Dec. 7, 2012
Orlando, Fla. -
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) hosted its annual convention in Orlando, Florida last week. During the convention, Easton Sports held its awards ceremony, where Fordham softball coach Bridget Orchard was presented with the Easton Victory Club Award, in recognition of winning 500 games as an NCAA head coach.
Orchard reached the 500-win plateau last season, as the Rams defeated Western Michigan, 6-0, at the UnderArmour Showcase Tournament in Clearwater, Florida. She currently has a career record of 525-296-3, posting 396 wins at Fordham and 129 at Cabrini College.
Since coming to Rose Hill from Cabrini, Orchard has built Fordham softball into one of the premier and most respected teams on the East Coast, as she enters her 12th season at the helm. Over the previous 11 seasons, she has guided Fordham to ten consecutive 30-win seasons, ten consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship berths, two Atlantic 10 regular season titles, the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship title, and two NCAA Championship appearances.
Orchard has been honored four times at the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (2003, 2005, 2010, 2011), and on two occasions, the Fordham coaching staff has been honored as the NFCA Mid-Atlantic Coaching Staff of the Year.
Over the last 11 years, Orchard has brought in a steady stream of talented players to Rose Hill. The Rams have had one All-American, three Atlantic 10 Player of Year honorees, one Pitcher of the Year selection, five Atlantic 10 Rookies of the Year, four Academic All-Americans, two Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year, 47 All-Atlantic 10 selections, 27 All-Mid-Atlantic Region picks, five ECAC All-Stars, and 13 Academic All-Conference awards. In addition, Orchard ranks among the winningest active coaches in the country with a .639 winning percentage entering the 2013 season.
Orchard will begin her 12th season at Fordham on February 8th at the Dot Richardson Collegiate Invitational in Clermont, Florida, against Chattanooga.
