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Amanda Chidester

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Amanda Chidester
Current position
TitleAssistant coach
TeamMichigan
ConferenceBig Ten
Biographical details
Born (1990-04-11) April 11, 1990 (age 34)
Allen Park, Michigan[1]
Alma materMichigan
Playing career
2009–2012Michigan
2016Scrap Yard Dawgs
2019Chicago Bandits
Position(s)Catcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2023–presentMichigan (Asst.)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Medal record
Women's softball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Team

Amanda Marie Chidester (born April 11, 1990) is an American former professional softball player and current assistant coach for Michigan. She was named National Pro Fastpitch Player of the Year for the Chicago Bandits in 2019.[2] She has been a member of the USA Softball Women's National Team on-and-off since 2012. She played college softball at Michigan from 2009 to 2012 and was named First Team All-Big Ten three of her seasons. She was twice selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American.[3][4] Chidester represented Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal.[5] In 2021, Chidester played her second season in the Athletes Unlimited Softball league and placed second in individual points earned.[6]

Early years

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Chidester was born in 1990 and grew up in Allen Park, Michigan. She attended St. Francis Cabrini High School, graduating in 2008. As a senior in 2008, she was selected as the Detroit Catholic League Female Athlete of the Year. In 2007, she was named the Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year. She was also selected as a first-team EA Sports All-American in both 2007 and 2008.[7]

College career

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Chidester enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2008. As a freshman in the spring of 2009, Chidester appeared in 58 games and led the Michigan softball team with a .350 batting average. She was selected as a second-team NFCA All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten player.[7]

As a sophomore in 2009, Chidester started all 57 games for Michigan, including 56 games at second base.[7]

As a junior in 2010, Chidester moved to third base. She started all 58 games for Michigan, including 51 at third base and seven at catcher. She led the team with a .423 batting average and 75 RBIs. At the end of the season, she was selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and a first-team NFCA All-American at third base.

As a senior in 2011, Chidester was the captain of the Michigan softball team. She started 58 games for Michigan, including 13 at third base and 45 at first base. She compiled a .347 batting average with 46 RBIs and was named Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. On May 25, 2013, she became the second Michigan Wolverines softball player to reach 200 career RBIs.[7][8][9]

Team USA

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In June 2012, Chidester was named to the USA Softball Women's National Team.[10][11] She hit a grand slam to lead Team USA to a victory over Brazil in the 2012 World Cup of Softball.[12]

At the Tokyo Games, Chidester garnered four hits and drove in three runs for Team USA. She and the team lost in the gold medal game against Team Japan 2-0 on July 27, 2021, with Chidester going making three outs at the plate.[13][14]

Professional career

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During the 2019 season, Chidester was named the NPF Player of the Year, NPF Offensive Player of the Year, and Home Run Award winner.[15]

Coaching career

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On September 6, 2022, Chidester was named an assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines softball team.[16]

Personal life

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Chidester is openly lesbian and is engaged to a Mexican softball player Anissa Urtez.[17]

Statistics

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Michigan Wolverines
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
2009 58 183 37 64 .349 38 8 3 10 104 .568% 11 22 0 2
2010 57 164 34 49 .299 41 9 0 8 84 .512% 14 20 1 2
2011 58 175 49 74 .423 75 13 1 9 124 .708% 21 15 1 3
2012 58 176 37 61 .346 46 10 1 12 105 .596% 31 22 2 2
TOTALS 231 698 157 248 .355 200 40 5 39 417 .593% 77 79 4 9
Team USA
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
2020 13 32 4 7 .219 6 0 0 1 8 .250% 2 3 0
2021 31 84 22 30 .357 27 7 0 5 56 .666% 13 13 2
Olympics 6 20 0 4 .200 3 0 0 2 6 .300% 0 4 1
TOTAL 50 136 26 41 .301 36 7 0 8 70 .514% 15 20 3
Athletes Unlimited Softball[18]
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
2020 15 50 3 15 .300 13 3 2 1 29 .580% 4 8 0
2021 15 46 12 19 .413 12 7 0 1 41 .891% 9 6 0
TOTAL 30 96 15 34 .354 25 10 2 2 70 .729% 13 14 0

References

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  1. ^ "Amanda Chidester Biography". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013.
  2. ^ "NPF AWARDS BANQUET KICKS OFF 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES". Profastpitch.com. August 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Americans". Nfca.org. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "2020 U.S. Olympic Softball Team". Teamusa.org. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  6. ^ "Player Leaderboard". Auprosports.com. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d "Amanda Chidester Biography". Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013.
  8. ^ Michael Rothstein (May 19, 2011). "A consistent Amanda Chidester leads Michigan softball team into NCAA regional action". AnnArbor.com.
  9. ^ "Michigan's Carol Hutchins, Amanda Chidester and Haylie Wagner sweep Big Ten softball awards". AnnArbor.com. May 16, 2011.
  10. ^ Jo-Ann Barnas (June 14, 2012). "Allen Park's Amanda Chidester named to U.S. national softball team". Detroit Free Press.
  11. ^ Colleen Thomas (June 17, 2012). "Chidester makes U.S. national team". The Michigan Daily.
  12. ^ "World Cup of Softball: Amanda Chidester's grand slam powers Team USA past Brazil". NewsOK. July 1, 2012.
  13. ^ "JPN 2, USA 0". Olympicssoftball.wbsc.org. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "Chidester". Olympicssoftball.wbsc.org. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "NPF Awards Banquet Kicks Off 2019 Championship Series". profastpitch.com. August 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ Howard, Leah (September 6, 2022). "Wolverines Add Michigan Alum, Olympian Chidester to Coaching Staff". MGoBlue.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Zeigler, Cyd (December 15, 2020). "These 2 athletes will play against each other at the Olympics. They just got engaged". Outsports. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "Player Stats". Ausports.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
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