Santa Clara University

Crouch guided the team through a milestone season last year, as the team set a new single-season mark for wins, and placed second in the inaugural year of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. As a result, she was named the PCSC Coach of the Year.

Under her guidance, the Broncos finished 30-25, and shattered many other single-season records, including the 15-homerun plateau set in 1997, by totaling 27 in 2003. Tracie Hall led the homerun frenzy as she set a new personal single-season record with six. Defensively, from the circle, Jaime Forman-Lau broke the strikeout record (279) and shutout total (11).

In 2002, Crouch led the Broncos' to the Western Independent Softball League Championship. That team posted 25 wins - second best in school history - and recorded new marks in triples (21) and shutouts (14). During the previous season, the Broncos placed second in that tournament and notched 17 wins, including a victory over nationally-ranked Arizona State in Tempe. In 2000, Crouch's first season, the team finished 11-40, but 16 of those losses were by one run, showing the competitiveness of future Bronco squads.

Crouch offers unmatched advantages in her coaching, having recently finished a collegiate softball career of her own, giving her the unique ability to relate to players as both an experienced player and a knowledgeable coach.

As a player at Stanford, Crouch played an integral part in the building of the Cardinal softball program. One of seven in her class, she was a four-year starting pitcher and designated player, as well as a three-year captain. When not in the circle her freshman and sophomore years, Crouch also saw time in the outfield. She was a four-time All-Pac-10 selection, twice earning second-team and honorable mention honors. She was named the team's Most Valuable Player in her sophomore campaign, hitting .301 and recording 16 wins. As a junior, Crouch led the Cardinal to a third-place finish in the Pac-10 Conference. The team also made its first-ever postseason appearance as a No. 1 seed in NCAA Regional play, where Crouch was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Cardinal finished the year with another first for the program, a No. 12 national ranking. She was selected as a third-team All-American, hitting. 307 and recording a 1.35 ERA. Along with two teammates, the All-America honors Crouch earned were a first for Stanford softball.

The Cardinal earned its highest national ranking during Crouch's senior year, at No. 7. She led all pitchers with 21 wins and a perfect (1.000) fielding percentage. She capped her career by throwing three perfect games, including a nine-inning outing vs. Portland State. Her competitive spirit and team leadership were also acknowledged when Crouch was awarded the Pam Strathairn Award for the Stanford Senior Athlete with the Best Competitive Attitude.

Prior to her spectacular college career, Crouch was a three-sport standout at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Calif. She started all four years in volleyball, soccer and softball, earning All-Sunset League selections 12 times. Crouch led her respective teams to five Division I CIF Championships--three in soccer (1993-95) and two in softball (1994, `95). She was also named CIF MVP four times (two times in each soccer and softball). Twice she was named Orange County softball player of the year by the Orange County Register. She was also named Marina High School and Orange County Athlete of the Year in 1994 and `95. It is worth noting that Crouch's accolades have held her in exceptional company. In 1994 Crouch was named the Orange County Softball Player of the Year, with Jaret Wright, now a pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, was named the Baseball Player of the Year. That same season, Crouch shared the Orange County Athlete of the Year award with male counterpart Tony Gonzales, now a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. She topped off her high school career being named the California Athlete of the Year. The impact of Crouch's high school athletic career was demonstrated when both her soccer (#22) and her softball (#7) jerseys were retired at Marina.

The 25-year-old resides in Mountain View and holds a degree in American Studies from Stanford, with a minor in psychology. She is currently working on her MBA at Santa Clara with plans to pursue a career in athletic administration. Her father Cary is a softball coach at Laguna Hills High School, where he has won three CIF titles.