Stacey Nuveman
Encyclopedia
Stacey "Nuvey" Nuveman-Deniz (born April 26, 1978) from La Verne, California
is a former NCAA Division I four-time First Team All-American, National Champion winning, right-handed hitting softball
player for the UCLA Bruins
at the catcher
position. She also won two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal for Team USA
and holds the NCAA softball career records for home run
s (90), slugging percentage (.945%) and intentional walks (81). She is also one of six players to possess a .400 batting average along with at least 200 RBIs and 50 home runs.
, Nuveman propelled the Lady Regents to a CIF title. While at St. Lucy's, Nuveman lettered in softball, basketball, volleyball and also served as student body president. Her excellence at St. Lucy's led to her receiving a softball scholarship at UCLA.
Nuveman-Deniz began her career in honors by earning NCAA First Team All-American, Pac 10 First Team and Newcomer of The Year awards. She also immediately impacted the school record book by notching new season records for home runs and RBIs, while placing third in both batting average and hits for her freshman campaign.
Beginning February 15 through April 9, Nuveman-Deniz went on a then school record 28 game hitting streak.
The Bruins made it into the Women's College World Series
where Nuveman-Deniz made the All-Tournament Team and in the finale had her sixth hit vs. eventual champion Nancy Evans of the Arizona Wildcats
.
1999
After red-shirting the 1998 season, Nuveman-Deniz again garnered season honors that included Pac 10 Player of The Year and Diamond Sports "Catcher of The Year".
On February 19, Nuveman-Deniz hit a single game career high 5 hits and drove in 5 RBIs vs. the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine. The very next day, she bettered her game RBIs by nabbing one more (6) vs. the Pacific Tigers for another career best. In defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils on April 11, Nuveman-Deniz walked 4 times for her single game best. Later that month, Nuveman-Deniz was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association "National Player of The Week" after hitting .833 and driving in 11 with 4 home runs.
In May, the sophomore's record season continued when the Bruin hit her 50th career home run off Michelle Harrison of the Minnesota Gophers in just two seasons of play. At the WCWS, Nuveman would hit a walk off double against the DePaul Blue Demons
to send UCLA into the finals vs. the Washington Huskies
. Nuveman-Deniz and team emerged victors, defeating Jennifer Spediacci and Jamie Graves 3-2 on May 31.
Nuveman-Deniz led the Bruins with new school records for home runs (31), RBIs (91), walks (61) and slugging percentage (1.016%). The home runs and RBIs were the NCAA year's best as well as second for a season all-time. Her .446 batting average was a UCLA top-5 record.
2001
Returning from a role with the 2000 Olympic team, Nuveman-Deniz earned her third First Team All-American, First Team Pac 10 and second Pac 10 Player of The Year and Diamond Sports "Catcher of The Year" honors. She broke her own walks record with 69 and set the intentionals at 28, an NCAA record at the time. Her home runs and RBIs were second all-time at UCLA.
Nuveman-Deniz would make her third appearance in the WCWS May 28 championship but suffered a shutout by MVP Jennie Finch
.
2002
For a final time, Nuveman-Deniz earned all-season honors and added a newly awarded USA Softball Player of The Year to her collection. Nuveman-Deniz would solidify the UCLA Bruins
season batting average and walks record at .529 and 77 respectively, leading the NCAA and ranking top-10 all-time for a season with the average. Her hits, RBIs and home run totals for the senior were all top-10 records for UCLA. She also owned then school records for slugging and on base percentage, both of which still rank second all-time. The slugging is also second all-time for an NCAA season.
On April 29, Nuveman-Deniz was named "Player of The Week" for a second time by the NFCA by hitting over .650 with 5 RBIs and three extra base hits for a slugging 1.018%. May 4, the Bruin launched her 86th career home run vs. Kristen Hunter and the Oregon State Beavers
. She topped former Arizona Wildcats
Laura Espinoza and Leah Braatz for the crown. Two days later, she earned a third "Player of the Week," this selection improving her slugging to 1.571%.
Though eliminated earlier than was usual, Nuveman-Deniz was named a WCWS All-Tournament selectee for a second tournament.
Nuveman-Deniz finished her college career in ownership of school records in batting average, RBIs, home runs, hits, doubles, walks (including intentional), slugging and on base percentage. Only the hits and doubles have been surpassed. Career average was 5th all-time (second for a 4 year career) and her home run, slugging and intentional walks remain the NCAA standard. Lastly, she owns at least 5 Pac 10 career records.
in Sydney
. At one point, Team USA faced elimination, but Nuveman hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat China in a crucial game. The Americans eventually went on to claim gold.
For the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, Team USA dominated the competition to establish themselves as the best team in the world, seizing the gold medal. The American pitching staff gave up just one run during the entire Olympic Games, a run of dominance partially attributed to Nuveman's game-calling ability. This team was referred to afterward as the "Real Dream Team" on the cover of Sports Illustrated
, a moniker that took a swipe at the disappointing American men's basketball team at the same Games. At the 2008 Beijing games the Americans got Silver
, Michele Smith
, Lori Harrigan
, Christa Williams
, Cat Osterman
, Jennie Finch
, Amanda Freed
, Monica Abbott
, Keira Goerl and Courtney Dale.
As much as Nuveman does on the field, it is her off-the-field endeavors which show her talents. Nuveman is an aspiring broadcaster, doing telecasts for ESPN, FOX Sports, and CSTV. Stacey has also worked broadcasts at her alma mater, UCLA.
Nuveman also works with several organizations, including the Visalia Miracle League, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She also gives clinics to coaches and players across the country.
After being married in 2003 to Mark Deniz, Nuveman has her sights on Beijing in 2008. She is backed by "Team Nuveman" which includes Mark, her parents Tom and Susan Nuveman, her brother Ryan, and Marty "Grammie" Gregory (and many others).
In 2007 Nuveman gave birth to son Chase.
La Verne, California
La Verne is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 31,063 at the 2010 census, down from 31,638 at the 2000 census.-History:...
is a former NCAA Division I four-time First Team All-American, National Champion winning, right-handed hitting softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
player for the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
at the catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
position. She also won two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal for Team USA
Team USA
Team USA is a wrestling faction brought together as part of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's X-Cup Tournaments, which involved a team of X Division superstars from various countries representing their nation in an international wrestling competition.-America's X-Cup:Team USA was created and led...
and holds the NCAA softball career records for home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (90), slugging percentage (.945%) and intentional walks (81). She is also one of six players to possess a .400 batting average along with at least 200 RBIs and 50 home runs.
PRE-UCLA
Nuveman-Deniz, began playing the sport of softball at age 10. She played travel ball for several teams, including Gordon's Panthers, where she helped the team win the ASA 18-under Gold National Championship. At St. Lucy's Priory High SchoolSt. Lucy's Priory High School
St. Lucy's Priory High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Glendora, California built in 1963. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-History and Traditions:St...
, Nuveman propelled the Lady Regents to a CIF title. While at St. Lucy's, Nuveman lettered in softball, basketball, volleyball and also served as student body president. Her excellence at St. Lucy's led to her receiving a softball scholarship at UCLA.
UCLA BRUINS
1997Nuveman-Deniz began her career in honors by earning NCAA First Team All-American, Pac 10 First Team and Newcomer of The Year awards. She also immediately impacted the school record book by notching new season records for home runs and RBIs, while placing third in both batting average and hits for her freshman campaign.
Beginning February 15 through April 9, Nuveman-Deniz went on a then school record 28 game hitting streak.
The Bruins made it into the Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
where Nuveman-Deniz made the All-Tournament Team and in the finale had her sixth hit vs. eventual champion Nancy Evans of the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
.
1999
After red-shirting the 1998 season, Nuveman-Deniz again garnered season honors that included Pac 10 Player of The Year and Diamond Sports "Catcher of The Year".
On February 19, Nuveman-Deniz hit a single game career high 5 hits and drove in 5 RBIs vs. the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine. The very next day, she bettered her game RBIs by nabbing one more (6) vs. the Pacific Tigers for another career best. In defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils on April 11, Nuveman-Deniz walked 4 times for her single game best. Later that month, Nuveman-Deniz was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association "National Player of The Week" after hitting .833 and driving in 11 with 4 home runs.
In May, the sophomore's record season continued when the Bruin hit her 50th career home run off Michelle Harrison of the Minnesota Gophers in just two seasons of play. At the WCWS, Nuveman would hit a walk off double against the DePaul Blue Demons
DePaul Blue Demons
The DePaul Blue Demons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of DePaul University, located in Chicago Illinois. The Blue Demons participate in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big East Conference....
to send UCLA into the finals vs. the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
. Nuveman-Deniz and team emerged victors, defeating Jennifer Spediacci and Jamie Graves 3-2 on May 31.
Nuveman-Deniz led the Bruins with new school records for home runs (31), RBIs (91), walks (61) and slugging percentage (1.016%). The home runs and RBIs were the NCAA year's best as well as second for a season all-time. Her .446 batting average was a UCLA top-5 record.
2001
Returning from a role with the 2000 Olympic team, Nuveman-Deniz earned her third First Team All-American, First Team Pac 10 and second Pac 10 Player of The Year and Diamond Sports "Catcher of The Year" honors. She broke her own walks record with 69 and set the intentionals at 28, an NCAA record at the time. Her home runs and RBIs were second all-time at UCLA.
Nuveman-Deniz would make her third appearance in the WCWS May 28 championship but suffered a shutout by MVP Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch
Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
.
2002
For a final time, Nuveman-Deniz earned all-season honors and added a newly awarded USA Softball Player of The Year to her collection. Nuveman-Deniz would solidify the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
season batting average and walks record at .529 and 77 respectively, leading the NCAA and ranking top-10 all-time for a season with the average. Her hits, RBIs and home run totals for the senior were all top-10 records for UCLA. She also owned then school records for slugging and on base percentage, both of which still rank second all-time. The slugging is also second all-time for an NCAA season.
On April 29, Nuveman-Deniz was named "Player of The Week" for a second time by the NFCA by hitting over .650 with 5 RBIs and three extra base hits for a slugging 1.018%. May 4, the Bruin launched her 86th career home run vs. Kristen Hunter and the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
. She topped former Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
Laura Espinoza and Leah Braatz for the crown. Two days later, she earned a third "Player of the Week," this selection improving her slugging to 1.571%.
Though eliminated earlier than was usual, Nuveman-Deniz was named a WCWS All-Tournament selectee for a second tournament.
Nuveman-Deniz finished her college career in ownership of school records in batting average, RBIs, home runs, hits, doubles, walks (including intentional), slugging and on base percentage. Only the hits and doubles have been surpassed. Career average was 5th all-time (second for a 4 year career) and her home run, slugging and intentional walks remain the NCAA standard. Lastly, she owns at least 5 Pac 10 career records.
Olympic career
Nuveman's Olympic debut came at the 2000 Summer Games2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. At one point, Team USA faced elimination, but Nuveman hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat China in a crucial game. The Americans eventually went on to claim gold.
For the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Team USA dominated the competition to establish themselves as the best team in the world, seizing the gold medal. The American pitching staff gave up just one run during the entire Olympic Games, a run of dominance partially attributed to Nuveman's game-calling ability. This team was referred to afterward as the "Real Dream Team" on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, a moniker that took a swipe at the disappointing American men's basketball team at the same Games. At the 2008 Beijing games the Americans got Silver
Other
As strong as her bat is, many in softball believe Nuveman's strongest suit is her play behind the plate as the catcher. Nuveman calls as good a game as any, scouting the opposing teams batters and working with her pitchers, a list which list includes Lisa FernandezLisa Fernandez
For the politician, see Liza Fernandez RodriguezLisa Fernandez is a right-handed softball pitcher of Cuban-Puerto Rican descent. She established an Olympic record in softball with 25 strikeouts in a game as a member of the United States Women's team.-Early years:Lisa's father immigrated from Cuba,...
, Michele Smith
Michele Mary Smith
Michele Mary Smith went to Oklahoma State University. Michele Smith is a Two-Time Olympic Softball Gold Medalist with the U.S. National Team, having played in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. In 2006, she was inducted into the ASA Softball Hall of Fame...
, Lori Harrigan
Lori Harrigan
Lori Harrigan is an American softball player from Anaheim, California, and three times Olympic Champion as a member of the American winning team in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Harrigan played collegiately at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-References:...
, Christa Williams
Christa Williams
Christa Williams is a German pop singer most popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s....
, Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman
Catherine Leigh "Cat" Osterman , is an American athlete and was one of the pitchers on the USA Women's Softball Team which won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics....
, Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch
Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
, Amanda Freed
Amanda Freed
Amanda Louise Freed is an American softball player.Freed was born in Fountain Valley, California. She attended UCLA where she played softball....
, Monica Abbott
Monica Abbott
Monica Cecilia Abbott is an American athlete who pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004-2007. In 2008, Abbott participated in the Beijing Olympics with Team USA...
, Keira Goerl and Courtney Dale.
As much as Nuveman does on the field, it is her off-the-field endeavors which show her talents. Nuveman is an aspiring broadcaster, doing telecasts for ESPN, FOX Sports, and CSTV. Stacey has also worked broadcasts at her alma mater, UCLA.
Nuveman also works with several organizations, including the Visalia Miracle League, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She also gives clinics to coaches and players across the country.
After being married in 2003 to Mark Deniz, Nuveman has her sights on Beijing in 2008. She is backed by "Team Nuveman" which includes Mark, her parents Tom and Susan Nuveman, her brother Ryan, and Marty "Grammie" Gregory (and many others).
In 2007 Nuveman gave birth to son Chase.
- NCAA career home run leader (90).
- NCAA leader in slugging percentage leader (.945)
- Four-time first-team All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n. - Three-time Pac-10 player of the year.
- Today's Top VIII AwardToday's Top VIII AwardThe Today's Top VIII Award is given each year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to honor eight outstanding senior student-athletes of the preceding calendar year. From 1973 through 1985, this award was known as the Today's Top V Award or the Top Five Award and was given to honor five...
(Class of 2003)