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Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field, with only underhand pitches permitted. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hancock.
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.
The Japan women's national softball team is the national team of Japan in international softball competitions. It is governed by the Japan Softball Association. They are currently ranked #2 in the world by the International Softball Federation. In four Olympic Games, since 1996 until 2008, Japan has won one gold medal, a silver medal and a bronze medal. In the top four nations at the Olympics, Japan is the second most successful national team, following the United States, and beating out Australia and China with one silver medal. After winning the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Japanese national team was defeated by the United States team at the XII Women's Softball World Championship in Caracas, Venezuela.
Fastpitch softball, also known as fastpitch or fastball, is a form of softball played by both women and men. While the teams are most often segregated by sex, coed fast-pitch leagues also exist.
Marloes Fellinger is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Sandra Gouverneur is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Petra van Heijst is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions. Her brother Frank is a baseballer in the Dutch Hoofdklasse.
Judith van Kampen is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Saskia Kosterink is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Daisy de Peinder, is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Marjan Smit is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Nathalie Timmermans is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Ellen Venker is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Britt Vonk is a Dutch softball player, who has represented the Dutch national team in international competitions. She attended and played for the University of California, Berkeley.
Kristi Lynn DeVries is an American-Dutch softball player who has represented the Netherlands women's national softball team in international competitions.
Yukiko Ueno is a Japanese, medal-winning Olympian, professional right-handed softball pitcher for Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen and the Japanese national team, who holds a bronze and two gold medals from the 2004, 2008 and 2020 Summer Olympics, respectively. She became the first pitcher ever to throw a perfect game at the Olympics, against China in Athens. With a fastball that tops out at 128 km/h (80 mph), she is widely recognized as the fastest pitcher in women's softball, although her signature pitch is her change-up, which is often cited as the best in the world.
The Michigan Wolverines softball team represents the University of Michigan in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I competition. College softball became a varsity sport at the University of Michigan in 1978. Bonnie Tholl has been the head coach since 2023, following the retirement of longtime head coach Carol Hutchins. In 2005, Hutchins' team became the first Division I softball team since 1976 from east of the Mississippi River to win the Women's College World Series.
The UCLA Bruins softball team represents the University of California, Los Angeles in NCAA Division I softball. The Bruins are among the most decorated programs in NCAA softball, leading all schools in NCAA championships with 12, 13 overall Women's College World Series championships, championship game appearances with 22, WCWS appearances with 29, and NCAA Tournament wins with 187.
Kathy Arendsen is an American softball head coach and former professional player. Arendsen pitched for Holland Christian High School, where she won the state championship, before embarking on a successful collegiate and professional career. During her college years, Arendsen pitched for Texas Woman's University and California State University, Chico, where she led both teams to national championships. In recognition of her efforts, she received the 1978 Broderick Award as the nation's outstanding female athlete in softball. She was also selected to pitch for Team USA at the 1979 and 1983 Pan American Games, winning a gold and silver medal respectively.
Anouk Mels is a Dutch former softball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
References
- 1 2 Athlete biography: Rebecca Soumeru, beijing2008.cn, ret: Aug 16, 2008
