Michele Smith to Headline 2011 Softball Bullpen Club Dinner
October 28, 2010 | Softball
Oct. 28, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Two-time Olympic gold medalist and ESPN analyst Michele Smith will headline the 2011 softball Bullpen Club dinner which will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at the Galt House Hotel at 7:30 p.m.
"We're very excited to bring Michele Smith here to help us kick off the 2011 season," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Michele has been one of our sport's most outstanding players and has done much to give back to the sport of softball. This will be a great opportunity for our players to connect with someone who helped lay the groundwork for building the sport as well as a chance for the team to get to know our fans."
About Michele Smith
Michele Smith, a 10-year member of the United States' national team, was a prolific pitcher and hitter at all levels of the sport. During her time playing for the USA Softball/American Softball Association, Smith led Team USA to 13 gold medals, including the 1996 and 2000 Olympic titles. She finished the 2000 Olympic Games with a 0.00 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. While in the USA softball program, Smith was a two-time ASA Sportswoman of the Year (1990 and 1994) was named United States Olympic Committee Sportswoman of the Year in 1993 and 1994.
Smith also played eight years in the Japan Professional Softball League where she was five-time pitcher of the year and five-time league MVP.
While at Oklahoma State (1986-1989) Smith garnered many awards and honors both on and off the field. She was an All-America selection, a three-time All-Big 8 Conference selection and was named the state of Oklahoma Top College Athlete of the Year by USA Today in 1989.
Since ending her playing career in 2002, Smith has become an analyst for ESPN and is an advocate for the return of softball to the Olympic Games. She was inducted into the ASA Softball Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
About the Cardinals
The Cards finished last season with a 41-18 record and earned their seventh consecutive NCAA tournament bid. Louisville returns 14 letterwinners from last year's squad including reigning BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year, Chelsea Bemis along with all-conference team members Tori Collins, Kristin Austin, Colby Wherry and Alicja Wolny. The returning players will be joined by five incoming freshmen for the 2011 season.
U of L opens the 2011 season against No. 18/19 Texas at the Texas Invitational Feb. 11-13 in Austin.
More Bullpen Club Dinner Information
The Bullpen Club dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Archibald Room at the Galt House. A reception and silent auction start at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the evening are 50/individual or $500/$750 for a table of 10. For more information, contact Lisa Pinkston at 502-852-7854 or lisa.pinkston@louisville.edu.
