Amanda Chidester

Last updated
Amanda Chidester
Current position
TitleAssistant coach
Team Michigan
Conference Big Ten
Biographical details
Born (1990-04-11) April 11, 1990 (age 33)
Allen Park, Michigan [1]
Alma mater Michigan
Playing career
2009–2012 Michigan
2016 Scrap Yard Dawgs
2019 Chicago Bandits
Position(s) Catcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2023–present Michigan (Asst.)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Medal record
Women's softball
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2020 Tokyo Team
Pan American Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Toronto Team

Amanda Marie Chidester (born April 11, 1990) is an American former professional softball player and current assistant coach for Michigan. She was named National Pro Fastpitch Player of the Year for the Chicago Bandits in 2019. [2] She has been a member of the USA Softball Women's National Team on-and-off since 2012. She played college softball at Michigan from 2009 to 2012 and was named First Team All-Big Ten three of her seasons. She was twice selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American. [3] [4] Chidester represented Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal. [5] In 2021, Chidester played her second season in the Athletes Unlimited Softball league and placed second in individual points earned. [6]

Contents

Early years

Chidester was born in 1990 and grew up in Allen Park, Michigan. She attended St. Francis Cabrini High School, graduating in 2008. As a senior in 2008, she was selected as the Detroit Catholic League Female Athlete of the Year. In 2007, she was named the Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year. She was also selected as a first-team EA Sports All-American in both 2007 and 2008. [7]

College career

Chidester enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2008. As a freshman in the spring of 2009, Chidester appeared in 58 games and led the Michigan softball team with a .350 batting average. She was selected as a second-team NFCA All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten player. [7]

As a sophomore in 2009, Chidester started all 57 games for Michigan, including 56 games at second base. [7]

As a junior in 2010, Chidester moved to third base. She started all 58 games for Michigan, including 51 at third base and seven at catcher. She led the team with a .423 batting average and 75 RBIs. At the end of the season, she was selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and a first-team NFCA All-American at third base.

As a senior in 2011, Chidester was the captain of the Michigan softball team. She started 58 games for Michigan, including 13 at third base and 45 at first base. She compiled a .347 batting average with 46 RBIs and was named Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. On May 25, 2013, she became the second Michigan Wolverines softball player to reach 200 career RBIs. [7] [8] [9]

Team USA

In June 2012, Chidester was named to the USA Softball Women's National Team. [10] [11] She hit a grand slam to lead Team USA to a victory over Brazil in the 2012 World Cup of Softball. [12]

At the Tokyo Games, Chidester garnered four hits and drove in three runs for Team USA. She and the team lost in the gold medal game against Team Japan 2-0 on July 27, 2021, with Chidester going making three outs at the plate. [13] [14]

Professional career

During the 2019 season, Chidester was named the NPF Player of the Year, NPF Offensive Player of the Year, and Home Run Award winner. [15]

Coaching career

On September 6, 2022, Chidester was named an assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines softball team. [16]

Personal life

Chidester is openly lesbian and is engaged to a Mexican softball player Anissa Urtez. [17]

Statistics

Michigan Wolverines
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
2009581833764.349388310104.568%112202
2010571643449.2994190884.512%142012
2011581754974.423751319124.708%211513
2012581763761.3464610112105.596%312222
TOTALS231698157248.35520040539417.593%777949
Team USA
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
2020133247.21960018.250%230
202131842230.3572770556.666%13132
Olympics 62004.20030026.300%041
TOTAL501362641.3013670870.514%15203
Athletes Unlimited Softball [18]
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
20201550315.3001332129.580%480
202115461219.4131270141.891%960
TOTAL30961534.35425102270.729%13140

Related Research Articles

Lauren Bay-Regula is a Canadian softball pitcher. She played college softball at Oklahoma State from 2000 to 2003, where she holds several all-time school records. She was a part of the Canadian softball team who finished ninth at the 2002 World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and fifth at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Bay-Regula pitched in 2005 for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch and was named co-Pitcher of the Year; in 2006, Bay signed with the expansion Philadelphia Force. Bay-Regula represented Team Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat Osterman</span> American softball player

Catherine Leigh Osterman is a retired American softball player. Osterman pitched on the United States women's national softball team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and silver medal at the 2008 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Watley</span> American softball player

Natasha Renee Watley is an American, former collegiate four-time first-team All-American, two-time medal winning Olympian, retired seven-time pro-All-Star softball player. Watley played college softball at UCLA, and helped the Bruins win a national championship. She represented the United States women's national softball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She won a gold medal, and again at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and won a silver medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlin Lowe</span> Softball player

Caitlin Faith Lowe-Nagy is the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats softball team. Lowe is a former collegiate four-time first team All-American and medal winning Olympian. She played college softball for Arizona and led her team in back-to-back Women's College World Series championships in 2006 and 2007. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Lowe played with National Pro Fastpitch's USSSA Pride for six seasons, winning three titles and being named 2012 Player of the Year, before officially retiring in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Kretschman</span> Baseball player

Kelly Sue Kretschman is an American former nine-time professional All-Star softball outfielder and current head coach for the USSSA Pride of the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). Kretschman played college softball at Alabama where she is the career leader in doubles and total bases. As a member of the United States women's national softball team, she won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She also played in the National Pro Fastpitch with four teams including her longest tenure with the USSSA Pride; where she is the all-time career leader in RBIs, hits, doubles and base on balls. She also owns numerous records for the Tide and is one of select NCAA Division I players to bat .400 with 300 hits, 200 runs and 100 stolen bases for her career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Taylor (softball)</span>

Jordan Lee Taylor is an American, former collegiate All-American, 3-time professional All-Star right-handed softball pitcher originally from Santa Clarita, California. She played for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 2008–2011 and Team USA. She was drafted #11 and played from 2011-18 in the National Pro Fastpitch where she is currently the career leader in saves. She is the career Big Ten Conference career leader in strikeouts and also ranks in numerous records for the Wolverines, the conference and in the NCAA Division I.

Valerie "Val" Ann Arioto is an American, former collegiate All-American, medal-winning Olympian, softball pitcher and first baseman. She was a pitcher and infielder for the California Golden Bears in the Pac-12 Conference. She has also served as a member of the United States women's national softball team since 2012, and at the 2020 Summer Olympics helped the team win a silver medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Romero</span> American softball player

Sierra Joy Romero is a Mexican American professional softball player. She formerly was a volunteer assistant softball coach for the Oregon Ducks softball team. She played college softball for Michigan from 2013 to 2016, where she set numerous records and was a four-time All-American. She holds the Big Ten Conference career Triple Crown, along with the total bases and slugging percentage records, simultaneously leading all of the NCAA Division I in runs scored and grand slams. She was the inaugural winner of both the espnW Softball Player of the Year in 2015 and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Year in 2016, when she also took home the Honda Sports Award Softball Player of the Year and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year awards. She is one of nine NCAA players to hit .400 with 200 RBIs, 50 home runs and an .800 slugging percentage for her career and was named the #5 Greatest College Softball Player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samantha Findlay</span> American softball player and coach

Samantha Jo Findlay is an American softball coach and former softball player. She is currently an assistant coach with the DePaul Blue Demons softball team. She previously played professional softball in the National Pro Fastpitch league (NPF) for the Chicago Bandits (2008-2010) and USSSA Pride (2011).

Jessica Merchant is an American softball coach and former softball player. She is currently the associate head coach of the Stanford Cardinal softball team. She previously served as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Golden Gophers and UMass Minutewomen. She played professional softball in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league for the New England Riptide for three seasons, and for the Connecticut Brakettes for one season. While playing for the Brakettes in 2006, she was named NPF Offensive Player of the Year.

Traci Lynn Conrad is an American softball coach and former softball player. She is a coach with Select Florida Softball and previously served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame. She played professional softball for the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league from 1999 to 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Escobedo</span> American softball player and coach

Dallas Jade Escobedo is a Mexican-American, former collegiate All-American, Olympian, professional softball pitcher and coach. She played college softball for Arizona State in the from 2011 to 2014, where she led them to the 2011 Women's College World Series title and ranks in several pitching categories for both institutions. She is currently the pitching coach at Cal State Fullerton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Groenewegen</span> Canadian softball pitcher

Sara Angeline Groenewegen is a Canadian professional softball pitcher. From 2014 to 2017, Groenewegen pitched for the University of Minnesota, where she hold the all-time strikeouts and strikeout ratio records. She also currently still ranks for both the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA Division I in the ratio category. She played professionally for the Canadian Wild in the NPF since being drafted second overall in 2017. She most recently played for Athletes Unlimited Softball. She has been a member of the Canada women's national softball team since 2013. Groenewegen helped Team Canada win a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Sydney Joy Romero is a Mexican American professional softball player and current assistant coach for Oregon. She previously played college softball for the Oklahoma Sooners, where she set numerous program records and led the Sooners to four consecutive Women's College World Series appearances from 2016 to 2019, and won the national championship as a Freshman in 2016 and Sophomore in 2017. She played professionally for the USSSA Pride of National Pro Fastpitch. She represented Mexico at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Haylie McCleney is an American professional softball outfielder. She played college softball for Alabama. She represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal. She most recently played in the Athletes Unlimited Softball league.

Michelle Moultrie is an American professional softball outfielder for the Oklahoma City Spark of the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). She played college softball at Florida, where she was named SEC Player of the Year in 2012. She has been a member of United States women's national softball team since 2011 and competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal. She also played in the Athletes Unlimited Softball league.

Dejah Monique Mulipola is an American professional softball catcher for the Oklahoma City Spark of Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). She played college softball at Arizona from 2017 to 2021 where she was twice named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-American. She has been a member of the United States women's national softball team since 2019 and helped them win a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in Athletes Unlimited Softball where she won the 2022 championship as the top individual points leader.

Kelsey Stewart is an American softball player. She won two softball National Championships with Florida Gators softball and has been named a Second Team and two-time First Team All-SEC player, including being named 2015 SEC Player of the Year. She was also chosen a National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-American in 2014–15. She graduated as a member of the select 300 hits, 200 runs, 100 stolen bases club. She has been of the United States women's national softball team since 2014. She was a member of the national softball team that won the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She later played in the Athletes Unlimited Softball and in 2021 was the third best individual points leader for the league.

Aubree Munro Watson is an American, former college softball player, medal-winning Olympian, professional softball catcher. She played college softball for the Florida Gators where she won two NCAA Championships, and played professionally for the USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). She is currently a member of the United States women's national softball team, and represented Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal.

References

  1. "Amanda Chidester Biography". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013.
  2. "NPF AWARDS BANQUET KICKS OFF 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES". Profastpitch.com. 2019-08-14. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  4. "2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Americans". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  5. "2020 U.S. Olympic Softball Team". Teamusa.org. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  6. "Player Leaderboard". Auprosports.com. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Amanda Chidester Biography". Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013.
  8. Michael Rothstein (May 19, 2011). "A consistent Amanda Chidester leads Michigan softball team into NCAA regional action". AnnArbor.com.
  9. "Michigan's Carol Hutchins, Amanda Chidester and Haylie Wagner sweep Big Ten softball awards". AnnArbor.com. May 16, 2011.
  10. Jo-Ann Barnas (June 14, 2012). "Allen Park's Amanda Chidester named to U.S. national softball team". Detroit Free Press.
  11. Colleen Thomas (June 17, 2012). "Chidester makes U.S. national team". The Michigan Daily.
  12. "World Cup of Softball: Amanda Chidester's grand slam powers Team USA past Brazil". NewsOK. July 1, 2012.
  13. "JPN 2, USA 0". Olympicssoftball.wbsc.org. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  14. "Chidester". Olympicssoftball.wbsc.org. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  15. "NPF Awards Banquet Kicks Off 2019 Championship Series". profastpitch.com. August 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. Howard, Leah (September 6, 2022). "Wolverines Add Michigan Alum, Olympian Chidester to Coaching Staff". MGoBlue.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  17. Zeigler, Cyd (15 December 2020). "These 2 athletes will play against each other at the Olympics. They just got engaged". Outsports. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  18. "Player Stats". Ausports.com. Retrieved 2021-07-11.