Anissa Urtez

Anissa Urtez (born January 18, 1995) is an American professional softball player of Mexican descent. She played college softball for Utah. She represented Mexico at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Anissa Urtez
Biographical details
Born (1995-01-18) January 18, 1995
Long Beach, California
Playing career
2014–2017Utah
2017–2018Scrap Yard Dawgs
2019Cleveland Comets
2020–2021Athletes Unlimited
Position(s)Infielder
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2019Utah Valley (Asst.)

Early life

Urtezz attended high school at Downey High School in Downey, California. During her junior year, she hit .577 with 36 runs scored, 44 RBIs, 10 home runs, 18 extra-base hits and a .990 slugging percentage. She was subsequently named San Gabriel Valley League (SGVL) MVP, first-team All San Gabriel Valley League, and Press-Telegram Player of the Year. During her senior year in 2012, she broke every Downey High School record.[1][2]

College career

Urtez played college softball at Utah. During her freshman year in 2014, she batted for a .353 average and was second on the team with 18 extra-base hits, 10 doubles, three triples and six home runs. She finished second in the league with 149 assists at shortstop, and was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.[3] During her sophomore year in 2015, she started all 55 games for the Utes at shortstop, where she led the Pac-12 with 12 sacrifice bunts, and ranked in the top ten in the Pac-12 with 106 assists. After the season she was named Honorable Mention Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.[4]

During her junior year in 2016, she posted a .380 average with 70 hits, 16 doubles, four home runs, 46 RBI. She led the conference in doubles, and assists (142), and ranked sixth in hits, and RBI. Following the season she was named First Team All Pac-12.[5] During her senior year in 2017, she posted a .410 average with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 52 RBI and 138 assists. She ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in batting average and RBI. Following the season she was named Second Team All Pac-12.[6] She finished her career ranking in the top-five in both doubles (42) and RBIs (161) in Utah history.[1]

Professional career

On July 9, 2017, Urtez signed with the Scrap Yard Dawgs.[7][8] During her first season in 2017, she batted .231, while posting a .333 on-base percentage, a .308 slugging percentage, and .941 fielding percentage.[9] She helped the Scrap Yard Dawgs win their first Cowles Cup in franchise history.[10] During the 2019 season, she played for the Cleveland Comets where she hit .301 in 73 at-bats.[11]

Coaching career

Urtez served as assistant coach for Utah Valley softball team during the 2018–19 season.[9]

International career

Urtez represented Team Mexico at the 2017 World Cup of Softball, where she led the team in singles and runs scored. She represented Team Mexico at the 2018 International Cup, where she hit .313, and led the team in hits. She also posted a .500 slugging percentage, .899 OPS and did not commit an error among 25 chances. She represented Team Mexico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she hit the first home run in Mexican Olympic softball history in their second game against Japan.[12][13]

Personal life

Urtez is openly lesbian and is engaged to American softball player Amanda Chidester.[14][15]

References
  1. "Anissa Urtez". utahutes.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  2. Werstine, Dave (June 24, 2012). "2012 Softball Dream Team: Wilson's Loren Stavrou and Downey's Anissa Urtez take top honors". Press-Telegram. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. "Pac-12 announces softball all-Conference honors". pac-12.com. May 14, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  4. "Pac-12 announces 2015 softball all-Conference honors". pac-12.com. May 13, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  5. "Pac-12 announces 2016 softball all-Conference honors". pac-12.com. May 19, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  6. "Pac-12 announces 2017 Softball All-Conference honors". pac-12.com. May 15, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  7. "Anissa Urtez Signs Professional Contract". utahutes.com. July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  8. Fetter, Mark (October 25, 2017). "Downey's Anissa Urtez signs professional softball contract". The Downey Patriot. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  9. "Anissa Urtez - Softball Coach". gouvu.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  10. "Scrap Yard Dawgs Claim First Cowles Cup". profastpitch.com. August 20, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "From Team Mexico to Athletes Unlimited, Anissa Urtez Is Excited to Keep Playing the Game She Loves". auprosports.com. July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  12. "Urtez Leads Mexico to Historic Olympic Bid". utahutes.com. September 3, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  13. "Urtez Shines for Team Mexico in Opening Rounds of Olympic Play". pac-12.com. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  14. "AU Softball players Anissa Urtez and Amanda Chidester are engaged". auprosports.com. November 12, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  15. Kortemeier, Todd (November 12, 2020). "U.S. Softball Player Amanda Chidester Engaged To Mexico's Anissa Urtez". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.