Mitchell, Taryne Mowatt, Angela Tincher (twice) and Cat Osterman (twice more) would end up surpassing the 500-strikeout mark as well.

Collegiate National Player of the Year awards
Abbott finished her college career with significant season awards as the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the winner of the Honda Award for Top Collegiate Softball Player.

On October 16, 2007, Abbott won the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year award for Team Sports athletes.

Post-Collegiate Career
After the conclusion of her senior season, Abbott went on to find success at both the professional and international levels.

2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China
Abbott was selected for the final 15-person Olympic squad as one of three pitchers. On August 11, 2008, Abbott made her Olympic debut for Team USA, pitching the final inning (in relief of starter Jennie Finch) of a 5-inning no-hit victory by Team USA over Venezuela. On August 18, 2008, Abbott pitched 5 perfect innings, striking out 8, as Team USA defeated the Netherland 8-0 to extend its Olympic winning streak to 20 games. In its first six matches of the Beijing games, the USA pitching staff (Finch, Osterman, Abbott) had allowed a total of one hit. Team USA finished with a silver medal, losing to Japan in the championship game, which was started by Osterman and finished by Abbott.

2009
On February 2, 2009, Abbott announced her signing with Toyota Motor Corporation on a six-month contract to play professional softball in Japan.

High School Awards
* 2000 North Salinas High School MVP
* 2000 North Salinas High School Freshman of the Year
* 2000 All League Pitcher of the Year
* 2000 All County Pitcher of the Year
* 2000 All Central Coast Section Co-Pitcher of the Year
* 2001 North Salinas High School MVP
* 2001 North Salinas High School Sophomore of the Year
* 2001 All League Player of the Year
* 2001 All County Player of the Year
* 2001 All Central Coast Section Player of the Year
* 2002 North Salinas High School Junior of the Year
* 2002 Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Player of the Year
* 2002 San Jose Mercury Player of the Year
* 2002 All League MVP
* 2002 All County MVP
* 2002 All Central Coast Section MVP
* 2003 North Salinas High School MVP
* 2003 North Salinas High School Player of the Year
* 2003 Canada Cup 18-Under MVP
* 2003 Large School State Player of the Year
* 2003 All League MVP
* 2003 All League Pitcher of the Year
* 2003 All Central Coast Section MVP
* 2003 All Central Coast Section Pitcher of the Year
* 2003 All County MVP
* 2003 Cal-Hi Softball Athlete of the Year

Collegiate Awards
* 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American
* 2004 SEC Freshman of the Year
* 2004 SEC Pitcher of the Year
* 2004 All-SEC First Team
* 2005 Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American
* 2005 SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year
* 2005 All-SEC First Team
* 2005 WCWS All-Tournament Team
* 2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American
* 2006 All-SEC Second Team
* 2006 WCWS All-Tournament Team
* 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American
* 2007 SEC Pitcher of the Year
* 2007 All-SEC First Team
* 2007 WCWS All-Tournament Team
* 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
* 2007 [[Honda Award]] – Top Collegiate Softball Player
* 2007 Women’s Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year
* 2007 Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year

University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Single Game Accomplishments
* 2nd highest 7-inning strikeout total of alltime (20), set on March 26 of her freshman year vs Liberty University
* 6 games of at least 17 strikeouts in a 7-inning game, a mark only accomplished 20 times in NCAA Division I history (including Abbott’s performances)

Season Accomplishments
* 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
* Only Player with more than one 50-win season in a career (2)
* Only Player with four seasons of 40+ wins in a career
* Only Player with four 500-strikeout seasons (and two 600-strikeout seasons) in a collegiate career
* Most strikeouts in a season (2007) – 724
* Most games pitched in a season (2005) – 69
* Most wins and most strikeouts in a season by a freshman (2004) – 45 wins and 582 strikeouts

Career Accomplishments
* 2,440 career NCAA Division I Softball career strikeouts list|NCAA Division I strikeouts (1st alltime)
* 189 career NCAA Division I Softball career wins list|NCAA Division I wins (1st alltime)
* 112 career shutouts (1st alltime)
* 253 career games pitched (1st alltime)
* 206 career games started (1st alltime)
* 1448 career innings pitched (1st alltime)
* 178 career complete games (2nd alltime)
* 11.80 career strikeouts per 7 innings (3rd alltime)
* .848 career win percentage (10th alltime)
* 16 career saves (tied-8th alltime)
* 23 career NCAA Division I no-hitters
* 6 career NCAA Division I perfect games

Monica Abbott interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Christie Ambrosi

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:52:01 +0000

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Awards

2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
1999 National Champion at UCLA
1999 1st Team All-American, All-Region, All-Pac 10
1999 College World Series All-Tournament Team
1999 Pan-American Games Gold Medalist with US National Team
1999 Canada Cup Gold Medalist, hit game winning homerun in championship game against Australia.
1998 Held highest batting average at the 1998 National Team Festival
1998 South Pacific Classic Gold Medalist with US National Team
1997 2nd Team All-Pac 10 and 3rd Team All-American at UCLA
1996 Pan-American Qualifier Gold Medalist with US National Team. Hit 1 homerun and finished with over .500 batting average.
1996 Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 at UCLA
1995 Junior World Gold Medalist with US National Team, hit 2 homeruns.

High School

Lettered all 4 years in Volleyball and Softball.

Softball

All EKL, All-Sun Country, All-Metro all 4 years. All-State last 3 years.
Batted .650 senior year.
State Champion sophomore year and state runner up junior and senior year.

Volleyball:

All-state junior year in volleyball, All-Sun Country senior year.
Finished 3rd and 4th in state while on she was on varsity.
Named most athletic in her graduating class.

Christie Ambrosi interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Laura Berg

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:51:28 +0000

Laura Kay Berg (born January 6, 1975 in Santa Fe Springs, California) is an American softball player who plays the position of center fielder. She is one of only four women to have won four Olympic medals in softball, having won a medal at every Olympics the sport was contested.

Early life and collegiate career

Berg was born on January 6, 1975 to Harvey and Audrey Berg, along with her twin sister Randi Berg. Both Berg sisters enrolled at Fresno State and started for the school’s softball team. During their four years, Berg would be named an all-Western Athletic Conference and all-American each year, and would help Fresno State win the 1998 Women’s College World Series.
National team

Berg would also join the United States national team in 1994, participating in the 1994 ISF Women’s World Championship, where the US team won the gold medal. Berg redshirted at Fresno State in 1996, the year that she won her first Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 1998, she won her second gold medal at the world championships. At the 1999 Pan American Games Berg performed well in the gold medal effort, batting .375 for the tournament with fifteen hits. In the 2000 Summer Olympics Berg drove in the winning run in the eighth inning of the gold medal game.

From 2000 to 2003 she was an assistant coach at Fresno State, while continuing to participate at tournaments with the national team. She added gold medals at the 2002 World Championships and 2003 Pan American Games to her resume, batting .471 in the Pan-Americans. In the 2004 Athens Olympics she started eight of the nine games, batting .368, and held a perfect fielding average. She returned to Fresno State’s coaching staff for 2005 and 2006, and in 2006 won her fourth consecutive World Championship in Beijing. Berg’s four World Championship appearances is a record for the event.

In 2007 Berg returned to her third Pan American Games, where she won another gold medal, and was chosen to carry the U.S. flag during the closing ceremonies. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she captured a silver medal with the U.S. team, the only time in Olympic history the United States did not win the gold medal.

Other awards and honors

2005 International Sports Invitational Champion
2001 Played for WPSL Gold professional team consisting of 2000 Olympians
WAC Champions- Fresno State
Second FSU player to record 100 or more hits in a season
Four-time NFCA All-American (three First-Team and one Third-Team)
Four-time NCAA All-Regional Team

Laura Berg interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Gillian Boxx

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:51:15 +0000

Gillian Boxx had a truly remarkable softball career culminating in being a member of the Gold Medal winning softball Team USA in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
In addition to Gillian being a Gold Medalist in 1996, she played on four other USA National Teams from 1994-1998 garnering three gold medals and one silver medal. Her international play representing the United States took her far and wide to such events as the Women’s World Fast Pitch Championship in Newfoundland (1994), the South Pacific Classic in New Zealand (1998), the Pan-American Qualifier in Guatemala (1994) and the Super Ball Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia (1997).

Ms. Boxx played in the Olympic Festivals from 1993-1995 where she was selected to play on the 1996 Team USA Olympic Team. Gillian’s team won the Bronze Medal in 1993 while gaining the Silver Medal in 1995. Gillian was a member of six A.S.A. National Champions from 1987-1997. She received national championship honors on 15-under, 16-under, 18-under, and Major divisions playing for the Batbusters and the California Commotion softball teams. Her national honors included being selected as First Team All-American at the 1997 Women’s Major National Tournament! In 1996 she was selected as the recipient of the Erv Lind award honoring the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the Women’s Major National Tournament!

The college career that Gillian had at U.C. Berkeley was absolutely phenomenal! Gillian Boxx was a four-time All-Pac-10 Player (first team from 1993-95) and a four-time college All-American (first team in 1993 & 1995). In 2005 Gillian received the high honor of being inducted into the University of California Athletic Hall of Fame ! She entered the Hall of fame as Cal ’s career record-holder in runs scored (156) and hits (274), as well as the single-season record-holder in runs (56 in 1995), hits (90 in 1995) and batting average (.466 in 1995). She was a member of the 1992 team that finished fifth at the College World Series, and played on NCAA Regional entries in 1993, 1994 and 1995! For her extraordinary 1995 season Gillian was a Honda Sports Award finalist and was selected by the Daily Californian as the Cal Berkeley Athlete of the Year!

Gillian has taken her extraordinary experience as a world class softball player and turned that into coach and mentor. In 1996 Gillian became an assistant softball coach at the University Of Notre Dame! In 1997 Gillian went back to her alma mater, and assisted for the California Golden Bears!

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Jennifer Brundage

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:50:53 +0000

A member of the USA Olympic softball team in 2000 and an alternate in 1996, Brundage helped the United States win the gold medal at the Summer Games in Sydney, Australia, leading the squad in batting average. Brundage was Team USA’s leader in runs and home runs and ranked among the top five in RBI, hits and batting average during the team’s pre-Olympics Summer Central Park to Sydney Tour. She earned a spot on the Olympic team after helping the United States to gold medals in both the Canada Cup and Pan-Am Games in 1999.

Brundage won a gold medal at the 1998 South Pacific Classic in New Zealand and has participated in six U.S.A. Softball Festivals. She has played in a number of ASA Women’s Major National Tournaments and helped the California Commotion to its fourth straight national championship in 1999. Brundage has earned seven Women’s Major National championships in her ASA career and is a six-time ASA Women’s Major All-American at third base and outfield.

A four-year letterwinner at UCLA (1992-95), Brundage helped the Bruins to four NCAA Women’s College World Series appearances, winning the 1992 national championship and finishing runner-up in 1993. She earned a pair of NFCA All-America first team accolades at third base and was named the recipient of the Honda Award (softball) in 1995. Brundage led all NCAA Division I players in batting average (.518) as a senior and broke the Bruins’ career records for home runs, RBI and doubles, as well as ranking second on the career list in batting average. On November 11, 2007, she was inducted into UCLA’s Athletics Hall of Fame — the ninth Bruin softball player to earn the distinction.

Brundage was the 1995 CoSIDA Softball Academic All-American of the Year and twice earned CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honors. Brundage was the recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the UCLA Athletics Senior Scholarship award in 1995.

Brundage graduated from UCLA in 1995 with a B.A. in communications and later earned a master’s in sports management from Michigan. Brundage resides in Ann Arbor with her husband, Rich Boys.

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Crystl Bustos

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:50:37 +0000

A Few Accomplishments

• World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Three-time Pan American gold medalist (1999, 2003 & 2007)
• World Champion (2006)
• Two-time Olympic Gold medalist (2000 & 2004)
• Olympic Silver medalist (2008)

National Team Experience

2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
- hit .500 with a record-breaking six home runs and 10 RBI; Olympic record 12 runs scored
• Retired her cleats at home plate after the Gold medal game ending a stellar USA Softball career

2007
• One of three girls on the team to compete in all 20 games ofthe summer, either as designated player or at third base.
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .375 (3-for-8); scored four runs with a double and a homerun for five RBI
• World Cup Champion
Hit .538 (7-for-13) with two homeruns and eight RBI, scoring six runs

2006
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit a team-tying high .500 (17-34) average with 14 RBI and a team-high 6 doubles.
Scored 10 runs with two homeruns including one in the championship game to pad the lead to 3-0, a World Championship victory.
• World Cup Champion
Hit .353 (6-for-17) with a two home runs and 10 RBI

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier in Guatemala City

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
Hit .346 with five homeruns and 10 RBI

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .320 with eight hits and nine RBI

2002
• Member of U.S. Women’s Elite Team
Hit .560 with four doubles, four homeruns and 13 RBI at Canada Cup

2000
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia
Led the team with 10 hits, three homeruns and five runs scored

1999
• Gold medalist at the Pan American Games
Led the team with 18 hits, three homeruns and 15RBI

At Palm Beach Community College
• Team won two NJCAA National Championships
• Two-time NJCAA first team All American
• Two-time NJCAA Player of the Year

Other
• Member of NPF Akron Racers (2006)
• Member of NPF Champions, Akron Racers (2005)
• Played for WPSL Gold, professional team consisting of 2000 Olympians (2001)
• Played for the Akron Racers of WPSL (1999)
• WPSL League MVP while leading the Orlando Wahoos to the Championship (1998)

Crystl Bustos interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Sheila Cornell-Douty

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:50:21 +0000

Sheila Marie Cornell-Douty (born 26 Feb 1962, Encino, CA.) is an American softball player and Olympic champion.

After graduating from UCLA she played for the Stratford Brakettes from 1988 through 1994. She also competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta where she received a gold medal with the American team. She was also a member of the American gold winning team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006, and the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame in 2007

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Andrea Duran

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:49:56 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Pan American Gold medalist (2007)
• World Champion (2006)
• Olympic Silver medalist (2008)

National Team Experience

2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

2007
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Second on the team with a .500 (5-for-10) average at the Pan American games with a team-high 8 RBI; half of her RBI came off her first grand slam of her National Team career

2006
• World Cup Champion – first appearance with National team
Hit .333 (6-for-18) with one double and two homeruns for five RBI
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit .267 (8-for-30) with a double and homerun for seven RBI and five runs scored

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2004
• Member of USA Schutt Elite Team at Canada Cup and Champions Cup
• Gold medalist at 1st World University Softball Championships
Led team with a .400 batting average

2003
• Silver medalist at the ISF Junior Women’s World Championship

At UCLA
• Two-time National Champion (2003 & 2004)
• Named to 2006 All-Women’s College World Series Team
• 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year
• One of four finalists for the 2006 Honda Sports Award for softball
• 2005 First-team All Pac-10, First-team District 8
• ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-America
• 2004 NCAA Regional All Tournament team
• 2004 Pac 10 Academic Honors
• Graduated in 2006

Other
• 2002 Graduate of Selma High School in Selma, Calif.
• Member of PFX Tour in 2007

Adrea Duran interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Lisa Fernandez

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:49:42 +0000

Lisa Fernandez (born February 22, 1971, in New York City) is a right-handed softball pitcher of Cuban-Puerto Rican descent. She established an Olympic record in softball with 25 strikeouts in a game as a member of the United States Women’s team.

Early years
Lisa’s father immigrated from Cuba, where he played baseball. In New York, he met Lisa’s mother, who had migrated from Puerto Rico and whom he married. Lisa’s mother played stickball, a street game similar to baseball played with a broom stick and a rubber ball, with her brother in the streets. Lisa began playing at the age of eight. At twelve, she played in a local children’s league; when she tried out as a pitcher, her coach told her that she would never make it because she didn’t have the right size and build. In 1986, Lisa and her family moved to Lakewood, California, where she attended St. Joseph High School. She joined her school’s girls’ softball team and she and her teammates won the CIF Championship.

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College career
Upon graduating from high school, she was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she played softball and earned a degree in psychology. Fernandez played at UCLA from 1990-93. A three-time winner of the sport’s Honda Award, Fernandez became the first softball player to win the Honda-Broderick Cup in 1993, given to the outstanding collegiate female athlete in all sports. A four-time, first-team All-American, Fernandez led UCLA to two national championships (1990 & 1992) and two runner-up finishes (1991 & 1993).

Accomplishments
In 1990, Lisa won a gold medal at the ISF (International Softball Federation) World Championship. Among her accomplishments are:
1991, gold medal at the Pan American Games
1994, gold medals at ISF World Championships and Pan Am Qualifier
1994, Sportswoman of the Year Award[1]
Led UCLA to two NCAA Women’s College World Series Titles
Four time NFCA First Team All-American
NCAA Top VI Award presented to the top six senior student athletes in all divisions
1993, Honda-Broderick Cup winner, country’s most outstanding collegiate female athlete
1991-93, Three-time Honda Award winner for softball presented to the nation’s best softball player
1996, Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Olympics celebrated in Columbus, Georgia
1998, gold medal at Pan American Games;
2000, Olympic gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics celebrated in Australia where she established a 25 strikeout record in women’s softball
2002, gold medal at the ISF World Championships
2003, gold medal at the Pan American Games
2004, Olympic gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics celebrated in Greece.

Honors
On April 24, 2001, the Lakewood City Council recognized Lisa as one of the most remarkable athletes ever to come from the playgrounds and ball diamonds of Lakewood. The city council named the ball field at Mayfair Park in her honor, as the Lakewood Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year.

Later years
Lisa is currently an assistant coach for the women’s softball team at UCLA. She married Michael Lujan in 2002 and gave birth to their son Antonio in 2005. Fernandez and her family reside in Long Beach, California.

Lisa Fernandez interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Jennie Finch

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:49:27 +0000

Jennie Lynn Finch (born September 3, 1980 in La Mirada, California), who occasionally uses her husband’s surname Daigle, pitched for the USA national softball team and Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch, and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Time magazine described her as the most famous softball player in history. In 2010, Finch retired from softball to focus on her family.

Early years
Finch had been playing softball since the age of five and pitching since she was eight. Growing up, Finch was a bat girl for the University of California, Los Angeles. At La Mirada High School, Finch lettered four times in softball and twice each in basketball and volleyball. As a senior, she was the captain of all three sports. As a sophomore, she was an All-California Interscholastic Federation Division II choice in softball and All-Suburban League selection. Her father, Doug Finch, was her first pitching coach.

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College
Finch played softball for the University of Arizona, where she was a three-time All-American pitcher and first baseman and two-time winner of Honda Player of the Year.
In 2002, Finch set a new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) record by winning her 51st consecutive game. She ended up with 60 consecutive wins breaking the previous record of 50 that was set by Florida State’s Rebecca Aase in 1993. Finch’s streak spanned nearly two seasons and included three straight wins in the 2001 Women’s College World Series, where she won Most Outstanding Player honors. A near-capacity crowd filled Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium and chants of “Jennie” echoed throughout the crowd in the 6-0 victory over Cal State Northridge. Finch said, “It’s significant and it’s nice. But it doesn’t even come close to the team goal of winning a national championship.”

Finch recorded 24 wins in her freshman season; 29 in her sophomore season; 32 in her junior year, (with no losses, setting an NCAA record); and 34 in her senior season for a career total of 119 wins, 12th-most at the time. In that stretch, Finch struck out a total of 1,028 batters. Her jersey number 27 (the date of her parents’ first date) was retired by the University of Arizona in a pre-game ceremony at Hillenbrand Stadium on May 9, 2003.

2004 Olympics
Finch had a 2–0 win–loss record in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, striking out 13 batters in eight innings while giving up only one hit, one walk and no runs. Her pitching helped lead the American team to the gold medal.

2008 Olympics
The U.S.A. team started its bid for a fourth straight gold medal at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing with Finch pitching four no-hit innings in an 11-0 victory over Venezuela. Finch then pitched 5 shutout innings in a 7-0 victory over Chinese Taipei and two more shut out innings in a 9-0 victory over China. However, the U.S. lost 3-1 to Japan in the final game and came home with a silver medal. After the loss, Finch said, “I feel like we let USA softball down. Many women have worn this uniform, and accepted nothing but gold.” Along with baseball, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided in 2005 to drop softball from the Olympics, making 2008 possibly the last time the sport is played in the Olympics. A crusader for softball’s reinstatement for the 2016 Olympics, Finch said “It deserves to be an Olympic sport.” After the final game, Finch said “Over 140 countries play this game….you don’t have to be six-four. You don’t have to be 200 pounds. We have all different shapes and sizes. The sport tests so many athletic abilities, from hand-eye coordination, to speed, to agility, to quickness. We’re finally at the pinnacle, we’ve finally been established. Please don’t take this away.”

National Pro Fastpitch
Finch pitched for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) softball league. She was named NPF’s Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2005, sharing the award with teammate Lauren Bay. She pitched a perfect game for the Bandits in 2009 against the Philadelphia Force and another perfect game on July 9, 2010 against the Akron Racers.

Media
In 2002, ESPN called Finch the “runaway winner” of the Best Dressed competition at the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards.
In 2003, Finch received the most votes in an ESPN online poll as the most attractive female athlete.
In 2004, People magazine named Finch one of its “50 Most Beautiful People”, the only female athlete in the list. “This is truly amazing to be recognized by People Magazine for this honor,” Finch said. “It is really special to be included among some of the most famous and beautiful people in the world. I still have a hard time believing that I was selected as part of this group.”
Finch has modeled swimwear for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in 2005. Finch was offered lucrative contracts to disrobe for Playboy and Maxim magazine, but turned them down.
To boost ratings, This Week in Baseball signed Finch as a co-host. In a segment called the Jennie Challenge, Finch pitches to Major League Baseball players and often strikes them out.In softball, the mound is closer to home plate than baseball and Finch’s pitches are the equivalent of a 98 mph pitch. “Some big-timers refuse to face her,” Cal Ripken, Jr. says. “Many feel it could be embarrassing.” In an interview with ESPN, Finch explained, “I was throwing them mostly rise balls and change-ups. They’ve never seen a pitch like that, you know? With the closer distance from the mound, I think it really surprises them how fast the pitch gets there. And especially with the rise — when they’re used to that over-the-top release point — there is nothing else like it. The ball movement throws them off.”
In the 2004 Pepsi All-Star Softball Game, Finch struck out Albert Pujols, Mike Piazza and Brian Giles. “I never touched a pitch,” said Giles. “Her fastball was the fastest thing I’ve ever seen, from that distance. It rises and cuts at the same time.”
In 2006, Finch appeared in Season One of Pros vs Joes on Spike TV, a show in which sports stars compete with ordinary people. She was the first woman to appear on the show.
Finch appeared on an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County.
In 2008, Finch was featured as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice where she selected International Breast Cancer Research Foundation as her charity. She was fired by Donald Trump in the fourth week of the season.
Finch pitched for the National League in the 2010 Legends and Celebrities Softball Game, at Angel Stadium.

Personal life
Finch married Major League Baseball pitcher Casey Daigle on January 15, 2005. Daigle proposed to Finch on the softball field at the University of Arizona, her Alma Mater. According to Finch, “He blindfolded me and took me to the mound and said, ‘You have been the queen of the diamond for four years. Now I want you to be the queen of my heart.’” Their son, named Ace, was born on May 4, 2006 and they are expecting another child in June 2011 . Finch is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Retirement
On July 20, 2010, Finch announced her retirement from softball to focus on her family. “I just feel like it gets harder and harder every year with Ace getting older and time away from my husband and even family events such as birthdays and friends’ weddings and things that I’ve always just missed out on because of softball,” Finch said in an interview with the Associated Press. Said Finch, “This whole career has been way more than I ever even imagined or dreamed. The opportunities that I’d be able to enjoy and appreciate and be a part of, it’s been incredible.” In her final start with the US National Team, Finch struck out 12 and only allowed three singles including two infield ones. She continued playing with the Chicago Bandits until the National Pro Fastpitch season ended in August.

Legacy
Finch was the dominant and most recognizable softball pitcher of her era.Combined with her pitching skills, Finch’s beauty and charm landed her a place in the mainstream to become a pop culture icon. “She set the standard for softball in a new era of being able to be feminine and play this sport,” U.S. outfielder Jessica Mendoza said. “Not that you have to be feminine to play this sport, but I see hundreds of thousands of little girls now with glitter headbands, hot pink bats, makeup….when I was growing up, it wasn’t like that.” According to Mike Candrea, her coach at Arizona and through two Olympics, “Jennie has transformed this sport, touched millions of young kids in many different ways – whether it’s fashion, whether it’s the way she plays the game – but through it all she’s been very humble.” A Chicago Tribune editorial commented, “She leaves with a spotless personal reputation, an intent to keep promoting softball, and the knowledge that she has inspired other girls and women who play for the love of the game.

Jennie Finch interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Tairia Flowers

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:49:13 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Two-time Pan American Gold medalist (2003 & 2007)
• Two-time World Champion (2002 & 2006)
• Olympic Gold Medalist (2004)
• Olympic Silver Medalist (2008) •

National Team Experience:

2008
• Silver medalist at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China

2007
• Led the National team during three summer events with a .543 (19-for-35) batting average
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games • World Cup Champion Hit .462 (6-for-13) with a team-high 12 RBI; hit three homeruns, a World Cup Record, including a grand slam against China for her first of her National Team career
• Earned Tournament MVP at the Canada Cup hitting .650 (13- for-20) with three homeruns, 10 RBI and five walks.

2006
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships Played in five games at Worlds with a .333 (3-for-9) batting average and two runs scored • World Cup Champion Hit .444 (4-for-9) with one home run and 7 RBI

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier • Silver medalist at Japan Cup Hit .316 (6-19) with a team-high seven RBI

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

2003
• Gold Medalist at Pan American Games Hit .538 (7-13) with two homeruns and six RBI

2002
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships

2001
• Gold medalist at the U.S. Cup Second on the team with .400 batting average

At UCLA
• Led the Bruins to four Women’s College World Series Appearances
• National Champion in 2003; Member of All WCWS tournament team (2003, 2001, 2000)
• Two-time First team Pac-10 honoree
• Two-time NFCA All-American
• Top 10 Finalist for USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year (2003)
• Hit a three-run home run in her first collegiate at bat
• Graduated in 2005

Other
• Assistant Coach at Long Beach State (2007)
• Member of PFX Tour (2006 & 2007)
• Member of National Pro Fastpitch Arizona Heat (2005)
• Won ASA Major National Championship with Phoenix Storm (1997-2001)

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Amanda Freed

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:48:55 +0000

Amanda Louise Freed (born December 26, 1979) was born in Fountain Valley, California. She attended UCLA where she played softball.
The UCLA Bruins have one of the best softball traditions in the nation, having won 10 of 24 championships. Freed led the Bruins back in 2000 while striking out 13 (second best record for a championship; Bruins alum Debbie Doom notched 15 to win the 1984 title) only to lose to first-time winner Oklahoma.
Freed was also part of the 2004 gold medal winning United States softball team.

Awards and honors

2005
International Sports Invitational Champion
Member of National Pro Fastpitch Texas Thunder
2004 Gold medalist at Athens Olympic Games
2003 Gold medalist at Pan American Games
2002 Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Tops UCLA’s list for career wins at 97
Original Top 25 selection for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
NFCA First-Team All-American
First-team All-Pac-10 and All-Pacific Region
2001 Gold medalist at U.S. Cup, led team in hitting .444
NFCA Second-Team All-American
First-team All-Pac-10 and All-Pacific Region
2000 Alternate on USA Olympic Softball Team
Pitched 26 of 28 innings at College World Series
College World Series All-Tournament Team
First-team All-Pac-10
1999 Gold medalist at U.S. Olympic Cup
Led Bruins to NCAA College World Series title
NFCA First-Team All-American
First-team All-Pac-10 and All-Pacific
1997 Orange County Register Female Athlete of the Year

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Michele Granger

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:48:44 +0000

No stranger to international success, Granger was a pitcher on the U.S. Olympic gold medal team in 1996, going 2-0 with a 0.87 earned run average and 25 strikeouts in 16 innings. One of her wins came in the gold medal-clinching victory over China. She was also a member of the USA team that won the gold medal at the 1995 Superball Classic in Columbus, Ga. In addition, she fanned 57 batters in hurling four shutouts and one perfect game to help the USA win the gold medal at the 1995 Pan American Games in Parana, Argentina.

Granger helped the USA team to gold medals at the 1994 ISF Women’s World Championship in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada; the 1994 South Pacific Classic in Sydney, Australia; and the 1991 Pan American Games in Santiago, Cuba. She was chosen as the U.S. Olympic Committee Player of the Year for softball in both 1986 and 1987.

She also pitched the USA to the 1987 ISF Junior Girls World Championship while setting records for wins (eight), strikeouts (97) and innings pitched (56 1/3). Granger became the only player in history to compete in the ISF Junior Girls World Championship, the U.S. Olympic Festival, the Pan American Games and an ASA National Championship in the same season (1987). A gold medalist at the 1986 ISF Women’s World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand, she registered a 0.00 ERA and was named to the all-tournament team in her international debut.

On the national level, she was a gold medalist at the 1993 and 1994 U.S. Olympic Festivals and received the prestigious Bertha Tickey Award as the Most Valuable Pitcher at the ASA Women’s Major National Championship three times (1986, 1987 and 1988). Ironically, her head coach at the ’94 Festival was Ralph Weekly. A member of the 1987 ASA Women’s Major National Champions, Granger later earned MVP accolades at the 1988 ASA Women’s Fast Pitch National Championship. A two-time ASA All-American, she was a nominee for the AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award in 1986 and 1987 and was inducted into the Amateur Athletes Hall of Fame in Johnstown, Pa., in 1986. Previously, she was an ASA 18 & Under Fast Pitch National Champion (1984 and 1985).

One of the top pitchers in the history of NCAA softball, Granger was a four-time All-American at the University of California-Berkeley between 1990-93, completing her career with a 119-52 mark and a 0.46 ERA. She owns 20 school records and five NCAA marks and holds the distinction of being a four-time All-Pacific Region selection, a four-time All-Pac 10 choice and a four-time Honda Sports Award finalist. She established what was then an NCAA record with 1,640 strikeouts during her career and had 25 no-hitters and five perfect games as a Golden Bear. She still holds Cal records in a variety of categories, including career victories (119), games (183), games started (162), complete games (155), innings pitched (1,202), strikeouts (1,640) and shutouts (94).

In 1993, she was honored as the March of Dimes College Athlete of the Year and as the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Female College Athlete of the Year. During her tenure at Cal, she was tabbed as the Daily Californian’s Female Athlete of the Year on three occasions (1990, 1991 & 1993) and was named as the “Best of Berkeley” Top Female Athlete in ’93.

Granger coached at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 2001-2004, after serving as a volunteer pitching coach at San Jose State University during the 2001 campaign. She also served as the color commentator for ESPN’s coverage of the 2001 Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. Previously, she was a volunteer pitching coaching for the University of California, Davis, from 1997-2000.

Granger earned bachelor’s degrees in mass communications and history from Cal in 1993. She and her husband, John Poulos, have four children: Kady, John Michael, Lindsay and Nicholas.

Olympians headline Hall of Fame Inductions
11/9/2006

Colorado Springs, Colo.—Four players who were integral in the success of the USA Softball Women’s National Team during the past two decades, including capturing the first Olympic gold medal in the sport of softball, headline the list of inductees who were enshrined into the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame.

Sheila Douty (Diamond Bar, Calif.), Michele Granger (Granite Bay, Calif.), Dot Richardson (Orlando, Fla.) and Michele Smith (Califon, N.J.) become the first members of the original U.S. Olympic Softball Team to be inducted into the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame. Each was a member of the 1996 USA Softball National Team that captured the sport’s first Olympic gold medal. Douty, Richardson and Smith also led the U.S. to its second consecutive Olympic gold medal in Sydney, Australia. Granger also becomes the first U.S. Olympian to be inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame.

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Lori Harrigan

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:48:30 +0000

Often called ‘Vegas’ by her teammates, this two-time Olympian has lived the ‘everyday’ life as an athlete training and working. Harrigan is a full-time security supervisor at the Bellagio Las Vegas.
Harrigan began softball like many others when her parents coached her as a child. They youngest of five kids, the 6′1″ left later headed to UNLV where she shattered virtually every pitching record and led the Rebels to two berths in to the Women’s College World Series.
Harrigan was UNLV’s top female athlete in 1992 and had her jersey retired in 1998. She has accumulated more than a dozen international gold medals with the U.S. national team.
Harrigan pitched seven scoreless innings in a start against Taiwan in the 1996 Olympics and left Atlanta with a gold medal. Harrigan returned to the Olympics in 2000 in Sydney.

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Dionna Harris

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:48:15 +0000

Athletic Accomplishments

International Competition
1996 U.S.A. Softball Team Member ( Outfielder )
Gold Medallist 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta
Highest batting average on Olympic Team ( .409 )
1995 U.S.A. National Team Member ( Outfielder )
Gold Medallist 1995 Australian Games, held in Sydney – Brisbane – Canbena Australia
Runner up – Canadian Cup – White Rock, British Columbia ( Outfielder ) California Jazz
1994 National Team Member – ( Outfielder )
Gold Medallist PanAm Games Guatemala City, Guatemala
1993 National Team Member ( Outfielder )
Gold Medallist at the Intercontinental Cup held in Harlaam, Holland

Amateur Softball Association Women’s Major Fastpitch
1995 – 1996 Outfielder for California Jazz
1990 – 1994 Outfielder for Raybesto’s Brakettes of Stratford, CT
Six Time A.S.A Women’s National Champion
Four Time Participant in U.S.A. Olympic Festival ( 2 Gold – 1 Bronze )
Women’s National Tournament Batting Champion ( .611 )

Collegiate Career
1988 – 1989 Temple University ( Second Baseman )
Two time All Atlantic 10 All Conference Player
First Team North East All American
1989 Atlantic 10 Player of the year
Holds various hitting records at Temple University
1986 – 1988 Delaware Community College
Two Time All American

High School Career
1982 – 1986 Delcastle High School
4 Time All State Player
4 Time All Conference Player
M.V.P. Senior All State Game
Retired High School Jersey ( #11 )

1996 Delaware Athlete of the Year

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Danielle Henderson

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:47:58 +0000

Danielle Henderson, Olympic gold medalist and a three-time collegiate All-American, was named Ohio State’s assistant softball coach this past summer. Henderson, the 1999 Honda Award winner, given to the nation’s top softball player, from the University of Massachusetts (1996-99) completes the staff of head coach Linda Kalafatis and former Nebraska All-American Ali Viola.

“Danielle had a terrific college playing career at UMass and also with the 2000 Gold Medal winning USA Olympic Team which I’m sure will lead to a terrific coaching career,” Kalafatis said. “She will work primarily with our pitchers to develop a young staff and will also be an integral part of our offensive attack since our hitters will be facing a great pitcher almost daily. Danielle’s experience as an Olympian competing with and against the best in the world no doubt helped shape her into the player and now the coach she is.”

Henderson, who has instructed individual and group pitching lessons the past six years after four years as an assistant coach at her alma mater (2000-03), brings the experience of facing the best talent from around the world and knowledge of the art of pitching to Ohio State.

“I’m excited to return to college coaching and join a strong Ohio State program that has been very successful,” Henderson said. “There is a ton of support for the athletics department and university and I’m looking forward to joining the Buckeye family. Ohio State and the city of Columbus are very supportive of their sports and I’m thrilled to be back in NCAA softball as a Buckeye.”

A member of the gold medal-winning 2000 U.S. Olympic softball team in Sydney and 2001 Women’s Pro Softball League Gold team, Henderson is considered one of the most decorated athletes UMass has ever produced, rewriting the softball record book in her four seasons on the mound. A four-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and a four-time A-10 Tournament Most Outstanding player, Henderson finished her career second all-time on the NCAA’s strikeout list with 1,343 in her four-year career. She was also the nation’s leader in strikeouts per seven innings in both 1998 and 1999.

Henderson, a native of Commack, N.Y., currently ranks first in the UMass record books in 14 career and individual statistics. In her career, Henderson is first in ERA (0.70), shutouts (72), strikeouts (1,343; 13th in NCAA history), no-hitters (14) and tied for perfect games with three. In a season, Henderson is first in ERA (0.39), shutouts (23), strikeouts (465), strikeouts in seven-inning game (18; three times), consecutive strikeouts (12), consecutive wins (26), consecutive shutouts (11), consecutive scoreless innings (105; NCAA record) and is tied for first in appearances (49).

After earning her bachelor’s degree in sport management in the spring of 1999, Henderson competed as part of the U.S. National Team that captured the gold medal at the Pan American Games and the Canada Cup.

As a player, coach and instructor, Henderson has accumulated several other impressive accomplishments and experiences:
Was the first player at UMass to have jersey retired (2001)
Inducted into the New England Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
Inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009
Was a member of the National Pro Fastpitch with Arizona Heat (2004) and New England Riptide (2005-07), winning a national championship and representing all-star team
Pitching consultant for local collegiate programs, including Adelphi University (2007-08)
“While she’s been out of college softball for a few years as a private instructor, Danielle has followed it closely. She told me she realized she missed the excitement of the game and the intense competition it brings,” Kalafatis said. “I believe her time as a private instructor has only strengthened her ability to work and teach the art of pitching and we’re excited to call her a Buckeye now. With Ali Viola and Danielle Henderson, I am proud to have two of the best to have ever played softball on staff here at Ohio State.”

Henderson has been a personal softball instructor in New York since 2004. She organized and marketed camps and clinics for all age groups and skill levels. As an assistant at UMass, Henderson created daily training programs for pitchers and team conditioning, recruited potential student-athletes, performed daily office tasks and supervised academic performance of student-athletes.

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Lovieanne Jung

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:47:38 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Two-time Pan American Gold medalist (2003 & 2007)
• Two-time World Champion (2002 & 2006)
• Olympic Gold medalist (2004)
• Olympic Silver medalist (2008)

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
• Retired her cleats at home plate after Gold Medal game, wrapping up a stellar USA Softball career

2007
• Saw playing time in 12 games with 12 starts during the summer
• Pan American Gold medalist
• World Cup Champion
• Was 3-for-13 at the Canada Cup with four runs scored, five RBI and one triple

2006
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit .300 (6-for-20) with one RBI and two runs scored
• World Cup Champion
Led team with a .615 (8-for-13) average
• Had a team-high three doubles and put up two homeruns with six RBI; scored six runs in five games played

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
Hit .300 (6-20) with a team-high five walks

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .455 with a team-high 10 hits and three homeruns

2002
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships

1999
• Silver medalist at ISF Junior Women’s World Championship

At Arizona
• First Team NFCA All-American (2002 & 2003)
• First-Team All Pacific Region (2002 & 2003)
• 2003 Top three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
• 2003 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year
• In 2003, led NCAA in homeruns (25), slugging percentage and RBIs (81)
• Two-time First-team All-Pac 10 (2002 & 2003)
• Made two Women’s College World Series Appearances (2002 & 2003)

Other
• Member of PFX Tour (2006)
• Member of the Arizona Heat of the National Pro Fastpitch League (2005)
• Member of the NPF All-Star team
• Personal website is www.loviejung.com

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Kelly Kretschman

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:47:22 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Olympic Silver medalist (2008)
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games (2007)
• World Cup Champion (2007)
• Olympic Gold medalist (2004)
• Alternate on 2000 Olympic Gold Medal Team

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
• Retired from USA Softball after Gold Medal game, leaving behind cleats and a great USA Softball career

2007
• Hit .474 (18-for-38) during the summer with 13 RBI, two homeruns, a triple and three doubles and 15 runs scored
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
• World Cup Champion
Hit .346 (4-for-11) at the World Cup with two RBI and one homerun
• Second on the team at the Canada Cup with a .632 average and 12 hits; scored 10 runs with 11 RBI

2005
• World Cup Runner-up
Third on the team with a .429 (3-for-7) average with one RBI

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

2003
• Led USA Softball Elite Team to Canada Cup gold medal
Hit team high at Canada Cup at .355 with 11 hits and six RBI

2000
• Alternate on U.S. Olympic Team

At Alabama
• Three-time First Team All-SEC
• Four-time NFCA All-American
• Member of the All-Women’s College World Series Team (2000)
• Honda Award Nominee for Nation’s Top Softball Player of the Year (2001)
• During freshman season, led NCAA in homeruns (25) and slugging percentage
• Graduated in 2001

Other
• Member of NPF Washington Glory (2007 Champions)
• Member of the NPF Akron Racers (2005 Champions)
• Member of the NPF Connecticut Brakettes

Kelly Kretschman interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Lauren Lappen

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:46:59 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Olympic Silver Medalist (2008)
• Pan American Gold medalist (2007)
• World Cup Champion (2007)
• Alternate on 2004 Olympic Gold Medal Team

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

2007
• Made her return to the National Team after two years
• Fourth on the team during the summer with a .480 (12-for-25); had 13 RBI with three homeruns
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .400 (2-for-5) with three RBI and a run scored
• World Cup Champion
Scored three runs at the World Cup with a batting average of .375 (3-for-8)
• Hit .583 (7-for-12) at the Canada Cup with a double, triple and three homeruns for 10 RBI

2004
• Member of the 2004 National Team, served as alternate for the Olympic Games

2003
• Led USA Softball Elite team to Canada Cup gold medal
Named Top Defensive Player at Canada Cup

At Stanford
• Two-time Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (2005 & 2006)
• Named to WCWS All-Tournament Team (2004)
• Second-Team All-Pacific Region
• Received third-team and second-team NFCA All-American honors
• First-team All-Pac-10 (2004) and Second-team all-Pac-10 (2003)
• Graduated in 2006

Other
• 2007 Member of PFX Tour

Laura Lappen interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Caitlin Lowe

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:46:24 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Gold medalist at the Pan American Games (2007)
• Two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• World Champion (2006)
• Olympic Silver medalist (2008)

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
- recorded the first ever inside the park home run in Olympic history, August 12, 2008, USA wins 11-0 over Venezuela

Slapping DVD
$39.95

2007
• Along with Natasha Watley, led team over the summer with 27 hits; tied a team-high with two triples and a second- best 21 runs scored and was perfect on the base paths with nine stolen bases
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
• World Cup Champion
Hit .500 (8-for-16) with six runs scored and four stolen bases
Posted a team-high six hits with three runs scored for a .462 average
• At Canada Cup, scored 12 runs with a .448 average (13-for-29); had a team-high two triples with eight RBI

2006
• One of the youngest members of the 2006 World Championship team
Hit .314 (11-for-35) with a team-tying high 14 runs scored; was a perfect 6-6 in stolen bases; Started in all 11 games in outfield
• World Cup Champion
Hit .524 (11-for-21) and had an on-base-percentage of .545 with three stolen bases

2005
• Silver medalist at the Japan Cup
Hit .313 (5-16) with three runs
• Silver medalist at the World Cup
Hit .417 (5-12) with three runs

2004
• Member of USA Schutt Elite Team at Canada Cup and Champions Cup
Hit .404 (23-57) with a team-high 16 runs

At Arizona
• Two-time National Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Four-time NFCA All-American (2004 – 2007)
• Two-time Top Three Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2005 & 2007)
• Two-time Top 10 Finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2005 & 2007)
• Two-time member of All-Women’s College World Series team (2006 & 2007)

Other
• Graduate of Foothill High School in Tustin, Calif. (2003)

Caitlin Lowe interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Jennifer McFalls

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:45:55 +0000

With the start of the 2011 season, Jennifer McFalls enters her first year as an assistant coach at The University Of Texas.

McFalls joins the Texas staff after spending the last five seasons as the head coach and assistant athletics director at Midlothian High School in Midlothian, Texas. During her tenure at MHS she posted a 139-48 record and led her team to five-straight playoff appearances.

In addition to her duties at Midlothian, McFalls has been active with USA Softball, serving on the USA Softball selection committee from 2005-10 and recently serving as assistant coach for Team USA at the 2010 Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship where she coached current Longhorn Blaire Luna.

Prior to her time at Midlothian, McFalls was head softball coach and assistant athletics director at the Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas from 2003-05. In 2002 and 2003, she was the fastpitch softball academy director at Power Alley in Grand Prairie, Texas.

McFalls has had two previous stints as a collegiate assistant coach, serving one season at the University of Oklahoma from 1997-98 and three seasons at Texas A&M University from 1995-97. Following her tenure at OU, she spent five years working in softball clinics, television, personal training and motivational speaking.

As a player, McFalls won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2000 Olympics where she scored the game-winning run in the gold medal game. She was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1994-2000, helping her teams to a gold medal in the 1999 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 1998 World Championships.
McFalls played collegiately for Texas A&M where she earned first-team All-America honors as a shortstop in 1993 and led the Aggies in batting average, hits, total bases and slugging percentage in all four seasons of her career. In 1994 she was named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year and in 2001 she was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame. McFalls graduated from A&M in 1997 with a degree in kinesiology.

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Kim Maher

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:45:34 +0000

International:
Member of the USA Softball National Team that will compete in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Member of the USA team that won the gold medal at the 1995 Superball Classic in Columbus, Ga. Played for USA team that won the gold medal in the 1995 Pan American Games in Argentina. Batted .375 with 12 hits and scored nine times. Posted a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000.

National:
Member of the silver medal-winning South team at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival in Denver, Colo. Member of the 1995, 1994 and 1993 ASA Women’s Major National Champions team, Redding Rebels. Named MVP of the 1994 ASA Major National Championship. Set national home run record (5) at 1994 ASA Major National Championship. Named ASA first team All-American in 1994. Named ASA first team All-American (Class A) in 1992. Member of ASA 18-Under National Champions in 1987. Member of ASA 18-Under national runners-up in 1988. Member of ASA 16-Under national runners-up in 1986.

College:
Graduate of Fresno State University (FSU). Named to All-Conference Team in 1994, 1993, 1992. Named to second team All-American in 1994. Member of team that finished third in the NCAA College World Series in 1992 and 1991 and fifth in 1994.

High School:
Member of the 1989 5A Conference Champions Buena High School. 1989 5A CIF MVP. 1988 first team All-Conference.

Personal:
Born: 09-05-71 in Vietnam.

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Jessica Mendoza

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:45:19 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Two-time Pan American Gold Medalist (2003 & 2007)
• Two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Two-time World Champion (2002 & 2006)
• Olympic Gold Medalist (2004)
• Olympic Silver Medalist (2008)

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

2007
• Hit .417 (25-for-60) during the three event summer with 20 starts
• Tallied 17 RBI with three homeruns, two triples and a team high four doubles, scoring a team-high 23 runs
• Named to the Canada Cup All Star team
Hit .533 (16-for-30) with 10 RBI, three homeruns, a triple, double and a team-tying high 12 runs

2006
• Named as the USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year
• World Cup Champion
Hit 11-for-18 (.611) with a double, three homeruns, and 16 RBI
• Gold Medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit 16-for-32 (.500) with five homeruns, 16 RBI and a slugging percentage of .969
• Member of the PFX Professional Tour

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier
• Silver medalist at World Cup
• Silver medalist at Japan Cup

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
Hit 5-for-20 (.250) with five runs and five RBI

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games

2002
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit .313 (10-32) with eight runs and seven RBI

2001
• Gold medalist at U.S. Cup

At Stanford
• Four-time NFCA First-team All American
• Led Stanford to first NCAA Women’s College World Series appearance (2001)
• Four-time All Pac-10 first team
• Four-time All-Pacific Region
• Three-time Stanford Athlete of the Year (1999, 2000 & 2001)
• 2000 Pac-10 Player of the Year
• 1999 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year
• Graduated in 2002
• Graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and Education in 2003

Other
• President of the Womens Sports Foundation (2009)
• Member of PFX Professional Tour
• 2005 Member of the Arizona Heat of the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF)
• Named to NPF All-Star team
• Board Member, National Education Association Foundation
• Board Member, Women’s Sports Foundation

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Stacey Nuveman

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:45:00 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Olympic Silver Medalist (2008)
• World Cup Champion (2006)
• Two-time World Champion (2002 & 2006)
• Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2000 & 2004)
• Two-time Pan American Gold Medalist (1999 & 2003)

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

2006
• Member of the World Championship team
Hit .241 (7-for-29) with three homeruns and eight RBI with nine starts behind the plate
• Led the USA to its first World Cup title
Scored the winning run in the championship game vs. Japan with a solo home run in the fourth

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier
• Silver medalist at Japan Cup
• Silver medalist at World Cup
Hit .429 (3-17) with four RBI, three runs and two homeruns

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
Hit .313 (5-16) with two homeruns and five RBI; posted no errors in 46 chances at catcher

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games

2002
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit .409 (9-22) with nine RBI and three runs

2001
• Gold medalist at U.S. Cup

2000
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia
Hit .365 during pre-Olympic tour, with 10 home runs and 28 RBI

1999
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .474 including three home runs

1995
• Gold medalist at Junior Women’s World Championship

At UCLA
• NCAA all-time career leader in home runs (90) and slugging percentage (.945)
• Four-time NFCA First-team All American
• Three-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1999, 2001-02), second player ever to accomplish the feat
• Inaugural USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year (2002)
• Led UCLA to four Women’s College World Series appearances
• Graduated in 2002

Other
• Member of PFX Tour (2006 & 2007)
• Member of Arizona Heat of the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) (2005)

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Leah O’Brien

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:44:43 +0000

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist (USA Softball: 1996, 2000, 2004)
2-Time World Champion
2-Time Pan-American Games Champion
3-Time NCAA National Champion (University of Arizona Softball)
Named in 2006 to the NCAA Division I Softball 25th Anniversary Team
Holds the Women’s College World Series Record for batting average in a single tournament,
hitting .750 (9 for 12) in 1994
Three-time First-Team NFCA All-American (1994, 1995, 1997)
Three-time First-Team Academic All-American
Career numbers – .428 batting average, 338 hits, 53 doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 181 RBI
Named the 1997 NCAA Woman of The Year for the state of Arizona
Athletes In Action Women’s Board of Directors
Inducted into the Athletes In Action Hall of Faith (2008)
Named #44 Best Athlete in California High School of all time
**Married to Tommy Amico and mother of 3 boys, Jake, Drew and Luke

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FEATURED IN
Sports Devotional Bible by Zondervan
One Message of Victory Sports New Testament
Magazines: Brio (Cover), Sports Spectrum, Victory, Cover of Sports Illustrated with
2004 Olympic Gold Medal Softball Team
Back of Golden Crispix Cereal Box (2000)
Hit-A-Way Instructional Tool
Featured in video for Youth Night for Billy Graham LA Crusade (2004)
Athletes in Action Women’s Video: Passion and Power
How Do You Know He’s Real Devotional Book by Amy Hagberg
The Goal and the Glory by Josh Davis
A Book of Prayers: To The Heavens from the Stars by Chuck Spinner

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Cat Osterman

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:44:26 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Two-time Pan American Gold medalist (2003 & 2007)
• Olympic Gold medalist (2004)
• World Champion (2006)
• Olympic Silver medalist (2008)

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
- Recorded a 3-1 record and 0.70 ERA; recorded the second solo, complete game no-hitter in Olympic history for the U.S. on August 13, 2008 vs. Australia in a 3-0 win.

2007
• World Cup Champion
Earned a 2-0 record including a 13 strikeout shutout over Japan in the Championship game
Had a team-high 22 strikeouts, allowed no runs and four hits in 12 innings
• Pan American Gold medalist
Made one appearance, a complete game shutout, with 14 strikeouts in 5.0 innings

USA Pitching DVD
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2006
• World Champion
Posted a 6-0 record with 70 strikeouts, allowed 15 hits and three earned runs in 41IP
Six wins was a World Championship record
• World Cup Champion
Had a record of 2-0 with wins over Australia, 9-0, and Japan, 5-2
Pitched 14 innings allowing only five hits, one earned run and recorded 21 strikeouts

2005
• Silver medalist at World Cup
Posted a 1.08 ERA with a team-high 13 innings and 22 strikeouts
• Silver medalist at Japan Cup
Posted a 0.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 12 IP

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games

2002
• Member of 2002 Elite National Team

2001
• Gold medalist at U.S. Cup, threw a one-hitter against China

At Texas
• Led the Longhorns to three Women’s College World Series appearances (2003, 2005 & 2006)
• Earned WCWS all tournament honors two times
• Only three-time winner of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2003, 2005 & 2006)
• Three-time NFCA First-team All American
• 2005 & 2006 ESPY Award winner as the Top Collegiate Female Athlete
• 2005 & 2006 Honda Award Winner for softball
• Four-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Year
• Holds Big 12 record with 25 ‘Pitcher of the Week’ honors
• Graduated in 2007

Other
• Pitching coach at DePaul University
• Member of NPF Rockford Thunder (2007)
• Personal website is www.catosterman.com

Dot Richardson interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Dr. Dot Richardson

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:44:11 +0000

Education
Richardson attended Western Illinois University for one year and the University of California Los Angeles for four years. Richardson has Master’s degree from Adelphi University as a graduate assistant for softball She attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine and received an M.D. degree in 1993. She then entered her five year orthopedic residency program at the University of Southern California. She took a one year leave of absence to participate in the 1996 Olympic Games, where she and her teammates captured the first ever Olympic Gold Medal in the sport of Softball. Later she did a fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Clinic in Los Angeles.

Softball career
Richardson played in first ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship. At age 13, she was the youngest player to ever play in a Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship. She used to play on the sidelines at her brothers’ baseball games. Starting in 1972 she played for the Union Pack Jets of Orlando Florida, the Orlando Rebels, the Raybestos Brakettes of Stratford, Connecticut (1984-1994), and the California Commotion of Woodland Hills, California.
She was a key part of the United States national team that won the gold medal during the sport’s Olympic debut in 1996 hitting the home run that won the game. After her win at the Olympics, she continued with her career as an orthopedic surgeon. She is married to Bob Pinto. Dot Richardson is currently Executive Director and Medical Director of the National Training Center due to the fact that she was never cleared to perform orthopedic surgeries.

Awards
Richardson is the recipient of the 1998 Sports Legends Award, the 1997 Babe Zaharias Award (Female Athlete of the Year), the 1996 Amateur Athletic Foundation Athete of the Year, inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1996, Nuprin Comeback of the Year Award in 1990, four-time Sullivan Award nominee and inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 1999. Her college honors include NCAA Player of the Decade (1980s), three-time NCAA All-American, two-time AIAW All-American, three-time ULCA MVP and 1983 All University Award at UCLA. She was named MVP in the Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship four times. She is an inductee of the National Softball Hall of Fame

Dot Richardson interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Julie Smith

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:43:53 +0000

Julie Smith was the second baseman for the United States during the 1996 Olympics in Athens.
Smith won a national championship with Texas A&M in 1987 before transferring to Fresno State University where she was named to the NCAA first team All-American squad from 1990-1991. In 1991, she was selected into the NCAA Women’s College World Series All-Decade team and was Fresno State’s Female Athlete of the Year. She was also a member of the Orange County Majestics in 1987 and she helped win a national championship for the Redding Rebels from 1993-1995.
Smith participated on the 1995 and 1999 Pan American games, the World Championships in 1994 and 1998, and played on the ISF Junior Women’s World Championship team in 1987.

A bit of controversy befell upon Smith with the selection of Dot Richardson over her for the 2000 US Olympic team. Richardson, who lost her short stop position to Crystl Bustos, was moved to second base – Smith’s position. Even though Smith was ranked seventh in offensive production, it was alleged that Richardson’s popularity overshadowed Smith’s on the field contributions.

In 2005, Smith became the general manager of the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut franchise of National Pro Fastpitch. In 2007, she was named the head softball coach for the University of La Verne. Her squad finished the 2008 season with a record of 28-19.

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Michele Smith

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:43:38 +0000

Voorhees High School:
1981-85 All State in Softball (46-6)
1982-85 All Conference, basketball
1982-85 All Conference, field hockey

Oklahoma State University:
1986,88,89 All Big 8 Conference Honors
1988,89 Big 8 Conference All Tournament Selection
1988,89 NCAA All American, All Academic Big 8 Conference, All Region, Honda Award runner-up, Dean’s List
1989 State of Oklahoma College Athlete of the Year named by USA Today
1986 Pitching – Single Season Records:
#24 All Time Earned Run Average (1.28 – 131.1 innings pitched)
Tied for #15 All Time Shutouts – 8
Named All Time Cowgirl

1987 Pitching – Single Season Records:
#16 All Time Earned Run Average (.83 – 161.0 innings pitched)
#12 All Time Win-Loss Percentage .783 (18-5)
Tied for #17 All Time Victories – 18
Named All Time Cowgirl

1988 Hitting – single season records:
#7 All Time Batting Average – .393 (57-145)
#3 All Time Slugging Percentage – .669 (97-145)
#9 All Time On-Base Percentage – .457
#20 All Time Hits – 57
#7 All Time Home Runs – 9
#6 All Time Runs Batted In – 43
#10 All Time Total Bases – 97

Pitching – single season records:
#10 All Time Earned Run Average (.58 – 218.2 innings pitched)
#11 All Time Win-Loss Percentage – .813 (26 – 6)
Tied for #3 All Time Victories – 26
Tied for #12 All Time Appearances – 36
Tied for #9 All Time Starts – 30
Tied for #6 All Time Complete Games – 26
#4 All Time Complete Games – 16
#10 All Time Innings Pitched – 218.2
#9 All Time Strikeouts – 218
Pitched 4 No-Hitters
Named All Time Cowgirl

1989 Hitting – single season records:
#13 All Time Batting Average – .379 (55-145)
#11 All Time Slugging Percentage – .586 (85-145)
Tied for #23 All Time Hits – 55
Tied for #16 All Time Runs Batted In – 33
Tied for #5 All Time Triples – 6
#18 All Time Total Bases – 85
Individual Single-Game Record for Runs – 4
Individual Single-Game Record for Runs Batted In – 5

Pitching – single season records:
#8 All Time Earned Run Average (.53 – 196.1 innings pitched)
#13 All Time Fewest Walks/7 innings – 1.43 (196.1 innings pitched)
#6 All Time Most Strikeouts/7 Innings – 8.56 (196.1 innings pitched)
#3 All Time Win-Loss Percentage – .897 (26-3)
#15 All Time Innings Pitched – 186.1
Tied for #3 All Time Victories – 26
#3 All Time Shutouts – 17
Tied for #15 All Time Starts – 27
Tied for #9 All Time Complete Games – 25
Pitched 4 No-Hitters of which 2 were perfect games
Named All Time Cowgirl

Hitting – Career Records:
#6 All Time Career Batting Average – .343 (148-432)
#5 All Time Career Slugging Percentage – .539 (233-432)
#10 All Time Career On-Base Percentage – .412
Tied for #14 All Time Career Hits – 148
Tied for #19 All Time Career Doubles – 20
Tied for #2 All Time Career Triples – 10
#8 All Time Career Home Runs – 15
Tied for #16 Career Runs Scored – 75
#7 All Time Career Runs Batted In – 87
#9 All Time Career Total Bases – 233
#17 All Time Career Bases on Balls – 46
#23 All Time Career Games Played – 171

Pitching – Career Records:
#6 All Time Career Earned Run Avenue – .75 (707.1 innings pitched)
#3 All Time Career Win-Loss Percentage – .804 (82-20)
#1 All Time Career Victories – 82
Tied for #3 All Time Career Appearances – 108
#3 All Time Career Starts – 97
#3 All Time Career Complete Games – 75
#2 All Time Career Shutouts – 46
#3 All Time Career Innings Pitched – 707.1
#4 All Time Career Strikeouts – 600
#9 All Time Career Strikeouts/7 innings – 5.94 (707.1 innings)
#9 All Time Career Fewest Walks/7 innings – 1.78 (707.1 innings)

USA Softball/American Softball Association:
1989
3rd Team All American Pitcher, Bronze Medal

1990
Canada Cup MVP
ASA First Team All American, winner Bertha Tickey Award for Outstanding Pitcher
Bronze Medal at U.S. Olympic Festival
Michele had a 3-1 record with a 1.45 ERA, and hitting .455, including a final-inning grand slam in the bronze medal game.

1991
Bronze Medal at U.S. Olympic Festival

1990,93,94
USOC Softball Sports Person of the Year

1991 – 2002
Member of Team USA Softball

1992
Gold Medal at World Championships, Beijing, Japan
Participant in the Tri-National Challenge in Japan

1993
National Champions, All American Pitcher, MVP of tournament and Winner of Bertha Tickey Award
Gold Medal at Intercontinental Cup in Haarlum, Holland

1994
National Champions, All American Pitcher, Bertha Tickey Award
Bronze medal at U.S. Olympic Festival, St Louis, MO
Gold Medal at World Championships, St.Johns, New Foundland, Canada
Michele went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 17 innings.
Gold Medal with Team USA at South Pacific Classic in Sydney, Australia

1995
Gold Medal with Team USA at Pan American Games in Parana, Argentina
Helped the USA win the gold medal at the Pan American Games. She went 3-0 including a 4-0 shutout over Puerto Rico in the title game, with a .36 ERA. She also hit .429 (12 for 28) with three inside-the-park home runs, a triple and two doubles. Smith finished with a team-high 14 RBI and 5 runs scored.
Gold Medal with Team USA at Superball Classic, Pre-Olympic qualifier
National Champions, All American Pitcher, MVP, Bertha Tickey Award
Bronze medal with West team at the US Olympic Festival in Denver, CO

1996
Pre-Olympic Tour
Michele went 12-0 on the pre-Olympic tour with a 12 – 0 record and 0.00 ERA. She hit .326, with five doubles, two home runs, one triple and 24 RBIs.
Gold Medalist of 1996 Olympic Softball Team, Atlanta, Georgia
Michele went 2-0 with 1.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 14 innings. At the plate, she hit .211 (4 for 19, with a double) with two RBIs and 3 runs scored.
National Championships, First Team All American
Number 2 pick – Women’s Professional Fastpitch League

1997
Named to National All-American Team ASA Softball
Lead the West squad to the bronze medal at the USA Softball National Team Festival in Midland, MI. Posed a 2-1 record with .31 ERA and 22 strikeouts. She also hit .231 with one home run and four RBIs.
Silver Medal at Superball, Columbus, GA
Posted a 1-1 record with a .50 ERA and 22 strikeouts. At the plate she hit .400 (4 for 10) with one home run.
American Challenge Series vs Olympic silver medalist China and bronze medalist Australia. US was 10-0 in the series and Michele went 2-0 with .41 ERA and 25 strikeouts. She also hit a team-high .423.

1998
Gold Medal at South Pacific Classic, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted a 1-1 record with a 1.87 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Smith hit .267 (4 for 15) and scored one run.
Gold Medal at World Championships, Fuji, Japan
She went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 36 strikeouts. She hit .444(8 for 18) with three home runs, 8 RBIs and 4 runs scored.

1999
Gold Medal at Canada Cup
She went 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA, striking out 26 batters and walking just three in 15 innings. She also recorded three hits and three runs scored.
Gold Medal Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Canada
Posted 4-0 record – including a complete game two-hitter in a 1-0 eight-inning win over Canada in the title game – with a 0.00 ERA and 46 strikeouts recorded in 29 innings.
Gold medalist at the Coca-Cola USA Softball women’s National Team Festival in Fresno, CA

2000
Gold Medal 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
Finished tournament with 0.00 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. Threw a 14-inning two-hitter against China, but a defensive error allowed two unearned runs to score to end the game. Errors also cost Smith against Japan, when she threw 5.2 innings of relief before three errors in the top of the 11th generated two unearned runs. Pitched eight shutout innings against China in the first playoff game before being relieved.

2002
ISF World Championships
Hitting .500 (5 for 10, one HR, 4 RBIs) and 1-0 on the mound
Professional:

2001
Played for WPSL Gold, a professional team consisting of 2000 Olympians

Japan Professional League Softball:
1993
Named Best Pitcher of the League
Japan Cup National Tournament Champions

1994
Team Championship in Japan League
Named MVP of the League, Named Best Pitcher of the League

1995
Japan Cup National Champions, MVP of the Cup

1996
Team championship in Japan League
MVP of the Japan League

1998
MVP of the Japan League
Team Championship in Japan League

1999
Team Championship in Japan League
Named MVP of the League, Earned Top Pitcher, Leading Hitter

2000
Named Best Pitcher of the League

2001
Team Championship in Japan League
Named MVP of the League, Earned Top Pitcher, Leading Hitter

HONORS AND AWARDS
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (inductee for 2010)
ASA Softball Hall of Fame (inducted 2006)
All American ASA Women’s Major Fastpitch (1989 – 1998)
NJSIAA/Bollinger High School Hall of Fame (inducted 1998)
Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame (Redding Rebels, CA – softball)
ASA Sportswoman of the Year (1990 & 1994)
United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Sportswoman of the Year (1993 & 1994)

PROFESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
3N2 Sports – Orlando, FL (2009 – present)
Rip-It Sports – Orlando, FL (2008 – present)
Musco Sports Lighting – Oskaloosa, IA (1996 – present)
JUGS Sports, Inc. – Portland, OR (1996 – present)
Nike – Portland, OR (1996 – 2004)
First female softball player endorsed – Air MS Softball Cleat developed in honor of Michele
Worth Sports – St. Louis, MO (1994 – 2007)
Worth, Inc. – Michele Smith Signature Series of bats, balls, and gloves
Official spokesperson for Little League Softball and Baseball

Television Program Appearances:
Oprah
Regis & Kelly
Today Show

Print publication features:
Sports Illustrated for Women
ELLE Magazine,
Women’s Sports and Fitness
USA Today
Forbes

Named by President Clinton as an advisor for the National Council for Athletes Against Drugs & Tobacco

Michelle Smith interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show
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Shelly Stokes

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:43:12 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
Olympic Gold Medalist (1996)
ISF World Champion (1998)
Pan American Gold Medalist (1995 &1999)

National Team Experience
2000 Alternate to USA Team
1999 Gold medalist Pan American Games
1998 Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
1996 Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia
1995 Gold medalist at Superball Classic
Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Bronze medalist US Olympic Festival
1994
Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Gold medalist at South Pacific Classic
Silver medalist US Olympic Festival
1992
Gold medalist at Women’s World Challenger Cup
Silver medalist at Tri-National Challenge
1990 Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
1987 Gold medalist at Pan American Games
1986 Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
1985Gold medalist at South Pacific Classic
Gold Medalist at World Games II
1984 Gold medalist at International Cup
1983 Silver medalist at Pan American Games
1982 ISF World Championships – 4th place
1981 Gold medalist Tri-Nation Challenge
1979 Gold medalist Pan American Games

At Call State Fresno
Collegiate All-American (1990)
All-West Region (1989)
All Big West Conference (1989 &1990)
NCAA All Women’s CWS (1989)

Other
Drafted by WPF

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Jenny Topping

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:42:56 +0000

A Few Accomplishments
• Two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
• Two-time Pan American Gold medalist (2003 & 2007)
• World Champion (2006)
• Olympic Gold Medalist (2004)

National Team Experience
2007
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
• World Cup Champion
Started in 11 games during the 2007 campaign with playing time at catcher
• Hit .308 (4-for-13) at the Canada Cup with six RBI and a team high two hit by pitch

2006
• World Cup Champion
Hit .600 (6-for-10) with three RBI in three games played
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit .500 (4-for-8) with three runs; posted a team second-best two doubles

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier
• Silver medalist at Japan Cup
• Silver medalist at World Cup
Hit .143 (1-7) with a double and an RBI

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
Hit a team-high .667 (4-6) with a triple

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games

2002
• Selected member of 2002 National Team
• Suffered torn ACL and did not play

At Cal State Fullerton
• Three-time NFCA First-team All American (2000, 2001 & 2002)
• Three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year (2000, 2001 & 2002)
• Graduated in 2003

At Washington
• First-team NFCA All American (1999)
• Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year (1999)
• Led the NCAA in homeruns and RBIs

Other
• Member of the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch League (2006)
• Led the Akron Racers to the National Pro Fastpitch Championship (2005)
• Member of NPF All-Star team

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Dani Tyler

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:42:39 +0000

I need a bio on Shelly. If you know where I can find one on the internet please email me at Fastpitchtv@gmail.com

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Michelle Venturella

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:42:20 +0000

Softball player, Gold Medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Throughout her career with USA Softball, she earned four gold medals, including one at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. She also helped the United States to Gold at the 1998 World Championships and was a member of the first-ever United States Olympic Softball Team in 1996. Venturella came to Iowa after working as a private softball instructor in Indianapolis at Softball Ltd. She also worked for Louisville Slugger as a technical representative, designer and motivational speaker. Prior to her work with Lousiville Slugger, Venturella served as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University during the 1996-97 season. She helped the Huskies to a runner-up finish in the Mid-Continent Conference in 1997. A 1996 graduate from Indiana University, Venturella is no stranger to Big Ten softball. She was a two-time NFCA All-American while with the Hoosiers and a recipient of the 1995 Big Ten Medal of Honor. Her junior year, Venturella was a unanimous selection as Big Ten Player of the Year. She still ranks in the top five of eight offensive categories at Indiana and is still its all-time leader in RBI and walks.

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Natasha Watley

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:41:27 +0000

National Team Experience
2008
• Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China
- hit .321 in the leadoff position with two home runs and six RBI

2007
• Starting shortstop in all 20 games played during the summer; hit .466 (27-for-58) with a team-tying high two triples and was 6-for-6 in stolen bases
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .364 (4-for-11) with a team-tying high five runs scored
• World Cup Champion
Led team with nine hits and was second with an average of .529 (9-for-17)
Scored six runs with two triples and a homerun; tied a team high six runs scored

2006
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
Hit .306 (11-for-36) with 12 runs scored and three stolen bases.
• World Cup Champion
Hit .421 (8-for-19) with three triples and six RBI

2005
• Gold medalist at Pan Am qualifier
• Silver medalist at Japan Cup
Hit .250 (4-16) with four stolen bases

2004
• Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
Hit .400 (12-30) with four RBI and five stolen bases; 12 hits tied a team best

2003
• Gold medalist at Pan American Games
Hit .292 (7-24) with four RBI and five stolen bases
• Finalist for ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ Award

2002
• Gold medalist at ISF World Championships

At UCLA
• Four-time First-team NFCA All American
• Led UCLA to Women’s College World Series title (2003)
• Won the Honda Broderick Cup as the Nation’s Top Collegiate Female Athlete (2003)
• All WCWS Tournament Team (2003)
• Pac-10 Player of the Year (2003)
• Top three finalist for USA Softball National Player of the Year (2002 & 2003)
• First -team All Pac 10 and All- Pacific Region (2002)
• Led Bruins to the NCAA WCWS (2000 & 2002)
• Strung together a 32-game hitting streak, fifth longest run in NCAA history (2001)
• ASA First-team All American with Team Texas in Women’s Major National Championship (2000)
• Graduated in 2005

Other
• Member of the PFX Tour (2007)
• Volunteer Assistant Coach at UCLA (2007)
• Member of the Philadelphia Force in the National Pro Fastpitch League (2006)
• Member of the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut in the NPF (2005)
• Personal website is www. NatashaWatley.com

Nataha Watley interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Christa Williams

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:46:45 +0000

Led one-year-old UT program to 1998 Women’s College World Series
Two-time All-American and All-Big 12 honoree
1998 NCAA Regional MVP
Member of USA National Team (1996-2000)
Earned Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000
Compiled 51-15 record, 0.71 ERA, 27 shutouts and 678 strikeouts
Played professional softball before becoming coach and teacher

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Awards

High School

Softball

Volleyball:

Laura Berg

Gillian Boxx

Jennifer Brundage

Crystl Bustos

Sheila Cornell-Douty

Andrea Duran

Lisa Fernandez

Jennie Finch

Tairia Flowers

Amanda Freed

Michele Granger

Lori Harrigan

Dionna Harris

Danielle Henderson

Lovieanne Jung

Kelly Kretschman

Lauren Lappen

Caitlin Lowe

Jennifer McFalls

Kim Maher

Jessica Mendoza

Stacey Nuveman

Leah O’Brien

Cat Osterman

Dr. Dot Richardson

Julie Smith

Michele Smith

Shelly Stokes

Jenny Topping

Dani Tyler

Michelle Venturella

Natasha Watley

Christa Williams

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