Softball | 6/10/2015 11:39:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (June 10) -- Central Washington University softball coach Mallory Holtman-Fletcher has decided to retire from coaching and return to her hometown of White Salmon.
 
Holtman-Fletcher has chosen to spend more time with her family, which she states as being her number one priority.  "My family comes before everything.  My passion to coach softball never decreased, but my desire to spend more time with husband and my son, and my family back home has increased over the years."
 
Holtman-Fletcher, who grew up in White Salmon, took over as head softball coach in 2011 and collected 123 wins in five seasons, which is a school record for that span.  She led the Wildcats to three NCAA Division II Regional Tournaments and has earned six wins in NCAA regional tournament play, twice being eliminated by eventual national champions.
 
"These past five years have been a great ride," Holtman-Fletcher said. "We have the greatest student-athletes on the planet and every year I was impressed by my players ability to buy in and turn CWU into a contender."
 
The 30-year-old started her career at CWU back in 2004 signing with the softball team after a great career at Columbia High School.  She played five years for the softball team and legendary head coach Gary Frederick, receiving a medical redshirt in her sophomore campaign where she played in five games before breaking her wrist.
 
Holtman-Fletcher still ranks first all-time in 12 different statistical categories for the Wildcats and has a top 10 ranking in 24 categories.
 
Her senior season was one for the record books, for multiple reasons.  She earned GNAC Player of the Year Honors hitting .397 with 10 homeruns and 31 RBI.  However, her play on the field was overshadowed by a historic moment at home against Western Oregon when she and teammate Liz Wallace carried an injured Wolves player around the bases after the batter hit a homerun and hurt her knee rounding first base.  The moment was captured on camera and was highlighted all over the sports world, eventually winning an ESPY for Best Moment.
 
"Her contributions to this school, both as a player and as a coach, are immeasurable, and we thank her for her dedication and loyalty to this university," CWU Director of Athletics Dennis Francois said.  "She put the school on the map by showing the world what true sportsmanship is all about, and her success as a coach has lifted this program, gaining respect both regionally and nationally." 
 
Holtman-Fletcher has spent the last 12 years at Central Washington as both a player and coach and states that her memories here will last forever.
 
"There won't be a day that goes by that I won't miss Ellensburg and Central Washington University.  Central is a special place and I got the chance to meet some amazing people, coach some great players and be apart of some special teams.   I will always be a Wildcat."