Jennie Ritter
Encyclopedia
Jennie Ritter is an American
former All-American right-handed softball
pitcher
from Dexter, Michigan
. She is a Women's College World Series
National Champion with the Michigan Wolverines
, whom she played for from 2003-2006. In addition to numerous other records, she is the all-time leader in strikeouts and strikeout ratio for both the Wolverines and the Big Ten Conference
.
In 2004, Ritter earned All-Big Ten honors after posting 24 wins and 269 strikeouts, of which the latter ranked second all-time for the Wolverines.
Ritter fired her first no-hitter on March 12 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
. She was a hit batter away from a perfect game
.
Ritter had a golden season as a junior earning All-Big Ten and First Team All-American honors. She was also named conference Pitcher and Female Athlete of The Year to go along with USA Softball Player of The Year and University of Michigan
's Female Athlete of The Year. She threw three no-hitters and a perfect game
on April 17, 2005 vs. the Indiana Hoosiers
. She also broke and set the school records for wins (38) and innings pitched (288.2). Her 417 strikeouts and 16 shutouts still rank top 5 all-time for a Wolverine season.
On May 4, Ritter punched out 16 Western Michigan Broncos
in a two-hitter for her regulation best.
Ritter would lead the Michigan Wolverines
to the #1 seed at the Women's College World Series
and opened her first appearance with a shutout of the DePaul Blue Demons
. After escaping elimination, Ritter led the way into the Championship Finals against defending champs, the UCLA Bruins
.
Ritter toughed out a 10 inning battle in the third game of the series to win the National Championship and the distinction of being the first team east of the Mississippi River
to accomplish the feat. She also earned All-Tournament Team honors for her 5-1 record and 60 strikeouts in 54 innings (a new series record).
Ritter's senior season saw her repeat all-season honors: All-Big Ten, First Team All-American and Michigan Female Athlete of The Year. She threw a no-hitter and broke her own record for strikeouts with 451; her 17 shutouts was also a new record, the strikeouts total remains tops. Ritter also posted her best ERA (0.77) to accompany a pair of top 5 records for innings and wins at Michigan.
On May 12, 2006, Ritter broke the school record for single game strikeouts when she whiffed a career best 19 in Regional action against the Oklahoma Sooners
.
Ritter would graduate as the all-time record holder in strikeouts, strikeout ratio, innings pitched and shutouts. As well she also put up some of the best wins and ERA numbers.
She currently performs training camps for youth and works for the Big Ten Network (color commentary) during the softball season.
On February 15, 2006, Ritter was selected 6th overall in the National Pro Fastpitch
draft by the Akron Racers
. Ritter however joined and continues to play on the PFX Tour where she was originally drafted fourth overall.
Ritter was chosen as one of the University of Michigan
's all-time top athletes by Sports Illustrated Magazine.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former All-American right-handed 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...
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...
from Dexter, Michigan
Dexter, Michigan
Dexter is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The majority of the village is in the northwest corner of Scio Township with a small portion in Webster Township. The population was 4,067 at the 2010 census...
. She is a Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
National Champion with the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
, whom she played for from 2003-2006. In addition to numerous other records, she is the all-time leader in strikeouts and strikeout ratio for both the Wolverines and the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
.
Michigan Wolverines
Ritter saw limited playing time as a freshman, only getting 7 decisions for a 5-2 record. She made her second appearance in the NCAA Regionals shutting out Wright State for three innings to collect her last win that season.In 2004, Ritter earned All-Big Ten honors after posting 24 wins and 269 strikeouts, of which the latter ranked second all-time for the Wolverines.
Ritter fired her first no-hitter on March 12 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
. She was a hit batter away from a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
.
Ritter had a golden season as a junior earning All-Big Ten and First Team All-American honors. She was also named conference Pitcher and Female Athlete of The Year to go along with USA Softball Player of The Year and University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's Female Athlete of The Year. She threw three no-hitters and a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
on April 17, 2005 vs. the Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
. She also broke and set the school records for wins (38) and innings pitched (288.2). Her 417 strikeouts and 16 shutouts still rank top 5 all-time for a Wolverine season.
On May 4, Ritter punched out 16 Western Michigan Broncos
Western Michigan Broncos
The Western Michigan Broncos are a NCAA Division I FBS team representing Western Michigan University. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's baseball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field,...
in a two-hitter for her regulation best.
Ritter would lead the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
to the #1 seed at the Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
and opened her first appearance with a shutout of the DePaul Blue Demons
DePaul Blue Demons
The DePaul Blue Demons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of DePaul University, located in Chicago Illinois. The Blue Demons participate in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big East Conference....
. After escaping elimination, Ritter led the way into the Championship Finals against defending champs, the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
.
Ritter toughed out a 10 inning battle in the third game of the series to win the National Championship and the distinction of being the first team east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to accomplish the feat. She also earned All-Tournament Team honors for her 5-1 record and 60 strikeouts in 54 innings (a new series record).
Ritter's senior season saw her repeat all-season honors: All-Big Ten, First Team All-American and Michigan Female Athlete of The Year. She threw a no-hitter and broke her own record for strikeouts with 451; her 17 shutouts was also a new record, the strikeouts total remains tops. Ritter also posted her best ERA (0.77) to accompany a pair of top 5 records for innings and wins at Michigan.
On May 12, 2006, Ritter broke the school record for single game strikeouts when she whiffed a career best 19 in Regional action against the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
.
Ritter would graduate as the all-time record holder in strikeouts, strikeout ratio, innings pitched and shutouts. As well she also put up some of the best wins and ERA numbers.
Post Michigan
Ritter was selected to the National Team in 2007 and competed at the World Cup and Pan American games. She had previously been named to the USA Elite in 2005.She currently performs training camps for youth and works for the Big Ten Network (color commentary) during the softball season.
On February 15, 2006, Ritter was selected 6th overall in the National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
draft by the Akron Racers
Akron Racers
- 2010 :The following is the Racers 2010 home schedule:* Thursday, June 24 * Friday, June 25 * Saturday, June 26 * Sunday, June 27 * Thursday, July 1 * Friday, July 2 * Saturday, July 3...
. Ritter however joined and continues to play on the PFX Tour where she was originally drafted fourth overall.
Ritter was chosen as one of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's all-time top athletes by Sports Illustrated Magazine.
Athletic accomplishments
- 1,205 strikeouts (NCAA Division I Softball career strikeouts listNCAA Division I Softball career strikeouts listThere are currently 64 pitchers and 59 records in the 1,000 Strikeout Club:-Progression:Shawn Andaya broke the original strikeout record by Amy Unterbrink during her 1987 campaign. Michele Granger struck out her 1,235th batter on February 22, 1993 shutting out the Northwestern Wildcats 8-0...
) - 0.98 ERA (NCAA Division I softball career -1.00 ERAs listNCAA Division I softball career -1.00 ERAs listThere are currently 57 pitchers and 41 records in the -1.00 ERAs Club:*Note every player on the list played four seasons equaling at least 700.0 innings pitched.-Progression:...
) - 98 wins
- 10.1 strikeout ratio
- 835.0 innings pitched
- 43 shutouts
External Links
- http://www.jennieritter15.com/DidYouKnow.htm
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o0GlObE9WM
- http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/mich-w-softbl-body.html