YOUTH SOFTBALL: SOON TO BE INDUCTED INTO FORDHAM HALL OF FAME, FORTIER OFFERING INSTRUCTION AT WAVERLY SPORTS COMPLEX (5 PHOTOS) (2023-09-17)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Elise Fortier has an unquestioned background on the softball field — she’ll be inducted into the Fordham University Hall of Fame next month, and a growing resume as a coach. She is now coaching and training student-athletes at the Waverly Sports Complex.

Fortier will join the likes of Frankie Frisch, Vince Lombardi, Wellington Mara and Vin Scully in the Fordham Athletics Hall of Fame when the new class is inducted on Oct. 5.

“It's a huge honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with so many great athletes,” said Fortier.

“Fordham gave me a huge opportunity to not only play softball at a high level, but also a great education.

“I’m thankful for having coaches that believed in me and teammates that pushed to be the best on and off the field everyday,” added Fortier, who played three years at Fordham after transferring in after her freshman year.

She hit 43 home runs in three season, including back-to-back seasons with 20. She had a career slugging percentage of .854, and ranks in the top 5 in nearly every offensive category.

During her college career, Fortier was named the ECAC Player of the Year, Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, First Team NFCA All-Region, Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference, Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team and NCAA Tallahassee All-Regional Team.

Fortier has been an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University, and Hofstra University, and was the Director of Player Development for the Rhode Island Thunder, who is a Top2 5 travel team in the country. She also coached the RI Thunder 14u, 16u, and 18u teams to top-10 finishes in some of the biggest tournaments in the country.

“I have coached in college, high school, travel ball and worked in many training facilities,” she said. “Overall, I enjoy the development process the most. There is nothing quite like when a young softball player finds success after putting in the work.

“Now, joining the Waverly Sports Complex, I'm hoping players of all ages want to come in and train with us so we can help them achieve whatever level they strive to play at.

“I believe that this is the start to a really great thing for softball in the area,” she noted. “When I moved here about a year ago, I knew I wanted to find something that gave back to the community and also gives a space for softball players to have somewhere to train.

“This is a huge opportunity for all ages to learn about the game know matter what level they are at,” added Fortier. “With BX Training also having a spot in the facility, it makes it even more convenient for the athlete to train in one location.”

Fortier will be offering lessons three nights a week — Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, as well as Sunday mornings.

“I will be doing a majority of hitting and defensive lessons, and also offer catching and pitching lessons,” said Fortier. “I will also be offering a number of clinics throughout the fall and winter and into early spring.

“At the Waverly Sports Complex, we want softball players to be able to come in every week or even multiple times a week for the opportunity to train,” she added.

Lessons are separated by age group and skill level and are $35 in groups of up to four players.

If you have any questions about lessons, camps or clinics, you can reach Elise at elise.lessons@gmail.com

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IN PHOTO: Elise Fortier (left) offers hitting instructions. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.