Ashley Bertrand has been named pitching coach for the UW-River Falls softball team according to Head Coach Jody Gabriel.
“I am very excited to have Ashley as our pitching coach,” said Falcon Coach Jody Gabriel. “She was a very successful pitcher for the Falcons and knows what it takes for pitchers to be successful in the WIAC.”
Bertrand, a 2009 graduate of UWRF, pitch for four years for the Falcons from 2005-08. She was named to the first All-WIAC team in 2007 and earned honorable mention in 2008. She was voted the team’s Most Inspirational in 2006 and 2007 and was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete in 2006. In 2007 and 2008 she was named to the NFCA third All-Great Lakes Region team.
Bertrand still holds several Falcon records. She holds the season most games pitched (38 in 2006), season game started (33, 2006), season strike outs (217, 2008) and season wins (18, 2008). Bertrand holds career records for games started (112), career strike outs (572) and career wins (56).
Bertrand led the Falcons in wins and lowest earned run average for three seasons. She led the team in innings pitched and strike outs in all four of her seasons of competition.
“I am very excited to work with the Falcons this season,” said Bertrand. “College ball is the best atmosphere to be involved with and I’m ready to get back into it.”
Bertrand earned her undergraduate degree in accounting with a minor in business. She is currently employed as a controller at Vrooman Carpet in Golden Valley, Minn. She gives private pitching lessons, has served as a clinician with the Tonka Recreation Department. Bertrand has been the head coach of the 14U Minnesota Renegades softball team.