Jennie Ritter

{{Infobox NCAA athlete

| image = Jennie Ritter in 2005.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ritter at the White House in 2005

| college = Michigan

| conference = Big Ten

| sport = Softball

| jersey = 15

| position = Pitcher

| class =

| major = Industrial and operations engineering

| minor =

| nickname =

| career_start = 2003

| career_end = 2006

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb =

| nationality = American

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|06|01}}

| birth_place = Dexter, Michigan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| highschool = Dexter,
Dexter, Michigan

| former_school(s)=

| career_highlights = y

| awards =

Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year (2005)
Big Ten Pitcher of the Year (2005)

| honors =

NFCA first-team All-American (2005)
NCAA All-Tournament Team (2005)

| records =

All-time strikeout ratio at Michigan and the Big Ten

| championships =

| championship_list =

2005 Women's College World Series

| bowl_games =

| bowl_list =

| tournaments = y

| tournament_list = 2003 NCAA, 2004 WCWS, 2005 WCWS, 2006 NCAA

}}

{{MedalTableTop | name = no | sport = Women's softball | country = {{bkw|USA}} | medals =

}}

Jennifer Darlene Ritter (born June 1, 1984) is an American, former collegiate All-American, retired softball pitcher and current sports commentator. She played college softball and was a starting pitcher for the Michigan Wolverines softball from 2003 to 2006 and led them to the 2005 Women's College World Series championship. She is the career shutouts record holder for the Wolverines in the Big Ten Conference.

Early life and college career

Ritter graduated from Dexter High School in Dexter, Michigan in 2002.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829063353/http://www.mgoblue.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=1248§ion_id=305&top=2&level=3&season=940|archive-date=August 29, 2005|title=Jennie Ritter|url=http://www.mgoblue.com:80/bio.cfm?bio_id=1248§ion_id=305&top=2&level=3&season=940|publisher=University of Michigan|access-date=June 8, 2018|url-status=dead}}

At the University of Michigan, Ritter played for the Michigan Wolverines softball team under head coach Carol Hutchins. Ritter saw limited playing time as a freshman in 2003, only getting 7 decisions for a 5–2 record. Debuting on February 15, 2003, Ritter got a no-decision, pitching 5-innings, giving up a run and striking out 9 vs. San Diego State Aztecs.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/021503aaa.html |title=Ritter Shines in First Start But U-M Loses To Aztecs in Nine |date=February 15, 2003 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901205513/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/021503aaa.html |archive-date=September 1, 2010 |url-status=dead }} She made her second appearance in the 2003 NCAA Regionals, shutting out Wright State Raiders for three innings to collect her last win that season.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051603aab.html |title=Michigan Staves Off Elimination With Rout of Wright State |location=Mgoblue.com |date=May 16, 2003 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616043048/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051603aab.html |archive-date=June 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 2004, Ritter earned All-Big Ten honors after posting 24 wins and 269 strikeouts, of which the latter ranked second all-time for the Wolverines. Ritter fired her first career no-hitter on March 12 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She was a hit batter away from a perfect game.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/031204aaa.html |title=Ritter Nearly Perfect in No-Hit Win Against Notre Dame |location=Mgoblue.com |date=March 12, 2004 |access-date=August 9, 2015}}

Ritter had a golden season as a junior in 2005, earning All-Big Ten and National Fastpitch Coaches' Association First Team All-American honors.{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3343:2005-di-aa-teams&catid=64&Itemid=134 |title=2005 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams |location=Nfca.org |access-date=August 9, 2015}} She was named conference "Pitcher" and "Female Athlete of The Year" to go along with the University of Michigan's "Female Athlete of The Year." She threw three no-hitters and a perfect game on April 17, 2005, vs. the Indiana Hoosiers.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/041705aaa.html |title=Ritter No-Hitter, Findlay Home Runs Help U-M To Sweep |location=Mgoblue.com |date=April 17, 2005 |access-date=August 9, 2015}} She also broke and set the school records for wins and innings pitched. Her strikeouts and shutouts still rank top-5 all-time for a Wolverine season. She also earned a Big Ten pitching Triple Crown for the best win, strikeout and ERA totals.{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings?doWhat=archive&rpt=archive&sportCode=WSB |title=Softball Archived Statistics |location=Nfca.org |access-date=August 9, 2015}}

From February 12 to April 19, Ritter went on a career best 22 consecutive game win streak, eventually snapped by the Penn State Nittany Lions on April 22.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/042205aaa.html |title=Michigan, Ritter Have Win Streaks Halted By Penn State |location=Mgoblue.com |date=April 22, 2005 |access-date=August 9, 2015}} For the streak, she threw 151.2 innings and collected 73 hits, 19 earned runs, 22 walks and struck out 225 for a 0.88 ERA and 0.63 WHIP.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/softball/schedule/2005 |title=2005 Softball Schedule |location=Mgoblue.com |access-date=October 18, 2020}} Ritter defeated the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats on March 20, pitching 5-innings of the 6–2 victory.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2005/3/20/Michigan_Rolls_Past_No_1_Arizona_for_Kia_Klassic_Crown.aspx |title=Michigan Rolls Past No. 1 Arizona for Kia Klassic Crown |location=Mgoblue.com |date=March 20, 2005 |access-date=October 18, 2020}} On May 4, Ritter punched out 16 of the Western Michigan Broncos in a two-hitter for her career single game regulation high.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/050405aaa.html |title=Ritter Fans 16; U-M Hits 50 Wins With Sweep of WMU |location=Mgoblue.com |date=May 4, 2005 |access-date=August 9, 2015}}

Ritter would lead the Michigan Wolverines to the No. 1 seed at the Women's College World Series and opened her first and only appearance with a shutout of the DePaul Blue Demons.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/060205aaa.html |title=Ritter Mows Down Demons, Leads U-M To WCWS Win |location=Mgoblue.com |date=June 2, 2005 |access-date=August 9, 2015}} After escaping elimination, Ritter led the way into the Championship Finals against defending champs, the UCLA Bruins. Ritter toughed out a 10-inning battle in the third game of the finale series to win the National Championship and the distinction of being the first team east of the Mississippi River to accomplish the feat. She also earned All-Tournament Team honors for her 5–1 record and 60 strikeouts in 54-innings (then a new series record).{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/060805aaa.html |title=National Champs! Findlay Drives Michigan Past UCLA |location=Mgoblue.com |date=June 8, 2005 |access-date=August 9, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/softball_champs_records/2014/d1/Champs.pdf |title=Softball Division I Championship |location=Ncaa.org |access-date=August 9, 2015}}

Ritter's senior season saw her repeat all-season honors: All-Big Ten, First Team All-American and Michigan "Female Athlete of The Year."{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3478:2006-di-aa-teams&catid=64&Itemid=134 |title=2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Americans |location=Nfca.org |access-date=August 9, 2015}} She threw a no-hitter and broke her own record for strikeouts and strikeout ratio (11.6); her shutouts were also a new record, the strikeouts totals remains tops for a single season. Ritter also posted her best ERA and WHIP to accompany a pair of top-5 records for innings and wins at Michigan, helping to earn her a second conference Triple Crown.

On April 15 in a 1–0 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Ritter struck out her 1,000th career batter.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/041506aaa.html |title=Michigan Manages Just One Hit in One-Run Loss At Iowa |location=Mgoblue.com |date=April 15, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2015}} In a win over the Michigan State Spartans on May 6, Ritter began a career best 45.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak that was broken on May 21, when she broke the school record for single game strikeouts, whiffing a career best 19 in Regional action against the Oklahoma Sooners.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/052106aaa.html |title=Michigan Uses Extra-Inning Win To Snare Regional Title |location=Mgoblue.com |date=May 6, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2015}} During the streak, Ritter won all 8 games and struck out 76 batters, surrendering only 12 hits and 7 walks for a 0.42 WHIP.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/archive/2006-boxscores.html |title=2006 Box Scores |location=Mgoblue.com |access-date=August 9, 2015}}

Ritter ended her collegiate career as the all-time Michigan Wolverines record holder in strikeouts, shutouts, WHIP, innings pitched and strikeout ratio. As well she also put up some of the best wins and ERA numbers all-time for the Wolverines. She currently still holds the records for shutouts.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/documents/2017/6/8/sfb-record-book.pdf |title=2017 University of Michigan Softball Record Book |location=Mgoblue.com |access-date=October 18, 2020}} For the Big Ten Conference she ranks top-10 in almost every other pitching category.{{cite web |url=https://bigten.org/documents/2020/9/22/2021_B1G_Softball_Record_Book.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112075617/https://bigten.org/documents/2020/9/22/2021_B1G_Softball_Record_Book.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |title=2020-21 Big Ten Records Book |location=Bigten.org |access-date=October 14, 2020}} Ritter is also a top-25 strikeout ratio pitcher all-time for a career in the NCAA Division I.{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/SB_Records/2021/D1.pdf |title=Division I Records |location=Ncaa.org |access-date=October 18, 2020}} Ritter graduated from the University of Michigan College of Engineering with a B.S.E. in industrial and operations engineering in 2007.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218214848/http://www.jennieritter15.com/JenniesBio.htm|archive-date=December 18, 2010|title=Jennie Ritter Biographical Information|url=http://www.jennieritter15.com:80/JenniesBio.htm|work=JennieRitter15.com|access-date=June 8, 2018|url-status=live}}

Professional career

Ritter was selected to the National Team in 2007 and competed at the World Cup and Pan American games. She had previously been named to the USA Elite in 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/athletes/Jennifer-Ritter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140246/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/athletes/Jennifer-Ritter |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Jennifer Ritter |location=Teamusa.org |access-date=August 9, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/070705aaa.html |title=Wolverines Help USA Elite To 6-0 Start At Canada Cup |location=Mgoblue.com |date=July 7, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807154343/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/070705aaa.html |archive-date=August 7, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |url-status=live }}

On February 15, 2006, Ritter was selected 6th overall in the National Pro Fastpitch draft by the Akron Racers.{{cite web|url=http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=495 |title=NPF Teams Add Depth With Senior Picks |location=Profastpitch.com |date=February 16, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905195336/http://www.profastpitch.com/news/npfnews/index.html?article_id=495 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 }} Ritter instead joined the PFX Tour where she was originally drafted fourth overall.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/021706aaa.html |title=Ritter Among Top Choices in PFX Tour And NPFL Drafts |location=Mgoblue.com |date=February 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807150645/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/021706aaa.html|archive-date=August 7, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2015}} In 2008, Ritter played professional softball in Japan and had labrum surgery at the end of the year before retiring from playing softball in the fall of 2010.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522075032/http://www.annarbor.com/sports/catching-up-withformer-michigan-softball-star-jennie-ritter/|archive-date=May 22, 2011|title=Catching Up With ... former Michigan softball star Jennie Ritter|work=Ann Arbor News|date=May 20, 2011|url=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/catching-up-withformer-michigan-softball-star-jennie-ritter/|access-date=June 8, 2018|url-status=live}} Around this time, Ritter joined the Big Ten Network and ESPN as a color commentator for softball game broadcasts.{{cite web|url=https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2010/5/7/Hawkeyes_Back_On_The_Road_To_Minnesota.aspx?path=softball|title=Hawkeyes Back On The Road To Minnesota|publisher=University of Iowa|date=May 7, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2018}}

Since 2013, Ritter has lived in Louisville, Kentucky and worked in management for Louisville Slugger.{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2015/6/8/Where_Are_They_Now_Michigan_s_2005_NCAA_Champions.aspx|title=Where Are They Now: Michigan's 2005 NCAA Champions|publisher=University of Michigan|work=MGoBlue.com|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=June 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608043240/https://mgoblue.com/news/2015/6/8/Where_Are_They_Now_Michigan_s_2005_NCAA_Champions.aspx|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flosoftball.com/articles/5044423-careers-jennie-ritter-of-louisville-slugger-1217|title=Careers: Jennie Ritter of Louisville Slugger|publisher=FloSoftball|date=December 17, 2014|access-date=June 8, 2018}}

Career statistics

class="wikitable"

align=center

| YEAR

| W

| L

| GP

| GS

| CG

| SHO

| SV

| IP

| H

| R

| ER

| BB

| SO

| ERA

| WHIP

align=center

| 2003

| 5

| 2

| 20

| 8

| 4

| 2

| 1

| 66.0

| 49

| 18

| 14

| 20

| 68

| 1.48

| 1.04

align=center

| 2004

| 24

| 8

| 41

| 31

| 20

| 8

| 2

| 207.2

| 118

| 41

| 35

| 45

| 269

| 1.18

| 0.78

align=center

| 2005

| 38

| 4

| 48

| 41

| 34

| 16

| 4

| 288.2

| 137

| 50

| 38

| 43

| 417

| 0.92

| 0.62

align=center

| 2006

| 31

| 8

| 42

| 35

| 32

| 17

| 1

| 272.2

| 129

| 41

| 30

| 39

| 451

| 0.77

| 0.61

align=center

| TOTALS

| 98

| 22

| 151

| 115

| 90

| 43

| 8

| 835.0

| 433

| 150

| 117

| 147

| 1205

| 0.98

| 0.69

References

External links

{{Twitter|JennieRitter}}
{{youTube|p7IlWGP2uM4&t|Michigan vs. UCLA: 2005 Women's College World Series - FULL REPLAY}}
{{youTube|5JCFng0K0_g|2018 Hall of Honor: Jennie Ritter}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:American softball players

Category:Michigan Wolverines softball players

Category:People from Dexter, Michigan

Category:Sportspeople from Washtenaw County, Michigan

Category:Sportspeople from Louisville, Kentucky

Category:Sportspeople from Jacksonville, Florida

Category:Softball players from Michigan

Category:University of Michigan College of Engineering alumni

Category:Big Ten Athlete of the Year winners

Category:Softball players at the 2007 Pan American Games