Stielow Honored With NJCAA Softball Enshrinement

via www.njcaa.org

Charlotte, NC - Two individuals have been inducted into the NJCAA Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame after dedicating time as a student-athlete and coach. Lori Stielow and Gwen Magee paved the way for female student-athletes and coaches and are being celebrated for their success and service.

Lori Stielow | Ellsworth Community College (IA)

From 1976-78, Lori Stielow competed for the Panthers softball team at Ellsworth. In Stielow's freshman year as the program's main pitcher, the team won the 1977 NJCAA Softball National Championship. In the national tournament, Ellsworth won 9-4 over North East Colorado, won 10-0 in five innings against Spoon River (IL), and in the championship game they won 3-2 over Jackson (MI). She pitched all three games in the tournament to help lift the Panthers to a title.

As a pitcher, she contributed to much of Ellsworth's success, including winning the Northern JUCO Conference (fall), Waldorf Tournament (fall), Northern JUCO Conference (spring), and NJCAA Region 11 (spring) honors. Stielow was named to the 1977 NJCAA All-Tournament Team and inducted into the Ellsworth Hall of Fame years later in 1995 as the first-ever female to be inducted. 

Prior to Stielow joining the team, its record was 16-21. Her freshman year she worked hard and helped the team improve to 37-6-1. Out of those games she won 30, lost 2, and had one tie. In 2019, Ellsworth's championship team was inducted in the Ellsworth Community College Hall of Fame. Her success and determination for the Panthers back then leads many to describe her as a pioneer for the school's female athletic programs.