| Traci Conrad | |
| Player Years1: | 1996–1999 |
| Player Team1: | Michigan |
| Player Years2: | 1999–2000 |
| Player Team2: | Akron Racers |
| Coach Years1: | 2000–2001 |
| Coach Team1: | Notre Dame |
| Player Positions: | First base |
| Birth Date: | 17 December 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Frankfort, Illinois |
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Traci Lynn Conrad (born December 17, 1976)[1] is an American softball coach and former softball player. She is a coach with Select Florida Softball and previously served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame. She played professional softball for the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league from 1999 to 2000.
Conrad also played college softball for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 1996 to 1999. She was the first player to win two Big Ten Conference batting titles, accomplishing the feat in both 1998 and 1999. She also set and continues to hold the Big Ten record with 345 career hits. Conrad was also the first Michigan softball player to be selected twice as a first-team NFCA All-American and the first to win the Big Ten Player of the Year award twice. She was also selected three consecutive years (1997-1999) as the first-team All-Big Ten first baseman and four consecutive years (1996-1999) as the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first baseman.
Conrad was born in approximately 1977 at Frankfort, Illinois. She was an All-State softball player at Lincoln-Way High School.[2]
Conrad-Fischer enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1995 and played college softball under head coach Carol Hutchins from 1996 to 1999.[3] [4]
As a freshman in 1996, Conrad-Fischer compiled a .377 batting average, scored 55 runs, had 38 RBIs, and stole 19 bases in 21 attempts. She was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first baseman. She helped lead the team to the Women's College World Series, had five hits in seven at bats, and was named to the World Series All-Tournament team.[5] [3]
As a sophomore, Conrad sustained a shoulder injury when she collided with pitcher Sara Griffin in April 1997 as both players tried to field a bunt that was popped up behind the pitcher's mound. Griffin was limited to action as a designated hitter for the remainder of the 1997 season.[5]
As a junior in 1998, Conrad was named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.[3]
As a senior in 1999, Conrad was the captain of Michigan's softball team and was selected for the second consecutive year as the Big Ten Player of the Year.[3] She also received her fourth consecutive award as the first-team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first baseman and her third consecutive award as the first-team All-Big Ten first baseman.[3] She was also named the Most Outstanding Player on the Michigan team in both 1998 and 1999.[3]
Conrad continues to hold Michigan's all-time career records in hits (345), batting average (.389), games played (263), and at bats (886). She also ranks second all-time at Michigan in career runs (223) and stolen bases (62).[3] Conrad graduated in May 1999 with a bachelor's degree in sports management and communications.[6]
From 1999 to 2000, Conrad played professional softball for the Akron Racers in the National Pro Fastpitch league. During the 2006 season, she compiled a .246 batting average in 65 at bats.[3]
In January 2000, Conrad was hired as an assistant softball coach at Notre Dame.[7] She remained at Notre Dame for two seasons, and the Fighting Irish won Big East championships in both of those years. Conrad later moved to Florida and coached youth travel softball.[8] [9]