Nov. 2, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team will host a teaching clinic featuring former All-American catcher and two-time Olympian Stacey Nuveman on Nov. 6, announced head coach Beanie Ketcham on Tuesday.

The clinic will consist of a pair of three-hour instructional sessions held at Bulldog Field located on the campus of Samford University.

"This is a huge opportunity for kids from across the state to be able to learn some quality skills from a player of Stacey's caliber," said Ketcham. "She is one of the best players in the world right now and she is also an outstanding teacher. She relates well to the kids and I've heard nothing but excellent things about her clinics."

Nuveman, a four-time first-team All-American, won her second Olympic gold medal this summer in Athens, Greece. During the 2000 Olympics held in Sydney, Australia, she was the youngest member of the U.S. squad and played a major role in the team's gold-medal run. Her three-run homer in the 10th inning beat China, 3-0, in the first game of the medal round. In the final against Japan, Nuveman singled in the tying run in the fifth frame and drew a leadoff walk in the eighth that led to winning run. The Glendale, Calif. native started eight games at catcher and finished tied for the team lead in RBI with four. Nuveman played at UCLA and left the school as the NCAA career leader in both home runs (90) and slugging percentage (.945).

She was named the 2002 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and was among the four finalists for the Honda Award, presented to the nation's top softball player. She also became the second player to win the Pac-10 Player of the Year award three times. In 1997, as a freshman, she led the Bruins to the championship game of the Women's College World Series. UCLA won the title in 1999, when Nuveman topped the nation in home runs (31) and RBI (91) and was a Sullivan Award finalist.

"We are very fortunate to have a relationship with Michael Bastian, who is one of the premier pitching coaches in the nation," Ketcham said. "We have hosted his clinics here in Birmingham for a couple of years now and he has good relationships with all of the top softball athletes in the nation. It was through our connection with him that we were able to get set up with Stacey."

Michael Bastian, a member of the coaching pool for ASA/USA National Teams and the former head coach of the Women's Professional Softball League's Akron Racers, will hold a pitching clinic at Samford on Nov. 7. He will host two sessions, one for beginners and one for returners.

As a member of the USA Softball Junior National Team's coaching staff, Bastian recently traveled to Nanjing, China for the 2003 World Championships. He has over 15 years of fast-pitch coaching experience, including stops at several colleges and universities.

The costs of the aforementioned clinics are $90.00 per camper and players are advised to bring practice clothes, tennis shoes or cleats and a glove. The objectives of the clinic are to teach how to utilize the body's mechanics to maximize velocity, spin and accuracy, how to use the ground for power and other basic pitching tips.

If a camper would like to attend both the morning and afternoon sessions of either the hitting or pitching clinic, then the cost will be discounted to $170.00.

The Samford University softball team's instructional clinic featuring gold-medalist Nuveman will take place on Nov. 6, and will be held at Bulldog Field. For more information or for an opportunity to pre-register your child, please contact the Samford softball office at (205) 726-4147.