Patti Townsend, formerly Patti Benedict (born c. 1972), is an American softball coach and former player. She has been a softball coach at Tallahassee Community College since 1996 and the head coach since 2003.
Townsend previously played college softball at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1993, where she was a first-team NFCA All-American in 1993 and the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993. She played professional softball for the Georgia Pride and Florida Wahoos and was named the Most Valuable Player in the Women's Professional Softball League in 2000. She also played for Team USA in 1995 and 1997 and was a member of the USA Team that won the gold medal in the 1995 Pan American Games.
Townsend played high school softball in Allendale, Michigan. She holds the all-time West Michigan single-season record with a .700 batting average posted in 1989.[1]
At the conclusion of her Michigan career, she held the school's career record for hits (244) and the single-season record for triples (11) and batting average (.421). She was the first Michigan player to hit over .400 and led the team in batting average for three consecutive years: .345 in 1991, .367 in 1992, and .421 in 1993.[2]
In 2002, Townsend was named to Michigan's all-time team upon the celebration of the program's 25th anniversary.[2][3]
Professional softballedit
Townsend played professional softball for the Georgia Pride (1998-1999) and the Florida Wahoos (2000) in the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). She also played for the WPSL All-Stars in 2001. In 2000, she led the WPSL in batting average (.330), helped the Wahoos win the WPSL championship, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player.[2][3]
Coaching careeredit
From 1994 to 1995, Townsend was a graduate assistant at Florida State under JoAnne Graf. She joined the coaching staff at Tallahassee Community College as an assistant coach in 1996 and became the head coach in 2003. In 10 years as the head coach at Tallahassee, Townsend has compiled a 285-223 record (.561). She was named the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Gulf District Coach of the Year in both 2008 and 2011.[3]
In 2011, Townsend led Tallahassee to a 41-22 record, the best in the school's fast pitch history. The team finished third at the NJCAA Division I Softball National Tournament.[3] At the end of the 2011 season, Townsend and her Tallahassee softball coaching staff were named the NJCAA Division I South Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).[4]
Personaledit
Townsend was married in 2002 to Jimmy Townsend. They have one daughter named Ali Townsend and live in Monticello, Florida.[3]
^ abcde"2013 University of Michigan Softball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2013.
^ abcdef"Patti Townsend Biography". Tallahassee Community College. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
^"TCC Softball Coaches Recognized by NFCA". WCTV. June 2, 2011.
April 11, 2024
patti, townsend, formerly, patti, benedict, born, 1972, american, softball, coach, former, player, been, softball, coach, tallahassee, community, college, since, 1996, head, coach, since, 2003, current, positiontitlehead, coachteamtallahassee, ccbiographical, . Patti Townsend formerly Patti Benedict born c 1972 is an American softball coach and former player She has been a softball coach at Tallahassee Community College since 1996 and the head coach since 2003 Patti TownsendCurrent positionTitleHead coachTeamTallahassee CCBiographical detailsBornc 1972 age 51 52 Playing career1990 1993Michigan1998 1999Georgia Pride2000Florida Wahoos2001WPSL All StarsCoaching career HC unless noted 1994 1995Florida State asst 1996 2002Tallahassee CC asst 2003 presentTallahassee CCHead coaching recordOverall285 223 561 Accomplishments and honorsAwardsNFCA first team All American 1993 Big Ten Player of the Year 1992 1993 All Big Ten first team 1991 1992 1993 WPSL MVP 2000Townsend previously played college softball at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1993 where she was a first team NFCA All American in 1993 and the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993 She played professional softball for the Georgia Pride and Florida Wahoos and was named the Most Valuable Player in the Women s Professional Softball League in 2000 She also played for Team USA in 1995 and 1997 and was a member of the USA Team that won the gold medal in the 1995 Pan American Games Contents 1 Early years 2 University of Michigan and Team USA 3 Professional softball 4 Coaching career 5 Personal 6 ReferencesEarly years editTownsend played high school softball in Allendale Michigan She holds the all time West Michigan single season record with a 700 batting average posted in 1989 1 University of Michigan and Team USA editTownsend played college softball for the Michigan Wolverines softball team under head coach Carol Hutchins from 1990 to 1993 She was selected as a first team NFCA All American outfielder in 1993 the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year in 1990 and the Big Ten Player of the Year in both 1992 and 1993 She was also a first team All Big Ten player each year from 1991 to 1993 2 At the conclusion of her Michigan career she held the school s career record for hits 244 and the single season record for triples 11 and batting average 421 She was the first Michigan player to hit over 400 and led the team in batting average for three consecutive years 345 in 1991 367 in 1992 and 421 in 1993 2 Townsend played for Team USA in 1995 and 1997 She was a member of the 1995 team that won the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Parana Argentina 2 3 In 2002 Townsend was named to Michigan s all time team upon the celebration of the program s 25th anniversary 2 3 Professional softball editTownsend played professional softball for the Georgia Pride 1998 1999 and the Florida Wahoos 2000 in the Women s Professional Softball League WPSL She also played for the WPSL All Stars in 2001 In 2000 she led the WPSL in batting average 330 helped the Wahoos win the WPSL championship and was named the league s Most Valuable Player 2 3 Coaching career editFrom 1994 to 1995 Townsend was a graduate assistant at Florida State under JoAnne Graf She joined the coaching staff at Tallahassee Community College as an assistant coach in 1996 and became the head coach in 2003 In 10 years as the head coach at Tallahassee Townsend has compiled a 285 223 record 561 She was named the Florida College System Activities Association FCSAA Gulf District Coach of the Year in both 2008 and 2011 3 In 2011 Townsend led Tallahassee to a 41 22 record the best in the school s fast pitch history The team finished third at the NJCAA Division I Softball National Tournament 3 At the end of the 2011 season Townsend and her Tallahassee softball coaching staff were named the NJCAA Division I South Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NFCA 4 Personal editTownsend was married in 2002 to Jimmy Townsend They have one daughter named Ali Townsend and live in Monticello Florida 3 References edit Larry Hirt April 27 2011 West Michigan area All Time Softball Records MLive com Advance Newspapers a b c d e 2013 University of Michigan Softball Record Book PDF University of Michigan 2013 a b c d e f Patti Townsend Biography Tallahassee Community College Retrieved July 10 2013 TCC Softball Coaches Recognized by NFCA WCTV June 2 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patti Townsend amp oldid 1148490643, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
