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Elaine Sortino, Head Coach,
University of Massachusetts
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2004 NFCA Hall of Fame Nominee
936-405-4 (.697) Overall Record At UMass
Elaine Sortino has made winning a habit at the University of
Massachusetts. In her 27 years at the helm of the Minutewoman
softball program, Sortino has established herself as one of the
nation's most successful collegiate softball coaches and helped
to put Massachusetts on the softball map.
On December, 4, 2004, Sortino was inducted into the National
Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame at its annual
convention in Las Vegas, Nev. In 2004, the NFCA also named UMass
the 34th-best softball program all-time.
Sortino has posted a career record of 936-405-4 (.697). Her 936
victories are eighth among all active Division I coaches, while
her .697 winning percentage stands 14th among all active
Division I coaches. With a 6-0 win over Jacksonville on March
11, 2006, Sortino become the 10th all-time coach (ninth active)
to eclipse the 900-win plateau.
Sortino has led UMass to 18 Atlantic 10 Conference titles, 16
NCAA regional appearances and three trips to the NCAA College
World Series. The Minutewomen also made their first trip to the
Super Regionals in 2006.
A seven-time A-10 Coach of the Year, Sortino was the first
Northeast coach to post over 700 career wins. The seven A-10
awards is the most of any coach in any sport in the conference.
Sortino and her staff have been recognized as the Division I
Speedline/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Northeast
Coaching Staff of the Year on five different occasions,
including 2006.
In 2006, UMass made its 12th-straight trip to the NCAA
Tournament and advanced to its first Super Regional. That is
tied for the seventh-longest streak in the country.
The Minutewomen continued to rake in the awards last year.
Brandice Balschmiter, Candice Molinari and Whitney Mollica were
each named Easton All-Americans. Balschmiter was voted the
Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year while Mollica became the first
player in the history of the conference to be selected the
Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. UMass had six
All-Conference picks.
In 2002, the Minutewomen won 33 consecutive games from March 23
until May 9, which tied for the eighth-longest streak in NCAA
history with the 1992 UCLA Bruins. UMass compiled a 53-13
record, shattering the school record for most victories set by
the 1998 team, who had 45.
Sortino has proven her ability of producing exceptional talent,
coaching 21 All-Americans, 11 A-10 Player of the Year
selections, 12 A-10 Pitcher of the Year picks, seven A-10 Rookie
of the Year honorees and 88 all-conference selections. The
pinnacle of individual achievement for the UMass softball
program occurred in the spring of 1999 as Danielle Henderson
received the Honda Award, recognizing the nation's top softball
player.
Henderson went on to win a gold medal with the United States
softball team at the 2000 Olympic Games. Sortino also coached
another Olympian in Kaila Holtz. Holtz represented Canada in the
2004 Games.
In Sortino's career, UMass has posted 19 30-win seasons, six
40-win campaign and one 50-win season. Sortino has never had a
losing season at the helm of the UMass softball program.
In addition to her duties as the head softball coach at UMass,
Sortino is the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Programs
and Student Services as well as the Senior Women's
Administrator. She has overseen and coordinated numerous
national level sporting events, including the 1995 NCAA Women's
Volleyball Championships, the 1998 Men's Gymnastics East
Regional and the 2003 NCAA Field Hockey National Championship.
A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Sortino came to UMass after two years
at Yale University. Prior to assuming her duties as Associate
Athletics Director, Sortino served as the head volleyball coach
for the Minutewomen, posting a 218-134-1 record from 1979-1986.
A graduate of Oneonta (N.Y.) State, she also earned her master's
degree from the University of Bridgeport (Conn.). In the fall of
1999, Sortino was inducted into the Oneonta State Athletic Hall
of Fame.
Sortino currently resides in Hadley, Mass. |
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Denise Davis,
Planet Fastpitch, Owner
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Home State: |
Pennsylvania |
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Graduated: |
Rutgers
University, New Brunswick, NJ
B.S., Exercise Science and Sport Management |
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Graduated: |
University of
Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
MBA, College of Business |
Denise Davis, the
founder of Planet Fastpitch, LLC, graduated from
Rutgers University in 1994 with a B.S. in Exercise
Science and Sport Management. Upon completion of her
undergraduate degree, Denise went on to receive a
Masters in Business Administration from the
University of Rhode Island in 1996. Denise began her
college career in 1989 at Brown University and upon
transfer in 1992, became a scholarship athlete for
Rutgers University. At Rutgers, Denise earned
Atlantic 10 All-Conference, Atlantic 10 Academic
All-Conference and All-Northeast Region Honors.
During this time, Denise captained the Scarlet
Knights to the 1994 Atlantic 10 Championship and
ultimately the NCAA Regional tournament. In addition
to her collegiate career, Davis played for the
Topton VIP’s, a high level Pennsylvania based
women’s team. At the 1993 Women’s Major Fastpitch
Nationals, Davis earned First Team All-American
Honors. With this distinction, Davis was invited to
attend the USA National Team Camp and first ever
Olympic Team Trials.
After completion of
her collegiate career, Davis served as the assistant
coach at the University of Rhode Island from1994 to
1999 and as the pitching consultant for Boston
University, Bridgewater State College, Bryant
University, and United States Coast Guard Academy.
Denise currently works as a pitching consultant and
camp coordinator for the Elaine Sortino Softball
School at The University of Massachusetts. Davis
also acts as a private coach for several
professional and Olympic pitchers.
Planet Fastpitch was
a lifelong dream of Denise Davis. With the help of
her dog, Nike, and the kindness and financial
generosity of The Simonsen Family, Planet Fastpitch
opened in 1997. Since inception, Planet Fastpitch,
has become New England’s largest exclusive fastpitch
softball facility as it offers professional
instruction, state-of-the-art training equipment,
speed and video analysis, and a number of
specialized programs for individuals, groups and
teams. PFP also offers a variety of coaching clinics
in pitching, hitting, catching and all other
offensive and defensive skills and drills. PFP
operates inside a 12,000 sq ft facility with 3
spacious batting cages, an open pitching area, a 100
foot distance lane, a training room for 3-on-3
competition and seminars, a pro shop, a spectators
loft, a video lab and an outdoor dirt mini field.
Committed to
personalized attention, Planet Fastpitch offers
innovative instruction in all softball skills in a
supportive environment where girls can train in this
fast-paced, exciting and competitive game. PFP also
offers a comfortable viewing area and a
family-oriented atmosphere. All Planet Fastpitch
instructors are current and former collegiate
players, as well as college and high school coaches,
National Professional Fastpitch players and
Olympians, all of which are hand picked to ensure
the highest quality of professional softball
instruction. In choosing PFP, athletes benefit from
learning from a team of coaches who are current with
cutting-edge techniques and who have competed at the
elite level. This one’s for the girls! |
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Instructors
All Elaine Sortino Softball School
instructors are current and former collegiate players, as well
as college and high school coaches, National Professional
Fastpitch players and Olympians, all of which are hand picked to
ensure the highest quality of professional softball instruction.
In choosing this softball school, athletes benefit from learning
from a team of coaches who are current with cutting-edge
techniques and who have competed at the elite level. |
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