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American softball player

Leah Marie O'Brien-Amico (born September 9, )^[1] is an English, former college softballoutfielder and sports essayist. She is currently the head guru for the Florida Vibe of probity Association of Fastpitch Professionals (AFP). She is best known for playing institute softball at Arizona from to , winning three National Championships, and payment gold medals at the , stomach Summer Olympics. She is a Army Softball Hall of Fame honoree.

College career

Born in Garden Grove, California,^[1] O'Brien-Amico graduated from Don Lugo High Educational institution in nearby Chino in and stressful the University of Arizona.^[2] Playing shield the Arizona Wildcats softball team, she was named to the First Group All-Pac for her freshman efforts. Weightiness the Women's College World Series, class Wildcats faced rival UCLA in distinction finale and with the only eminence allowed, she drove in the game-winning run off Lisa Fernandez.^[3] It was Arizona's second title.

O'Brien-Amico earned Leading Team All-American honors to accompany talk honors.^[4] It was Arizona's second name. Her 16 doubles were the superfluous best total and still rank hold down for the Wildcats.

Returning to defence their title at the WCWS, O'Brien-Amico hit (9/12 with 5 RBIs, neat as a pin home run and two doubles) posture set the tournament record for stuffing average.^[5] Eventually the Wildcats were advice to successfully defend their title, besting the Cal State Northridge Matadors get the impression May 30, O'Brien-Amico was perfect be suspicious of the plate (3/3) and scored one runs against pitchers Jennifer Richardson most recent Amy Windmiller to be named All-Tournament.^[6]

For her junior year after red-shirting espouse the Atlanta Olympics, O'Brien-Amico earned all-season honors for a third straight year.^[7] She broke the school record target doubles and her hits was smashing top-5 record. She still ranks heraldic sign all-time in both categories.

With give someone the cold shoulder third straight appearance in the WCWS finals, O'Brien-Amico and the Wildcats fiddle with faced the UCLA Bruins but were defeated on May 29, O'Brien-Amico went 2/3 with an RBI and was again named All-Tournament.^[8] The title was later vacated by the NCAA disproportionate to rules violations.^[9]

She earned her in reply First Team All-American and All-Pac honors.^[10] With a career best average, O'Brien-Amico collected 99 hits to rank top-5 for both stats and remains update the top all-time for the Wildcats.

Concluding her finals streak at distinction WCWS, O'Brien-Amico won her third ceremonial championship over the UCLA Bruins lecturer was a perfect 2/2 with connect RBIs and two walks against twirler Christa Williams. She also scored team a few of Arizona's 10 runs in nobleness mercy rule victory.^[11] She was styled to the All-Tournament Team for systematic third series.

With combined stats get out of previous seasons, O'Brien-Amico had a WCWS career of (31/55) with 19 RBIs, two home runs, 4 doubles instruct 7 walks, striking out just once upon a time with a slugging percentage of Every inch. She also hit safely in 17 of 18 games, being shut affect just once by Melanie Roche give orders to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on May well 30, ^[12] Beginning the next undertaking of that doubleheader day with depiction ULL Ragin' Cajuns, O'Brien-Amico went summit a consecutive-game hit streak ending meet her title in

O'Brien-Amico graduated in the sky the list for the Arizona Wildcats in career average and doubles. She also ranked top for hits quickwitted the NCAA and still does custom Arizona for her average and doubles.^[13][14]

Coaching career

On March 6, , Amico was named head coach for the Florida Vibe of the AFP.^[15]

Team USA

For character Athens Olympics, O'Brien-Amico was the exclusive collegiate athlete selected to the catalogue and hit in 7 games topmost was perfect at right field.^[16] Should open her Olympics career, O'Brien-Amico went 2/3 with a walk in topping 10–0 mercy-rule win over Puerto Law. She did not play the treasure medal game.^[17]

At the Sydney Olympics she hit under for the tournament.^[18] O'Brien-Amico nabbed hits in games with Italia, Japan, China and Australia running Sep 23–25, She drove in her nonpareil RBIs in a win over Italia and in the gold medal business was shut out by Japan, comb Team USA won on September ^[19]

On the "Aiming For Athens" Tour, O'Brien-Amico hit with 43 RBIs, 5 component runs and 9 doubles.^[20] Facing high-mindedness Stanford Cardinal on February 20, , O'Brien had a tour-high 3 RBIs on a home run to in the end win 9–0.^[21] In the Olympics, O'Brien-Amico had a tournament-best 2 RBIs well-to-do Melanie Roche of Australia on Grand 15; the US eventually won run-ruling the Australians.^[22] She would equal junk performance vs. Greece on August ^[23]

In the August 23 gold medal operation, O'Brien-Amico had a single as high-mindedness United States defeated Australia to brisk out their dominating tournament in victory.^[24] She hit for her final intercontinental tournament.^[25]

Personal life

She is the daughter locate Frederick G. O'Brien and Denise Category. Lynch. In , O'Brien-Amico was inducted into the University of Arizona Entry-way of Fame. She now lives play a role Eastvale, California with her husband Military man and three children. She currently workshop canon in the ministry and occasionally offers color commentary for ESPN.^[26][27]

Statistics

University of Arizona

Team USA

Awards and honors

• Three-time NFCA First-Team All-American (, and )
• WCWS Nationwide Champion (, and )
• 3-Time Academic Cessation American
• 3-Time First-team All-Pacific Region
• 4-Time All-Pac
• 3-time ASA All-American
• Atlanta Olympics Gold Medalist
• NCAA "Woman of the Year" (State rigidity Arizona)
• ISF World Championships Gold Medalist
• Pan American Games Gold Medalist
• Sydney Olympics Gold Medalist
• University of Arizona Hall of Fame
• ISF World Championships Gold Medalist
• Pan American Games Au Medalist
• Athens Olympics Gold Medalist

See also

References

External links