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‘Saving Softball—The Jamie Gray Story’

One Girl’s Fight to Reinstate Softball for the 2016 Olympic Games

Like most teenage softball players, Jamie Gray was devastated to learn that the International Olympic Committee had voted to eliminate her sport from the 2012 Olympic Games.  But unlike the rest, she decided to do something about it. Watch this inspiring true story of a 13-year-old softball player by clicking the icon at left.

Delray Beach girl fights to get Olympic softball reinstated

14-year-old fights to get softball reinstated for the 2016 Games

BY ETHAN J. SKOLNICK | South Florida Sun-Sentinel 
March 12, 2008

Cat Osterman remembered her. Monica Abbott, too. Crystl Bustos, her favorite, gave her a warm hug.

Last Tuesday marked the first time Jamie Gray had seen her heroes in person since October at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, when she first solicited their autographs, participated in their clinic, distributed stickers and familiarized them with her cause. By now, the Delray Beach resident with braces had become a celebrity of sorts herself—Web site creator, video star, screenplay reader.

So after the barnstorming U.S. Softball team beat Florida International University 14-0 in an exhibition at Hollywood's Osceola Park, the 14-year-old catcher felt comfortable making the rounds and her pitches. She told the U.S. coach, Mike Candrea, who also coaches Arizona, that she was his future catcher.

The message for Olympic players?

"I told them that they were playing for girls like me," Gray said. "I told them that they need to win and they need to help save it, because girls like me have a dream of playing in the Olympics."

That currently stands as a dream deferred, and not simply because Gray remains a few years short of eligibility. In 2005, the International Olympic Committee voted to cut baseball and softball starting with the 2012 Olympic program, the first sport eliminations since the removal of polo in 1936. The vote on softball was 52-52, with a majority required for retention—a majority that would have been achieved had American equipment manufacturer Jim Easton not abstained because of his concern about a conflict of interest.

Even tougher to take?

That Team USA's dominance apparently contributed to the disappointing tally. The American squad has cruised to the gold medal in all three Olympic competitions (1996, 2000 and 2004). In 2004, opponents scored a total of one run in seven games. The team, largely intact, is heavily favored to win in Beijing in August.

Gray and her mother, Tammy, will be there, cheering, after having won an Olympic ticket lottery. The irony, however, is that those victories are likely to do little to contribute to softball's reinstatement for the 2016 Games because they may just reinforce the contention of European voters that the sport is too tilted toward the Americans.

The reality is that Gray—and girls like her—may prove even more important to softball than softball is to her.

And, to her, the sport is everything.

Gray also plays soccer, basketball and volleyball at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton. She has a 175 bowling average and she plans to start running track as well.

Softball, however, is her obsession. In her room, you'll find bobblehead dolls of Major League Baseball players, a framed photo of Red Sox and former Marlins star Mike Lowell and a slew of trophies she's earned playing for the Caloosa Park Crush and other teams. There's also a ball that lost its laces when she smacked it for her first grand slam. In the living room, you'll find a large photo of her, from the first time she wore catcher's gear in a game.

"We were without a catcher, and so I tried it," Gray said. "And right when a girl tried to steal on me, I threw her out, and I was like, 'Oh my God, this is fun!'"

As for the day of that Olympic vote...

Not so much fun.

"I found the information on the Internet, and I couldn't even tell her," said her mother, Tammy. "So I just wrote the Web site on a piece of paper and handed it to her. And she went and looked at it. And she's like, 'No, Mom, no, this is my dream. What can I do? What can I do?'"

Mom was a catcher for her high school softball team. Dad pitched in high school.

"But I was never as good as she is," Tammy Gray said. "I kid you not, when she first started playing baseball at YMCA in Boca, and we had to move her out of the YMCA sports and put her into city ball because we were afraid she was going to hurt someone."

Tammy wanted to help her daughter get softball back into the Olympics for 2016. She asked a friend to design a Web site so Jamie could start a petition.

That petition, on savesoftball.com, now has more than 5,200 signatures, including some from athletes abroad. The Web site also links to a six-minute documentary about Jamie on TheSoftballChannel.com.

Many in the softball world know her story. A movie producer recently sent a screenplay titled Fast Pitch, about high school girls playing softball. Jamie, who will attend Park Vista High, deemed it "really cool" that someone sought her opinion.

Nothing would be quite as cool, however, as the reinstatement she seeks. She will be 22 in 2016. The Olympics could be in Chicago, close to where her mother was raised. She wants to be on the field.

What will she do if her cause succeeds?

"I don't know," Jamie said. "Jump for joy, start crying. I'll call everybody, I'll call and be like, 'I did it, I did it, I did it, I did it, I did it!' I'll run outside and scream 'I did it' at the top of my lungs."

The members of Team USA should recognize her voice.

Help Save Olympic Softball

My Story

My name is Jamie Gray. I am a thirteen year old girl who has been dedicated to playing ball since I was five. I learned the basic fundamentals of the game at the Boca Raton YMCA. When I was nine, I joined a recreational ISA fast-pitch softball league in West Boca Raton. What a change that was from Co-Ed baseball! (I loved it..... boys don't cheer!)

After my first season of softball, I tried to go back to playing baseball, and joined the Bucky Dent Baseball summer camp. I played hard and was the only girl on the team! After one week, my coaches named me the MVP of the team, and I was publicly awarded! I beat out "all" the boys my age! It was a great honor.

Then I played my second season of REC league softball. My team was named "Tiger Allie," and was coached by Mike Greenwood. We won the Championship game, and were undefeated in the playoffs! Even though I mostly played in the catcher's position, I am proud to say that I once pitched a one hit/shut out game, and I had 7 home runs during the season! I know my heart is with my "girl" friends, and "fast-pitch softball" is the sport for me.

Travel softball has been tough in the past. I played for the West Boca Diamonds. (10 and younger- B ball) We suffered many losses, but through it all, I never lost sight of my dream. I know that win or lose, I am a team player. My dream is to some day represent my country, and play fast pitch softball for TEAM USA in the World Olympics. I am in training.

A past personal coach, Thomas Macera (first-ever head coach to obtain consecutive national championship titles; - the NAIA National Championship 2004 and the NCAA Division II Championship 2005) told me, "You can do anything, as long as you keep up with practice, work hard on drills and learn." He is a great encourager, motivator, teacher and coach. I look forward to working with him again some day.

With a few prospects for a promising future, I scouted out for a new travel team. I moved up into the 12 year old division, and I knew that finding a team with girls who are as dedicated as I am to this sport would be hard. The talent and competition I have seen at this level has been amazing!

But then the call came through.....

The Caloosa Crush from Boynton Beach, Florida needed a player! I was so excited to try out for the team! Coach Dave and Coach Everett prove to be good leaders and teachers who are strict with positive reinforcement. (just what I need!) I felt I could trust them to guide me, in pursuit of my dream. The girls were friendly and welcomed me. And I knew, with this great combination, I had found my new team!

At first I felt pressure because I thought I had to prove myself and my ability to the team and coaches. I wasn’t playing my best.  But with time, I became more comfortable and relaxed, and my natural ability was able to shine through. Although I am almost the youngest player on the team, I now consider myself one of the strongest players. But that hasn't come easy. I have worked hard and continue to do so every day. I also owe a lot of credit to my coaches who have encouraged and helped me along the way with their great coaching abilities.  As I get older and learn more,  I am also becoming more instinctive. I look forward to all I will be learning this upcoming season playing in the 14U A division. 

Last year I was playing catcher’s position in a 14 and under tournament, (when I was only 12) and I was golden glove, with out a past ball for 4 games! We won the tournament, and when Coach Dave Dishman awarded me a trophy, he called me the “Iron Woman!” I felt so proud to be a part of this team!

We are a GOOD A-team! This past season we won 2 tournaments, and had one second place finish and one 3rd place finish. We finished 5th in the Lake Lytal Florida State A- Division Tournament! We finished 4th in the National FAST tournament. (the only teams we lost to finished first and second in FAST. We were close to winning those games too, only losing by a score of 1-0 in both games!)

This upcoming softball season shows a lot of promise for our team. We are moving up in division from the 12's to the 14's. I just turned 13 the other day, and even though I still qualify to play in the 12 year old division, my team is moving up. And I am going with them! I know that each and every member of the Caloosa Park Crush is dedicated to the sport and gives great effort. We may not always win, but we never give up. I have made friends I hope to keep for a lifetime. I have not lost focus of my dream to play Olympic softball. Even though I was devastated when I read that the IOC decided to remove the games!

It’s been almost two years since I saw Jenny Finch (my idol) on television during the home run derby for MLB. The words she spoke, as she expressed her sorrow for the loss of Olympic softball, went right through me and I shivered. I realized this terrible loss was real. 2012 would have been the first year I could qualify to play.... and now my dream could be shattered!

I asked my mom what could be done to change the minds of the IOC. She suggested that I start a petition to show the interest the world has for this sport. She said I could present this petition to the IOC and maybe, just maybe, they would change their minds. Maybe they could reinstate fast pitch softball for the 2016 Olympics!

So I ask you to sign my petition. Help me to show the IOC our interest. I have been in contact with Don Porter, president of the ISF, and he supports all efforts to reinstating Olympic Softball for 2016.  As a matter of fact, I just received an email from Bruce R. Wawrzyniak, Director of Communications at the ISF, and he has asked me to include a link to the ISF website on my page. They take the lead at returning softball to the Olympics and with all of us showing support to them, we have a chance. The IOC will be meeting in 2009, after the World Olympics, to vote on the games to be included in the 2016 Olympics. We were just one vote short for 2012, let’s not be short in 2016! I know that I am just one 13 year old girl with a dream, but I believe with your help, we can make a difference. That difference can make my dream come true.

With sincerest thanks for your support,

Jamie Gray

Women's Sports Foundation Runs Feature Story Profiling Jamie

Catching a dream

Sabrina Orlov


A hot Sunday afternoon. Bottom of the seventh inning, the bases are loaded and the home team is up one run. Number four hitter is up to bat. They all know her for the home runs that became a legend in the league. Without even looking to the catcher, she points the bat to the pitcher, adding defying pressure to the final moments of the game. The ball comes as a wild pitch, wild enough to pass over the catcher’s head without touching anyone. The runner on third base is going to try to steal home and tie the game as the catcher is running after the ball; she turns and takes a glimpse at the pitcher already reaching home plate. She throws the ball, loses balance and falls with her eyes closed. As she touches the ground she can hear the crowd cheering in excitement for the glorious win. Jamie Gray can’t feel the pain; she can only feel the joy of being 11 years old and winning a game.
The player’s first memories as a child always include a bat or a glove. Her mom used to play softball as a kid and signed her up for beginner’s classes when she was 5 years old at the Boca Raton YMCA. There she learned the basic fundamentals like how to throw, catch and hold the bat.

From that moment on, Jamie’s life was forever tied with softball, leading up to her playing for three different teams, practicing four days a week and playing tournaments almost every weekend.

Jamie stands out from other girls, with her technique, strength to throw a ball, determination and go-getter attitude. She keeps her grades up with hard work, all A’s and B’s, as doing well in school was the only condition her parents imposed for her to play.

IOC Cuts Softball
On July 8 the softball world was stunned by news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Singapore had voted to drop softball and baseball from the venues for the 2012 Olympiad in London. Each of the 28 existing sports was put to a secret vote by the IOC, and baseball and softball failed to receive a majority required to stay on the program. Those were the first sports cut from the summer Games in 69 years. The International Olympic Committee then rejected the five sports wanting to get in and the other 26 sports were retained.

Tammy Gray, Jamie’s mom, was surfing the Web when she read the news. “How could I tell her that? It’s her life, her dream. I just wrote down the name of the Web site and gave to her,” Gray said.

Like many other girls across the country, Jamie started crying as she read the article, and by the end of it her mom was crying as well. When a child asks a mother, “This was my dream, what am I going to do now?” it’s heartbreaking not to have an answer, a quick fix, a kiss on a scratched knee.

But this girl didn’t want to sit around the house waiting; she wanted to do something. She just couldn’t adjust her dreams and decide to be a doctor or a lawyer instead of playing in the 2012 Olympic Games for the U.S. softball team. Being a famous softball player is all she knew and desired with her heart.

Last month Jamie and her mom had the idea of starting a petition Web site, a place where people could leave their signature as a sign of their appreciation for the sport. It was designed to tell a little bit of Jamie’s story and show the IOC that there’s a large interest in softball, not only in the United States, but also across the world.

Jamie is designing T-shirts to improve her campaign and help to put the word out on her fight. “My goal is to get 1 million signatures and get softball reinstated,” she said, sounding mature for her age.

Global Movement
The Gray family is not the only party trying to convince IOC that eliminating softball was a huge mistake. The Women's Sports Foundation is working side by side with other international organizations trying to mobilize the sports community into fighting to reinstate softball in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Women are significantly underrepresented in the Olympic Games, comprising 4,306 or 41% of the 10,568 participants in the last edition. The elimination of softball, double-trap shooting and the 500m time trial in cycling will result in a reduction of 3% or a net loss of 126 opportunities for women. Decreasing opportunities for women in the Olympic Games is inconsistent with the IOC’s efforts to increase gender equity in the Olympic Movement.

Re-establishing softball is a big fight for an 11-year-old to take on fearlessly, but Jamie Gray’s dreams are too big to be left behind. And as her mom always says “You can do anything you want. The sky is the limit.” You go girl!

Softball was voted out of the Olympics

The 117th International Olypmic Committee voted to exclude softball from the World Olympic Program in 2012. According to the Olympic Charter, rule 46, softball will remain on a list, and may be eligible for inclusion in the program for the 2016 World Olympic Games.

Softball will still be a part of the Olympic Games in the 2008 World Program. USA, ISA, and ASA softball affiliates along with the US Olympic Committee are being led by the ISF to show the IOC that there is world interest for this sport.

The birth of softball in the 1996 World Olympic Games was a great accomplishment toward world wide acceptance of Women's team sports. It would be a short-lived life if elimated after the 2008 World Olympic Games, and it would be a tragic event for so many young dreams of participation to be shattered.

Jamie The Weather Girl

Jamie does the weather for the Dragon's Den. Skip to 1:45 to see the weather girl.

Channel 5 Story: Teen Works To Save Softball As Olympic Sport

by: Ryan Lieber & WPTV Staff

An honor student at Don Estridge Middle School, Delray Beach resident Jamie Gray is very involved in sports.

She plays softball, track, soccer and volleyball, but softball is the one sports that she loves more than any other.

She’s not kidding either. Looking at 14 year old’s room tells the story.

Her favorite team is, without a doubt, the USA Softball Team.

So imagine how upset Jamie became when she learned the International Olympic Committee decided softball will no longer be played at the Summer Games after 2008.

As a result Jamie started a petition called savesoftball.com.

Fans can go online and sign the petition to show support for saving softball at the Olympic Games.

Jamie has nearly six thousand signatures and has been letting her fingers do the talking and will even travel this year to Beijing with her mom to watch the U.S. play in what could be their final Summer Games

Don Estridge Girl's Soccer Semi Finals

Don Estridge defeated Emerald Cove in the Palm Beach County Girl's Soccer semi-finals. Don Estridge tied the game 1-1 late in the second half and it went to penalty kicks to decide the winner. Jamie plays goalie for Don Estridge and is wearing the green shirt in the video. The county championship game will be played Monday at Don Estridge.