Ivelisse Echevarría
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Ivelisse Echevarría (born November 4, 1956)) was inducted into the
International Softball Federation Map of member states., 400px, right The International Softball Federation (ISF) is the international governing body for the sport of softball with its world headquarters and training centre at Plant City, Florida. The ISF is a non-profit corporat ...
Hall of Fame in 2003 and is one of Puerto Rico's greatest softball pitcher's.


Early years

Echevarría was born and raised in the small town of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. She became interested in sports during her primary and secondary educational years. She was an active participant in the sports of track and field during her high school years and established several school records. However, she did not know how to play and never participated in the game that in the future would gave her fame and glory in Puerto Rico, softball. Echevarría received a scholarship from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, located in the neighboring city of Ponce and joined that institution's track and field team. She studied physical education and took a course on softball. Echevarría became interested in the game after learning its principles and decided to join a local softball club called ''Las Estrellas de Seboruco''. According to an interview conducted by El Vocero on August 30, 2005, Echevarría did not even know how to put on a baseball glove when she joined. She was noticed by Carlin Velazquez, a former pitcher for the National Men's Softball Team of Puerto Rico, who recommended that she see Alejandro "Junior" Cruz, manager of the National Women's Softball Team of Puerto Rico and try out for the team. In 1978, Echevarría made the team and was trained by Donna Terry, a Puerto Rican softball pitcher.


National Women's Softball Team of Puerto Rico

In 1979, Echevarría made her pitching debut in the
Pan American Games The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...
celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1983, she participated in the Pan American Games held in Caracas, Venezuela and established a record by pitching in six consecutive games. She also pitched a perfect no runs and no hits game with 42 pitches on October 8. She pitched a shutout in the Games held in
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
, Indiana in 1987 and she and her team won the silver medal. In 1993, Echevarría and her team won the gold medal in softball in the Centro American Games held in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She also played in the Games held in
Mar del Plata Mar del Plata is a city on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the seat of General Pueyrredón district. Mar del Plata is the second largest city in Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" is a s ...
, Argentina in 1995. Echevarría was the standard carrier for her team when they represented Puerto Rico in the
1996 Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
held in Atlanta, United States.


Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame

After the 1996 Olympics, Echevarría retired from the game after playing for 14 years. On November, 2003, Echevarría was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame and two weeks later the
International Softball Federation Hall of Fame Map of member states., 400px, right The International Softball Federation (ISF) is the former international governing body for the sport of softball with its world headquarters and training centre at Plant City, Florida. The ISF is a non-profit c ...
announced her election to the Hall. She was officially inducted on March 18, 2004 and the ceremony took place in Guaynabo's Sports Museum where an unveiling of a statue of Echevarría was part of the ceremony.Puerto Rico Herald
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See also

* List of Puerto Ricans *
Sports in Puerto Rico Sports in Puerto Rico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak (Taíno) tribes who inhabited the island to the modern era in which sports activities consist of an organized physical ...
* History of women in Puerto Rico


References


External links


Puerto Rico Herald
{{DEFAULTSORT:Echevarria, Ivelisse 1956 births Living people People from Peñuelas, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican softball players Olympic softball players for Puerto Rico Softball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics Puerto Rican sportswomen