Fitzgerald, Mary Ann

THIS AWARD IS IN RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING ABILITY AS A PLAYER/COACH AND UMPIRE FOR TWENTY-THREE YEARS. MARY ANN PLAYED ON STATE CHAMPION TEAMS IN 1968 AND 1971. IN 1973, WOMEN'S SOFTBALL WAS DISCONTINUED IN ASHLAND AND SHE BEGAN PLAYING IN HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA AND PLAYED ON FIVE CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS. DURING HER CAREER, MARY ANN PLAYED IN FIVE NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND WAS SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN IN 1971.

IN 1979, SHE SUFFERED A VERY SERIOUS KNEE INJURY THAT CUT SHORT HER BRILLIANT PLAYING CAREER. HOWEVER, HER LOVE FOR THE GAME OF SOFTBALL WOULD'T LET HER STAY AWAY. IN 1980, SHE BECAME AN ASA UMPIRE AND HAS DEVELOPED INTO ONE OF THE BEST IN KENTUCKY. SHE HAS ALSO BEEN THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE ASHLAND WOMEN'S LEAGUE SINCE 1980 AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING THE ASHLAND ANNUAL WOMEN'S INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT.

MARY ANN FITZGERALD HAS HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON WOMEN'S SOFTBALL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND IS VERY WORTHY OF THIS HONOR.