Olympic Gold Medalists & More Set as Analysts for ESPN's College Softball Coverage

ESPN's industry-leading college softball schedule will have the sport's most-accomplished analysts accompanying its telecasts once again this season. Former Olympic Medalists, All-Americans, Players of the Year, and Women's College WORLD SERIES Champions headline ESPN's roster which will call the company's more than 100 game TV schedule, which begins in earnest this weekend and continues into May. Factoring in all its networks, ESPN will carry more than 750 games this college softball season in addition to the NCAA Division I Softball Championship.

Amanda Scarborough and Michele Smith are ESPN's lead analysts for the regular season and into the NCAA Division I Softball Championship. Scarborough was two-time All-American at Texas A&M (2005, 2007), Big 12 Freshman and Player of the Year (2005) and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year (2007). Also, she helped lead Texas A&M to their first WCWS appearance in over 20 years in 2007. The Texas native joined ESPN shortly after her playing career ended and has been part of the Women's College WORLD SERIES coverage in recent years.

Smith has been a staple of ESPN's college softball coverage for many years and played an integral part in the growth of the sport and the Women's College World Series. The decorated former player is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000) and an ASA Hall of Fame member. Her career turned global when she headed to Japan, playing lengthy 16-year professional career.

New Analysts This Season

• Rainey Gaffin

• • College: Tennessee
  • Honors: Two-time All-American (2015, 2016); Two-Time SEC All-Defensive Team (2015, 2016)

• Erin Miller
  • College: Oklahoma
  • Honors: Co-Big 12 Player of the Year (2016); Top 10 Finalists for 2016 Senior Class Award (2016)

Returning Analysts

• Kayla Braud
  • College: Alabama
  • Honors: Three-time All-American (2011, 2012 and 2013); WCWS Champion with the Crimson Tide (2012)
• Carol Bruggeman
  • College: Iowa
  • Honors: As a Division I coach at Michigan, Purdue, and Louisville, achieved more than 700 combined wins; All Big-Ten and All-Mideast Region as a player; Inducted into the Iowa Softball Association Hall of Fame
• Jenny Dalton-Hill
  • College: Arizona
  • Honors: National Player of the Year (1996) and Women's College WORLD SERIES MVP (1996) Four-time National Champion, winning three as a player (1993, 1994, and 1996) and one as an assistant coach, also with Arizona (1997)

• Cheri Kempf

• • College: Missouri Western State University
  • Honors: National Champion at MWSU and MVP of National Championship; two-time Women's Major's National Champion; World Cup Champion with Team USA

• Danielle Lawrie
  • College: Washington
  • Honors: National Champion (2009), All-American, and played for Canadian National Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
• Jennie Ritter
  • College: Michigan

• • Honors: Two-time All-American (2004, 2005); USA Softball Player of the Year in 2005; Women's College WORLD SERIES Champion (2005)

• Leigh Dakich
  • College: Toledo
  • Honors: Led the Rockets to the WCWS; holds the MAC record for batting average and hits. Former head coach at Bowling Green and Syracuse

Adam Amin, Trey Bender, Erin Collins, Trey Denning, Jenn Hildreth, Melissa Lee, Courtney Lyle, Beth Mowins, Mark Neely and Pam Ward will call the majority of play-by-play throughout the season.

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