We’re excited to launch a new series by Mike Lotief & Carlton Salters that will feature some of the most impressive and impactful home runs across softball history.
Today, we look at the beautiful form of two of the top softball power hitters of all-time, Stacey Nuveman and Crystl Bustos, and the impact that made in Olympic competition…
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STACEY NUVEMAN
Stacey was a four-time All American catcher at UCLA from 1998-2002 ended her illustrious collegiate career with the Bruins totaling 90 home runs—that’s an average of more than 22 per season!
Remember, too, that when Stacey played it was the era of single wall aluminum bats and bunting runners over resulting in many 1-0 softball games where hardly anybody hit a homer, let alone 90.
The Bruin legend made her Olympic debut in the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat China.
Here’s video of Stacey at bat in those 2000 Olympics in the Land Down Under:
Click HERE to read an article about the resolve of the 2000 Olympic Softball team.
According to Nuveman:
“We could have easily folded up and packed our bags and said ‘We’re done’ after the losses, but we didn’t.”
Truly, a testament to the resolve and character and competitive spirit of that group of softball players and Stacey’s key home run underscored all that the 2000 team represented.
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CRYSTL BUSTOS
Bustos was a three-time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008) winning two Gold medals played third base and also competing as a Designated Player.
Crystl holds the World Record for home runs during an Olympic series with six (2008, China) and also holds the Olympic record for all-time total home run mark at 14.
Bustos played collegiality at Palm Beach Community College and today is heading Ruthless Softball, a club organization that has teams in California, Texas, Florida and several other states.
Click HERE to see a video “welcome” from Crystl talking about the program.
Below are videos of the “Big Bruiser” smacking a pair of home runs in the 2000 Olympics while wearing the Red, White & Blue:
