Patti Raduenz (2016) - Hall of Fame - Michigan State University Athletics

Patti Raduenz

Induction:
2016
Class:
1996

Patti Raduenz
Softball (1993-96)
Burlington, Wisconsin
MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016

HIGHLIGHTS:
• All-American (1996), two-time All-Big Ten Selection and CoSIDA Academic All-American (1995, 1996)
• One of the most prolific offensive players in program history, graduating with nine school records
• USA Baseball Women's National team (2004), winning gold in the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women's World Cup in Edmonton, Alberta
• Three-year professional softball player in WPSL for Georgia Pride and Durham Dragons

HALL OF FAME FEATURE: CLASS OF 2016

A pioneer in the sport of professional fastpitch and a standout collegiate athlete and coach, Patti Raduenz (1993-96) becomes the fifth Michigan State softball player to be selected for inclusion in the Athletics Hall of Fame, joining Gloria Becksford, Deanne Moore, Diane Spoelstra, and Kathy Strahan.

"Instant tears, and I was speechless! That's what a phone call from Mark Hollis produced from me," admitted MSU softball's newest Hall-of-Famer. "I instantly thought about how fortunate I was to have the teammates and coaches that are all a part of who I am today. I can remember the extraordinary time with my teammates, the countless days and nights Keri Lemasters would challenge me to any sport at the MSU rec centers and the challenges we put against each other in practice. I thought about my mom who coached me in my younger years of Little League. I looked back and smiled ever so big knowing I was able to live out a dream! I never set out to play this game for a status, I have always played this game because of pure LOVE for it.

"I had the great fortune of having two super ladies as my head coach at Michigan State. MSU Hall of Famer Gloria Becksford and her assistant Nancy Jungkans took a chance on a country girl from Wisconsin. I so appreciate all they did for me in that transitional freshman year. Then came this fanatical, challenging and compassionate coach for the next three years. I can't say enough how great a mentor and motivator Jacquie Joseph was and still is to me. I truly appreciate all she has been for me and for the MSU program!

"I am humbled to be joining such an elite fraternity of great players," continued Raduenz, who currently is the Safe Routes to School Coordinator for Norfolk (Va.) Public Schools. "I'm grateful for the opportunities, the experiences and the support that Michigan State University provided me. I'm looking forward to sharing this honor with my coaches, my teammates, my family and the best fans in the country who stood with me every step of the way."

A three-year starter at shortstop, Raduenz moved to third base as a senior and went on to enjoy the best year of her career. In addition to setting the single-season batting record (.422), she earned Second Team All-America honors, at the time the third player in school history to accomplish the feat. In addition, Raduenz repeated as a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection and earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Raduenz was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (first team in 1995, second team in 1996) and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree in addition to twice earning Academic All-America honors.

Raduenz was a .372 career hitter (1993-96), and remains MSU's career batting leader. She hit better than .400 as a junior (.414) and as a senior (.422), which remain the Spartans' two best single-season performances. In the program's career annals, she ranks second in career walks (95), third in hits (224), fourth in triples (12), sixth in extra-base hits (61), and eighth in both doubles (34) and RBI (104) -- all of which were school records at the time of her graduation.

After the completion of her collegiate career, Raduenz played for the Lansing All-Stars men's team in an exhibition against the Colorado Silver Bullets. She was offered a position to join the Silver Bullets, but chose to pursue her opportunities in professional softball. The following summer, she played for the Georgia Pride (1997) and the Durham Dragons (1997-99) in the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL), which is now National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). Raduenz was a part of the league's inaugural season in 1997, and holds the distinction of being the first player traded in league history (from Georgia to Durham). In 1997, Raduenz finished second in batting average and doubles in the WPSL.

Raduenz spent the summer of 2004 playing for the USA Baseball Women's National team. Her squad represented the United States in the 2004 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women's World Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and the World Series held in Japan, capturing the gold medal at the World Cup. Raduenz notched a .273 batting average, tallied six runs, three doubles, two triples and eight RBI while posting a .485 slugging percentage. She amassed 90 putouts at first base and four assists. Raduenz was one of only two players to play every inning at the same position and in the same spot in the lineup. She played all 11 games at first base while batting cleanup.

Raduenz spent 11 seasons (2001-11) as the head coach at Elon University, guiding the Phoenix to back-to-back 30-win seasons in her final two years at the helm (and four 30+ win seasons overall) and a 2010 Southern Conference championship behind a school-best 38-21 overall record and subsequent first-ever bid to the NCAA Softball Tournament. In her tenure, she was the 2002 Southern Conference Coach of the Year, had athletes selected to the All-Southern Conference team 21 times, as well as three players earn NFCA All-Region honors. Her student-athletes also earned 34 selections to the Southern Conference All-Academic team, and three of her athletes were selected for CoSIDA Academic All-Region accolades.

Prior to her arrival at Elon, Raduenz was an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina. She served as the hitting and infield instructor for the Tar Heels during the 2000 season. Under her tutelage, North Carolina put up the fifth-best batting average in the nation that year. Raduenz also served as an assistant at California State University of Sacramento and Iowa State University in Ames.