Legendary Lawrie: Danielle Lawrie helps lift Canada to first softball Olympic medal
LANGLEY, B.C. (BVM) — It was not an easy path for Danielle Lawrie to make her way back to the Olympics. The first time she appeared as a member of the Canadian Olympic softball team, Lawrie was still in college as the then 21-year-old pitched for the team during its last Olympic appearance in Beijing in 2008, helping the team get to a fourth-place finish. However, age and wisdom seemed to pay off for the star in the circle as the 34-year-old was able to help the team break through its medal drought this year, leading the Canadians to a 3-2 victory over Mexico on Tuesday behind two and a third innings of scoreless, one-hit relief from Lawrie who would earn the Olympic win and Canada’s first Olympic medals with a bronze finish.
So PROUD of OUR SQUAD 🇨🇦🥉✨ pic.twitter.com/nlWQgUJMKO
— Danielle Lawrie (@daniellelawrie5) July 27, 2021
For Lawrie, her softball journey between her two Olympic appearances are filled with a career of its own. Lawrie, a Langley native, began her collegiate softball career across the border in Seattle as a member of the Washington Huskies program. From her freshman year in 2006 to her sophomore year in 2007, Lawrie would rise to become a recognizable national name earning National Fastpitch Coaches Association first-team All-America in her second season after being named to Women’s College World Series all-tournament team in 2007 and earning MVP honors of that year’s NCAA Regional.
In 2008, Lawrie would take a redshirt season to represent her home country in Beijing, but when she returned, the ace leaned on her Olympic experience to take her game to the next level. In 2009, Lawrie went an impressive 42-8 with 521 strikeouts and just 76 walks in 350.2 innings. The junior helped propel the Huskies to the 2009 NCAA Championship, the first in program history. Throughout her tremendous comeback campaign, Lawrie would earn a number of top honors including the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year, the NFCA Player of the Year and the MVP of the WCWS.
During her final season with the Huskies, though not as dominant as her 2009 season, the senior was able to put on a show going 40-5 in 2010 with 25 shutouts, a 1.13 ERA, 495 strikeouts and 46 walks over 302.1 innings pitched. She would again earn USA Softball Player of the Year honors for her efforts.
At the end of her collegiate career, Lawrie finished with 1,860 career strikeouts, fourth most in NCAA history, and a career record of 136-42, her 136 wins being the sixth-most in NCAA history.
#Huskynation I love YOU!! So special for me yesterday! The love and support throughout my career has been amazing 😉 #purpandgoldforlife pic.twitter.com/CZ0fbnQq7x
— Danielle Lawrie (@daniellelawrie5) October 21, 2018
Following her time in college, Lawrie would join the USAA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch League where she would help the team win the league championship her rookie season of 2010 going 3-1 with ERA of 2.76 over 33 innings pitched. Her 18 strikeouts in the Championship Series that season tied Cat Osterman for the most of any pitcher in the series.
Lawrie would play four years in the league, retiring in 2014. The ace ended her career the same way she started it, as a champion as the Pride would win another league title. The retirement came in large part because Lawrie was starting a family as her first daughter was born that same year.
However, with softball back in the Olympics for the first time since 2008, the legend Lawrie decided to make another run at winning her home country a medal. It wasn’t easy. When she made the decision, Lawrie’s second daughter was just six months old, but she wanted to give them an example they could look up to; a lesson that dreams can still be reached if the right time and effort was put in.
Then vs now … Freshly 21 at the 2008 Olympics & now 34 with a whole bunch of life experience in between 🥎🇨🇦 @TeamCanada @SoftballCanada pic.twitter.com/4R70NR6dj2
— Danielle Lawrie (@daniellelawrie5) May 7, 2021
Now, after a difficult journey that saw her battle the reshaping of her body and the entire world overcome a pandemic, Lawrie has proven that dreams do in fact come true. With her country’s first and only Olympic medal in hand, Lawrie can now leave the game by riding off into the sunset, knowing that she inspired her daughters, her country and the world while playing the game she loved.
✌🏼 out Seattle, full force until this Olympic grind is over 🇨🇦 @drewlocke24 thanks for holding it down ♥️♥️♥️ pic.twitter.com/tQINg4Zhmb
— Danielle Lawrie (@daniellelawrie5) May 19, 2021
