Satellite High Grad Kelly Kretschman Is 4-Time NCAA All American, Olympic Gold Medallist

By SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME // August 16, 2016

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

ABOVE VIDEO: A 1997 graduate, she starred in softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball for the Scorps. Upon graduation from Satellite High in 1997, Kretschman attended the University of Alabama where she was a four-time All-American in softball.

KELLY KRETSCHMAN – 2012 INDUCTEE

• 4-Time NCAA All-American

• Olympic Gold Medallist

• Professional Softball Player

ALL-AMERICAN

Kelly Kretschman was an outstanding four-sport athlete during her athletic career at Satellite High School.

A 1997 graduate, she starred in softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball for the Scorps. Upon graduation from Satellite High in 1997, Kretschman attended the University of Alabama where she was a four-time All-American in softball.

As a freshman at Alabama, she led the nation in home runs with 25, hit .467 – with 100 hits in 214 at-bats. She drove in 64 runs, scored 94 runs, and had 22 doubles and seven triples for a nation-leading slugging percentage of .986. She walked 31 times and stole 40 bases in 47 attempts.

Kretschman had a 35-game hitting streak, which is the third best in NCAA history that initial season. She set school and conference records for batting average, home runs, hits and slugging percentage.

The outfielder hit .395 as a sophomore, driving in 31 runs and scoring 54 runs and was once again an All-America selection and was named to the SEC First Team. As a junior in 2000, Kretschman hit .436 with 102 hits in 234 at-bats and had a slugging percentage of .718.

She led the NCAA in hits that season and was again named First Team All-American. The Crimson Tide reached the Women’s College World Series where she hit .333 and was picked for the All-Tournament Team.

Kretschman finished her collegiate career with a whopping 60 home runs, 191 RBI,, 288 runs scored and 368 hits in 842 at-bats for a .437 batting average. She had 65 doubles, 16 triples and 161 walks for a slugging percentage of .766 and stole 133 bases in 154 attempts.

Kretschman is one the few players in NCAA history to hit better than .400 with more than 300 hits, 200 runs scored and 100 stolen bases.

OLYMPIC GOLD

Kretschman earned a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Games in Greece and a silver medal in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing as a member of the U.S. softball team.

During the 2008 season for the U.S. in exhibition and Olympic contests, Kretschman hit .450 – 64 hits in 142 at-bats. She scored 54 runs and drove in 40 runs. She had seven home runs, three triples, 14 doubles, 17 walks and also stole five bases in six attempts.

In the Olympics, Kretschman had a five-game streak with at least one RBI. She tied for the team lead in triples, doubles and did not commit and error. In 2008 for Team USA, Kretschman had 66 hits in 147 at-bats for a .449 batting average.

She added 11 home runs, 58 RBI and 76 runs scored. She had 13 doubles, one triple, walked 51 times and had five stolen bases without getting caught.

NATIONAL PRO FASTPICH

In 2005, Kretschman began what has been a successful career in National Pro Fastpich (NPF). During her first year in the league, she played for the Akron Racers and hit .280 with 21 hits n 75 at-bats. She hit one home run and drove in 13 runs.

In 2006, she played for the Connecticut Brakettes and posted a batting average of .410, had three home runs, drove in 12 runs and scored 26 runs. Both squads won the Cowles Cup. In 2007, Kretschman played for the Washington Glory and helped them win the Cowles Cup as she hit .333 in 51 games.

After a year off from NPF play to concentrate on the Olympics, Kretschman joined the USSSA Pride, which is based in Kissimmee.

She hit .350, with a slugging percentage of .608. Kretschman helped the Pride win the Cowles Cup in 2010, hitting .296 with 43 hits in 145 at-bats. In 2011, Kretschman hit .300 with 21 hits in 70 at-bats.

During her six seasons in the NPF, Kretschman has a .330 batting average with 21 home runs, 91 RBI and 114 runs scored. She has posted a slugging percentage of .517. She has walked 135 times and stolen 20 bases.

Kretschman is currently playing in the professional softball league for USSSA Pride. Previously, she was an assistant coach for the University of Kentucky and the University of Alabama.

THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12.