Ivelisse Echevarria
Encyclopedia
Ivelisse Echevarría was inducted into the International Federation Softball Hall of Fame in 2003 and is considered by many to be the greatest softball
pitcher
born in Puerto Rico.
during her high school years and established several school records. However, she did not know how to play and never participated in the game that in the future would gave her fame and glory in Puerto Rico, softball
.
Echevarría was awarded a scholarship by the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, located in the city of Ponce
and joined that institutions track and field team. She studied physical education and took a course in the disciplines of softball. Echevarría, became interested in the game after learning its principles and decided to join a local softball club called Las Estrellas de Seboruco. According to an interview conducted by El Vocero
on August 30, 2005, Echevarría didn't even know how to put on a baseball glove
when she joined. She was noticed by Carlin Velazquez, a former pitcher for the National Men's Softball Team of Puerto Rico, who recommended that she see Alejandro "Junior" Cruz
, manager of the National Women's Softball Team of Puerto Rico and try out for the team. In 1978, Echevarría made the team and was trained another Puerto Rican softball pitcher, Donna Terry.
celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico
. In 1983, she participated in the Pan American Games held in Caracas, Venezuela and established a record by pitching in six consecutive games. She also pitched a perfect no runs and no hits game with 42 pitches on October 8. She pitched a shutout in the Games held in Indianapolis
, Indiana
in 1987 and she and her team won the silver medal. In 1993, Echevarría and her team won the gold medal in softball in the Centroamerican Games held in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
. She also played in the Games held in Mar del Plata
, Argentina
in 1995. Echevarría was the standard carrier for her team when they represented Puerto Rico in the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, United States
.
On November, 2003, Echevarría was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame and two weeks later the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame announced her election to the Hall. She was officially inducted on March 18, 2004 and the ceremony took place in Guaynabo's Sports Museum where an unveiling of a statue of Echevarría was part of the ceremony.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
born in Puerto Rico.
Early years
As a child, raised in the small town of Peñuelas, Echevarría became interested in sports during her primary and secondary educational years. She was an active participant in the sports of track and fieldTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
during her high school years and established several school records. However, she did not know how to play and never participated in the game that in the future would gave her fame and glory in Puerto Rico, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
.
Echevarría was awarded a scholarship by the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, located in the city of Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
and joined that institutions track and field team. She studied physical education and took a course in the disciplines of softball. Echevarría, became interested in the game after learning its principles and decided to join a local softball club called Las Estrellas de Seboruco. According to an interview conducted by El Vocero
El Vocero
El Vocero is a Puerto Rican newspaper that is published in San Juan.Published since 1974, El Vocero was at first the third of the four largest Puerto Rico newspapers, trailing El Mundo and El Nuevo Día and leading The San Juan Star in sales...
on August 30, 2005, Echevarría didn't even know how to put on a baseball glove
Baseball glove
A baseball glove or mitt is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or thrown by a teammate.-History:...
when she joined. She was noticed by Carlin Velazquez, a former pitcher for the National Men's Softball Team of Puerto Rico, who recommended that she see Alejandro "Junior" Cruz
Alejandro Cruz
Alejandro Cruz was a Puerto Rican athlete and politician who was mayor of the city of Guaynabo during the 1980s and early 1990s. He became known across Puerto Rico also as Junior Cruz.-Biography:...
, manager of the National Women's Softball Team of Puerto Rico and try out for the team. In 1978, Echevarría made the team and was trained another Puerto Rican softball pitcher, Donna Terry.
National Women's Softball Team of Puerto Rico
In 1979, Echevarría made her pitching debut in the Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. In 1983, she participated in the Pan American Games held in Caracas, Venezuela and established a record by pitching in six consecutive games. She also pitched a perfect no runs and no hits game with 42 pitches on October 8. She pitched a shutout in the Games held in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1987 and she and her team won the silver medal. In 1993, Echevarría and her team won the gold medal in softball in the Centroamerican Games held in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
. She also played in the Games held in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 1995. Echevarría was the standard carrier for her team when they represented Puerto Rico in the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame
After the 1996 Olympics, Echevarría retired from the game after playing for 14 years. She is currently the director of the Sports and Recreation Department of the city of Guaynabo.On November, 2003, Echevarría was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame and two weeks later the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame announced her election to the Hall. She was officially inducted on March 18, 2004 and the ceremony took place in Guaynabo's Sports Museum where an unveiling of a statue of Echevarría was part of the ceremony.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Sports in Puerto RicoSports in Puerto RicoSports in Puerto Rico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak tribes which inhabited the island to the modern era in which sports activities consist of an organized physical activity or skill carried out with a recreational purpose...