OT - Congratulations to ROLE MODEL - LISA FERNANDEZ - Olympic Hall of Fame Inductee

Lisa Fernandez Inducted Into The Olympic Hall of Fame

Published July 14, 2012

Associated Press

FILE- In this Aug. 22, 2004, file photo, United States pitcher Lisa Fernandez throws against Australia in softball at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The 2004 U.S. Olympic softball team and Fernandez, a three-time gold medalist, have been inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) (2004 AP)

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team and three-time gold medalist Lisa Fernandez have been inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Five other individuals in the 2012 induction class also were honored Thursday in Chicago.

Dubbed the "Real Dream Team" on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, the 2004 Olympic Team went 9-0 in Athens, a record that included eight consecutive shutouts and four run-rule victories.

Fernandez won gold medals in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 games and is the only pitcher to appear in three Olympic finales.

She earned the save in the final game of the 1996 Olympics as the U.S. team beat China 3-1 for the inaugural softball Olympic gold medal.

The U.S. team took silver losing gold to Japan in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

In 2005 the IOC voted to drop softball along with baseball from the Olympic program leaving the U.S. with 3 gold medals and Japan with 1.

Softball advocates are hoping to get the sport back on the program by 2020, it will not be on the London games later this month or the Berlin games in 2016.

The move set the sport back in some countries.

Fernandez, is of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent, led the UCLA Bruins to the National Championship in softball during the 1990 and ’92 seasons, they were runner ups during the ’91 and ’93 seasons.

She was a first team All-American during her four collegiate years at UCLA.

She currently serves as an assistant coach at her alma mater.

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Permalink Reply by Valentino Martinez on July 16, 2012 at 5:06pm

Lisa Fernandez at Short Stop..

Photo by Valentino Martinez circa Summer 1996

INSPIRED DAY OF PLAY

My daughter was twelve years old and playing softball in 1996 when the Women's USA Softball Team was touring America playing the top Women's Softball teams in the country in preparation for competing in the 1996 Olympic Games. Women's Softball competition in the Olympics debuted in 1996--making history that year.

That USA Women's Softball Team went undefeated on their America tour and later won the Olympic Gold Medal beating China. While they were in St. Louis my daughter and members of her team were lucky to enough to watch them play and meet them--getting autographs all around.

I was able to photograph Lisa Fernandez here and some of the other USA Team's top pitchers (one shown here) in action--throwing some heat. Notice the contorted forearm as the pitcher releases the ball at hip-level throwing strikes that few could hit.

It was an awe inspiring experience for all of us to witness such top talent up close and personal. The role model effect on our little girls was priceless. To reflect later on the experience, that this team did go on to win the Olympic Gold Medal--makes the memory, autographs and pictures all the more meaningful.