Michele Smith (softball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 21, 1967 Califon, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma State University (1989) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Softball |
| College team | Oklahoma State Cowboys |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's softball | ||
Representing  United States |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1996 Atlanta | Team competition |
| Gold | 2000 Sydney | Team competition |
Michele Mary Smith (born June 21, 1967) is an amazing American softball player. She was a top college player and won two gold medals at the Olympics. Michele was a left-handed pitcher known for her fastpitch style.
She played college softball for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls from 1986 to 1989. There, she set many records. Michele also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 1996 and 2000. Today, she is a well-known sports commentator for ESPN. In 2012, she made history as the first woman to commentate a nationally televised Major League Baseball game. Michele Smith is also honored in the USA Softball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Michele Smith's Early Life
Michele Smith started playing softball when she was just five years old. She went to Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, New Jersey. At high school, she set new records for wins, strikeouts, and no-hitters as a pitcher. After high school, she continued her softball journey at Oklahoma State University. She earned a degree in health and wellness there.
Overcoming a Serious Injury
In 1986, Michele faced a very difficult challenge. She was in a car accident that badly injured her left arm. This was her pitching arm, and the injury was so severe that it damaged her elbow bone, muscle, and nerves. It felt like her softball career, and even her identity, was over.
But Michele was incredibly determined. After nine months of hard work and physical therapy, she made an amazing comeback. She returned to pitch for Oklahoma State University. Even more incredibly, she was throwing the ball 3 miles per hour faster than before her accident! Her story shows how strong and resilient she is.
College Softball Career
Michele Smith joined the Oklahoma State Cowgirls team in 1986. In her first year, she led the team in wins and batting average. This earned her a spot on the First-Team Big Eight Conference. In her second year, she had one of the best earned run averages (ERA) in the school's history.
Setting New Records
During her junior year, Michele was named a First-Team All-American. This is a huge honor for college athletes. She broke many school records, including strikeouts, shutouts, and wins. She also had her best year for batting, with career highs in hits and home runs. She even tied for the most home runs in the NCAA that year. Michele also pitched four no-hitters, which means the other team didn't get any hits against her.
In her final year, Michele received top honors again from both the conference and the NFCA. She achieved a "pitching Triple Crown" by leading in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. These were all her personal bests. She set new school records for strikeouts, shutouts, and strikeout ratio. She also pitched five more no-hitters, including two perfect games. A perfect game means no opposing player reaches base at all. Her nine career no-hitters still rank among the top in NCAA history.
Leading the Cowgirls to Success
Michele set a personal and school record with 17 strikeouts in one game against the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. She helped lead the Cowgirls to a No. 2 ranking at the 1989 Women's College World Series. In that tournament, she started with an impressive game, striking out 15 batters. She earned All-Tournament honors for her excellent pitching.
When Michele graduated, she held many school records for the Cowgirls. She was the all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, no-hitters, and perfect games. She also ranked high in many other categories.
Michele Smith's Personal Life
Besides softball, Michele Smith also played basketball and field hockey. Her friends and teammates often call her "Smitty," "Lefty" (because she's left-handed), and "Silky" (because of her smooth pitching style).
Statistics
Oklahoma State Cowgirls
| Year | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 1986 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 131.1 | 87 | 29 | 24 | 43 | 67 | 1.28 | 0.99 |
| 1987 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 161.0 | -- | -- | 19 | -- | 75 | 0.82 | -- |
| 1988 | 26 | 6 | 36 | 30 | 26 | 16 | 1 | 218.2 | 102 | 32 | 18 | 51 | 218 | 0.57 | 0.70 |
| 1989 | 26 | 3 | 33 | 27 | 25 | 17 | 1 | 196.1 | 83 | 21 | 15 | 40 | 240 | 0.53 | 0.62 |
| Totals | 82 | 20 | 108 | 97 | 75 | 46 | 2 | 707.1 | +272 | +82 | 76 | +134 | 600 | 0.75 | +0.74 |
Team USA Olympic Softball
| Year | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14.0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 1.50 | 0.78 |
| 2000 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27.2 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 37 | 0.00 | 0.51 |
| Totals | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 41.2 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 60 | 0.51 | 0.60 |
Awards and Achievements
Michele Smith has received many honors for her incredible career:
- New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame (1998)
- Shasta County, California Sports Hall of Fame
- Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame (2006)
- Eight-time Japan Pro Softball League champion and MVP (Most Valuable Player)
Teams Michele Smith Played For
- Team USA, 1992–2002
- Redding Rebels, 1993–1995
- Toyota Shokki (Japanese Professional Softball League), 1993–2008
- New York/New Jersey Juggernaut (NPF), 2001 and 2004
See also
- List of Oklahoma State University Olympians
- NCAA Division I softball career sub-1.00 ERA list
