Lauren Haeger

Last updated
Lauren Haeger
Personal information
Full nameLauren Elizabeth Anna Haeger
Nickname(s)Haegar Bomb [1] [2]
Born (1992-09-03) September 3, 1992 (age 30)
Peoria, Arizona
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Sport
Sport Softball
Position
Team
Medal record
Women's Softball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg ISF Championship, Cape Town, 2011

Lauren Elizabeth Anna Haeger [3] (born September 3, 1992) is a professional softball pitcher and first baseman with the Dallas Charge of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). After being named a member of the 2011 MaxPreps Softball All-American Team and earning a gold medal at the III Pan American (18-under) Games in 2010, Haegar played softball at the University of Florida.

Contents

She was the third collegiate softball player to be recognized as both the Most Outstanding Player of the Women's College World Series and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. In 2015, she became the first player in the history of college softball to record 70 home runs as a hitter and 70 wins as a pitcher; no other player has registered even 60 home runs and 60 wins. Haeger was drafted by the Dallas Charge in the 2015 NPF Draft and reported to the team that June.

Early life

Haeger was born in Peoria, Arizona, to Fred and Kathleen Haeger. She had a brother named Matthew. [4] Her father is an assistant softball coach at Deer Valley High School. [5] At Deer Valley, Haeger played one year and lettered in basketball and played all four years of both volleyball and softball. [6]

Haeger broke Arizona's state hitting record with 48 home runs in one season and was named to the 2011 MaxPreps Softball All-American Team. She received First Team All-State honors in two seasons. Haeger pitched for Team USA in the III Pan American Championships in 2010, where she hit for a .400 batting average. She was on the International Softball Federation championship team, hitting .500 with eight RBIs. [4] [7]

College

Haeger began her career at the University of Florida in 2011 with a 15-5 win–loss record in her 27 appearances, throwing 6 shutouts. She was named the first team utility/pitcher for NFCA All-Southeast Region and ranked seventh in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with a 1.85 earned run average (ERA) and 129 strikeouts during her 124.2 innings. At the plate, Haeger led her team with ten doubles, 14 home runs, 52 RBIs, 36 walks, and a consecutive on-base streak of 18. [7]

Following her 2012 SEC All-Tournament Team and All-Freshman selection, Haeger went 16–2 with 119 strikeouts in 128.1 innings and an ERA of 2.35. She also set a career high of innings pitched with 7.2 against the University of Tennessee on March 16. She won six games against Top 25 teams. Haeger was ranked seventeenth in the country for home runs, with a team high 18 and batted .319 with 70 RBIs, 46 walks, and an on-base streak of 24 games, a team best. She led the SEC in RBIs and was third in walks. She also set the University of Florida's record for the most intentional walks in a season (5) and the single game RBI record (7) against their rival University of South Florida at Regionals. To close out her sophomore season, Haeger was named First Team All-SEC and First Team NFCA All-Southeast Region, along with her first All-American title. [7]

As a junior, Haeger remained consistent with 24 circle appearances and 13 starts. She ended the season with a record of 10-3 and ranked fourth with an ERA of 1.79. Haeger also pitched 98 innings with 69 strikeouts, an opponent's batting average of .190, and a no-hitter against the University of Wisconsin on February 9, allowing only three walks while striking out 11. She remained a force at the plate all season, leading the Gators to victory in the 2014 Women's College World Series. Haeger again received First Team NFCA All-Southeast Region honors and batted .317 with six doubles, leading her team in RBIs (67) and walks (43). [7]

In her final season as a Gator, Haeger finished with an overall record of 32–2 with her lowest collegiate ERA of 1.23, ranked fourth in the country, and 24 consecutive victories, another Gator record. She also beat her previous home run record of 18, hitting 19 that year. Haeger also set both the regular season career home run record (66), with a grand slam against the University of Georgia, and the all-time RBI record (222), which occurred on March 6 against the University of Arizona. She became the only collegiate pitcher in history to win 70+ games and to hit 70+ home runs. Before Haeger, no player but Babe Ruth and her had won 60 games and hit 60 home runs. [8] Haeger was 15th in the country with 71 RBIs and she hit .433 during the 2015 NCAA Division I Softball Championship. [7]

Haeger was nominated for ESPY Awards in the Best Female Collegiate Athlete and Best Championship Performance categories in 2015. She joined Danielle Lawrie and Keilani Ricketts as the only players in college softball history to receive both the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player. [9] She won the Honda Sports Award for Softball, SEC Female Athlete of the Year and SEC Pitcher of the Year, and was NFCA All-Southeast Region for the third year in a row. [10] [11] [12] Haeger is ranked amongst the all-time leaders in ERA and wins. [13]

Professional career

Haeger plays professional softball with the Dallas Charge of National Pro Fastpitch. [14] She was selected with the 21st pick of the 2015 NPF College Draft. [15] She finished her first season with a batting average of .206 in 35 games. She had an ERA of 3.01 and led the team's pitchers with six wins, 86 strikeouts, 19 games pitched and 97+23 innings pitched. [14]

On August 11, 2016, Lauren Haeger pitched a no-hitter, beating the Chicago Bandits 5–0. The only Bandit to reach base did so via a Charge fielding error. [16]

Personal life

Haeger's favorite athletes are Tim Tebow, Michael Jordan, and Albert Pujols. [4] She also has a tattoo of a sunflower on her arm to honor Heather Braswell, an honorary member of the Gators softball team who died several years after being diagnosed with brain cancer. [17] [18] [2]

Career statistics

Professional (NPF)

Dallas Charge [14]
YEAR W L GP GS CG Sh SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP
201567191182197.286484229863.013

College

University of Florida [7]
Year W L GP GS CG Sh SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP
201215561611162124.2954233601291.852
20131626764922128.11115043461192.355
2014103666573198,067292520691.790
2015322676725120222.11454139432141.231
TOTALS731226125752235573.14181621401695311.718
University of Florida [7]
YEAR AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B SLG BB SO SB SBA
20121682754.3215214010-373723
20131914261.3197018013-343423
20141994363.317672006-262666
201518715065.348711909.701%232323
TOTALS7451162243.32626071038-1751201215

High school

Deer Valley High School - Pitching [19]
YEAR W L GP GS CG Sh SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP
201126531208673737.447
2010142810649251223.791
20091431711012148129136.520
200810227830151017.903
TOTALS641258110513194894490.6011
Deer Valley High School - Hitting [19]
YEAR AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B SLG BB SO
20111195064.53851200121.142252
20101064459.55758151161.150202
20091103051.46430915.772126
2008582026.44821318.81016
TOTALS393144200.50916047341.9925816

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monica Abbott</span> American softball player

Monica Cecilia Abbott is a retired American professional softball player. Abbott was an All-American pitcher for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in college before starting a professional career in the NPF and in the Japan Softball League. In international competition, she has played for Team USA from 2005 including the national softball team winning a silver medal at the 2008 and 2020 Summer Olympics. Abbott is the NCAA Division I leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and innings.

Megan Good is an American, former collegiate 4-time All-American, right-handed hitting softball pitcher, originally from Mount Sidney, Virginia. She attended Fort Defiance High School in Fort Defiance, Virginia. She later attended James Madison University, where she pitched for the James Madison Dukes softball team. She would go on to be named a 4-time First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association conference, Rookie of The Year, 4-time Pitcher of The Year and also Player of The Year in 2017. She is the career Triple Crown pitching leader for the Dukes as well as the ERA record holder for the CAA conference. She played for the USSSA Pride after being drafted to the NPF 10th overall. She would go on to win the Cowles Cup Championship with the team in her rookie year.

<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 and won a gold medal, and again at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and won a silver medal.

Angela Tincher O'Brien is an American, former collegiate All-American, retired professional All-Star softball pitcher and coach. She most recently served as the pitching coach at Virginia Tech. She was a 2008 first-round draft selection for the NPF Akron Racers. She is a graduate of James River High School and a 2008 graduate of Virginia Tech. In 2013, she was hired as Virginia Tech's softball pitching coach where she owns numerous school records. She is the ACC career leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeout ratio and no-hitters, while also ranking in several records for the NCAA Division I, where she is one of five pitchers to achieve 100 wins, 1,000 strikeouts, an ERA under 1.00 and average double-digit strikeouts for her career.

<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">Florida Gators softball</span> Team representing the University of Florida in softball

The Florida Gators softball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of softball. Florida competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators play their home games at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and are currently led by head coach Tim Walton. In the twenty-six year history of the Florida Softball program, the team has won two Women's College World Series (WCWS) national championships, nine SEC regular season championships, five SEC tournament championships, and have made eleven WCWS appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacey Nelson</span> All-American college softball player, U.S. National softball team member, pitcher

Stacey Lauren Nelson is an American, former collegiate All-American, retired right-handed softball pitcher, originally from Los Alamitos, California. She played for the Florida Gators softball team from 2006-2009, leading the University of Florida to its first Women's College World Series berth in 2008 and a national runner-up appearance in the 2009 Women's College World Series. Nelson was also the 13th pick in the 2009 National Pro Fastpitch's draft by the defunct Washington Glory. Nelson pitched for the United States women's national softball team in 2009 and 2010 before attending law school at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. She is the Florida career record holder wins, ERA, shutouts and innings pitched. She also ranks all-time in several career categories in the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA Division I.

Danielle Elaine Lawrie is a Canadian, former collegiate All-American, medal-winning Olympian, professional All-Star softball pitcher and current sports commentator. Lawrie played college softball at Washington, in which she was part of the 2009 Women's College World Series championship team and was named Most Outstanding Player. Lawrie currently plays for the Canada women's national softball team, including during the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she won a bronze medal.

Katherine Burkhart is an American, former collegiate All-American, retired professional All-Star softball pitcher and softball coach. She played college softball at Arizona State, and won a national championship with the team in 2008 and was named Most Outstanding Player. Burkhart holds the career records in wins, strikeouts, perfect games, WHIP, innings pitched and strikeout ratio for the school. She also ranks in several career pitching categories and the top-10 for strikeouts and perfect games for both the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA Division I. She has also pitched for the USA Softball team. She also helped remove snakes from a plane that was bound from Hawaii to Phoenix in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Morgan (softball)</span> American softball coach

Charlotte Lee Morgan is an America], former professional softball pitcher and current Head Coach for Cal State Northridge. She played college softball for Alabama from 2007 to 2010, where she is the career leader for the school in RBIs, also ranking top-15 in the NCAA Division I. She was also named a four-time all-conference honoree and twice named SEC Player of the Year. Morgan was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, beginning her career with The USSSA Pride based in Kissimmee, Florida, winning a title in 2010. In 2020, Morgan was named the head coach of the California State University, Northridge softball team after previously working at several colleges as a pitching coach.

Keilani Johanna Ricketts Tumanuvao is an American, former collegiate All-American, pro All-Star left-handed hitting softball pitcher. She attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, and attended the University of Oklahoma from 2010-2013, where she was the starting pitcher and helped to lead the Sooners to the 2013 NCAA Division I national softball title. As a member of the United States women's national softball team she won 2011 World Cup of Softball. Ricketts currently plays for the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch. She is the Sooners career leader in wins and strikeouts. She also ranks for career records in both the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA Division I, where she is one three players to win 100 games with 1,000 strikeouts and hit 50 home runs.

<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">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">Lauren Chamberlain</span> American softball player

Lauren Nicole Chamberlain is an American retired softball infielder. Chamberlain played college softball for the Oklahoma Sooners softball from 2012 to 2015. A collegiate All-American, she was part of the 2013 Women's College World Series championship team. She is the NCAA Division I career leader in slugging percentage. She also holds the school and Big 12 Conference career lead in RBIs, walks, total bases and runs. She was drafted #1 and played professional softball for the USSSA Pride of National Pro Fastpitch from 2015 to 2018, winning a title in her final season in 2018.

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

Sara Angeline Groenewegen is a Canadian, former collegiate All-American, medal-winning Olympian, professional softball pitcher for the Canadian Wild of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). 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 has played for the Canadian Wild in the NPF since being drafted second overall in 2017. 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.

Kelly Katlyn Barnhill is an American, former collegiate All-American, professional softball pitcher. She played college softball for the Florida Gators from 2016 to 2019 and was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Honda Sports Award and espnW Player of the Year in 2017. She is the career no hitters (7), strikeouts, strikeout ratio (10.5) and WHIP leader for the Gators. She also ranks in career strikeout ratio for both the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA Division I.

Jolene Nicole Henderson is an American, former collegiate All-American, professional All-Star, right-handed hitting softball pitcher and first baseman and softball Assistant Coach, originally from Elk Grove, California. She was a starting pitcher for the California Golden Bears from 2010-13 where she is the career leader in wins and was a 4-time All-Pac-12 player. She is the reigning National Pro Fastpitch Pitcher of The Year after being drafted #3 overall in 2013 and currently ranks top-10 in career wins, ERA, WHIP and fielding percentage and is on the roster for the independent softball team the USSSA Pride. She also played on the United States women's national softball team in 2014.

Rachel Lauren Garcia is an American former softball pitcher and current pitching coach for UC San Diego. She played college softball for the UCLA Bruins and led the Bruins to the 2019 Women's College World Series championship, where she was named the Most Outstanding Player.

Amanda Lorenz is an American professional softball player for the USSSA Pride and current volunteer assistant softball coach for the Florida Gators. She played college softball for the Florida Gators, where she was named NFCA National Freshman of the Year in 2016.

Aleshia Ocasio is a professional American softball player. She played college softball at Florida. Ocasio most recently played in the Athletes Unlimited Softball, where she won the 2021 championship as the top individual points leader. She has been a member of the Puerto Rico women's national softball team since 2015.

References

  1. Zavala, Jose (April 1, 2011). "Florida-bound Lauren Haeger Leads Deer Valley Softball to Strong Start". Sports. The Arizona Republic .
  2. 1 2 Bianchi, Mike (June 6, 2015). "Haeger's Sunflower Power Is Reason Gators Softball Outdraws NHL". Sports. Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on March 27, 2016.
  3. "Official Team Rosters". International Softball Federation . Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Lauren Haeger. Team USA. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  5. Smith, Eric (November 18, 2010). Deer Valley's Haeger commits to University of Florida for softball. The Arizona Republic . Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  6. Lauren Haeger's High School Girls Basketball Stats. MaxPreps. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lauren Haeger. Gatorzone.com. University Athletic Association. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  8. Hays, Graham (May 30, 2015). "Florida's Lauren Haeger takes command at both circle and plate". ESPN . Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  9. Hays, Graham (June 3, 2015). Most Outstanding Player Lauren Haeger leaves lasting legacy in WCWS finale. ESPN. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  10. "Florida's Lauren Haeger Named Honda Sport Award Winner for Softball". CWSA. 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  11. Lauren Haeger up for two awards at 2015 ESPYS. GatorZone.com. June 24, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  12. Silverstein, Adam (May 27, 2015). Florida Gators RHP Lauren Haeger Named 2015 USA Softball Player of the Year. OnlyGators.com. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  13. Lauren Haeger named 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Team USA. May 27, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 "Player Stats". Dallas Charge . Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  15. "2015 NPF College Draft". National Pro Fastpitch. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. "Haeger No-Hits Bandits". DallasCharge.com. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  17. Harmel, Kristin (June 11, 2014). College softball team wins title for teen who died of cancer. People.com. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  18. Hutchins, Andy (September 8, 2015). Florida's Lauren Haeger adds sunflower to tattoo to honor Heather Braswell. Alligator Army. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  19. 1 2 Lauren Haeger's Softball Stats. MaxPreps. Retrieved December 6, 2015.