USA Softball Region 9

Fast pitch pitcher Jackie Rice didn’t allow too many earned runs, especially in national championship play. In fact, in 203 1/3 innings of national championship play she allowed less than half a run per game (0.48). And 11 of her 21 wins were shutouts to go along with eight losses. Rice’s pitching helped her teams win three ASA national championships (1964, 1969 and 1970) and she was named an All-American five times (1963, 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1968). She also participated in seven ASA Women’s Fast Pitch All-Star Series (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971). In 1963, Rice achieved a 4-1 pitching record in the national championship and led the Erv Lind Florists of Portland, OR to a runner-up spot. The next year the Florists won it all as Rice was undefeated and was named the tourney MVP. In 1966, Rice played for Fresno and had a 3-1 record in the ASA national championship. In 1967, she joined the Orange, CA Lionettes and helped them win a pair of ASA national championships. In her first year with Lionettes, Rice led the Pacific Coast Women’s League in ERA (0.07) and compiled a 23-14 record and 0.14 ERA. In 1968, Rice had a 4-2 record with an ERA of 1.16 in the ASA national tourney. After the 1974 season, Rice retired as a player to pursue a professional career in the Department of Physical Education, Health and Athletics at Western Oregon College before retiring in 1984. Rice was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1984.