Natasha Watley

Whether it be years of playing travel ball from a very young age or an illustrious professional career which includes taking home a gold medal from the 2004 Olympics and a silver medal from the 2008 Olympics, Natasha Watley has proven that she has mastered softball on every level.

During the 2004 Olympics, Watley assisted the US Softball team in winning their third consecutive gold medal in Athens by breaking the Olympic record for stolen bases.  She was also third on the team with a .400 batting average with 9 hits and 10 RBI’s. During the 2008 Olympics Watley hit .321 in the leadoff position with 2 home runs and 6 RBI’s.

Internationally, Watley is a two time Pan American gold medalist (2003 & 2007), two-time World Champion (2002 & 2006) and a three time World Cup champion (2006, 2007 & 2009).

As a four time All American shortstop, Watley led her UCLA softball team to three straight women’s college World Series and the NCAA Division 1 softball championship title in 2003. She was awarded the Honda-Broderick cup for top female collegiate athlete, as well as PAC 10 Player Of The Year, in 2003. In 2003, she was a starter for the Bruins and finished top three in career hits (395), top five in career runs (252), top ten in career average (.450), and top 10 in career stolen bases (158). Watley holds the single season record for hits (112) and currently ranks fourth in Pac-10 history; as well as seventh on the all-time NCAA record books with 112 hits in a single season.

In Watley’s high school years she was named second team Louisville Slugger All-American. She hit (.445) over her last three seasons of high school softball, in addition to stealing over 20 bases each season.

Though she was a superstar on the softball field, Watley managed to balance her education, and graduated with a Bachelors Degree of Sociology and a minor of Afro American studies from UCLA in 2003. Currently she is working on her Master’s Degree in Business from Saint Leo University.

Currently Natasha is playing in Japan for Team Toyota, as well as competing on the PFX tour and  playing for the USA National Softball Team.

Natasha has run many camps and clinics throughout the nation, has an instructional DVD on the market titled “The Art of Slapping” and sponsors a 10U team in Southern California. Watley is very concerned with the development of today’s youth and cares deeply for underprivileged children.

The Natasha Watley Foundation (NWF) is her latest expansion; which is a public non-profit, community service organization. Watley uses (NWF) as a vehicle to help bring the sport of softball to young girls in the nation’s inner cities. The foundation provides an opportunity for young women to compete in leagues and on teams when financial resources are limited and provides a positive alternative to the everyday struggles they may endure in the inner city.

Barara Jordan

Barbara Jordan was a member of the USA National Team for 7 years and also a member of the first ever USA Olympic Softball Team.   Barbara Jordan was the type of player you wanted on your team as winning was always a part of her career.  She played on 3 NCAA National Championship Division II teams at California State University Northridge, where she also was named NCAA All American on 3 separate occasions.

In 2008, Barbara was named to the NCAA Division ll All Anniversary Team, a team that was selected by NCAA and which represented the outstanding players of a 30 year period of NCAA Division II Softball.

Playing in the Amateur Softball Association, Jordan played for the 18u California Raiders that won the National Championship 2 consecutive years.  While playing  in the Women’s Major Division Jordan was a member of the Redding Rebels, who captured 3 consecutive ASA Women’s Major National Championships.

Jordan, currently is an Assistant Coach for the USA National Team, where her responsibilities include, the overall strength and agility program for athletes while in camp and competition, training outfielders, and working with hitters. During National Team competition, Barbara is the First Base Coach for Team USA.

Andrea Duran

As third baseman for the 2008 US Olympic team, Andrea Duran not only represents hard work and commitment in the softball world, but serves as a positive role model for young girls all over the world as well.

A two-time World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007), Pan American Gold medalist (2007), and World Champion (2006), Andrea has made a name for herself as part of the US National Team.  In college Andrea not only excelled in athletics by helping lead the UCLA Bruins to two World Series Championships, being named 2006 Pac-10 player of the year, and a member of the All-American team, she also displayed the importance of academics receiving Pac 10 Academic Honors and being chosen as an Academic All-American by ESPN: The Magazine.

Andrea participates in the PFX softball tours, and spends time instructing clinics and camps throughout the USA including Jennie Finch camps, as well as providing lessons and appearances to young players nationwide.