Tigers set for Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., from Thursday-Friday, as well as a double header at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.
After serving three years as Missouri's volunteer assistant, Pete D'Amour begins his fourth season as the assistant coach in charge of pitchers and catchers and is the program's recruiting coordinator, which includes scheduling of offical and unofficial visits. Mizzou's success on the recruiting path in recent years has quickly increased D'Amour's reputation as one of the nation's premier recruiters. On top of that, D'Amour also oversees the managers on staff and puts together the team's schedule each season.
Over the past six years, Missouri's pitching staff has improved significantly, aided in part by D'Amour. The 2011 pitching staff put together a 1.40 ERA, the lowest by a Missouri team since 1998, while also striking out 539 batters, which shattered the old school record. Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Thomas led the nation with a 0.95 ERA, tied the school record with 32 wins and broke the school record with 397 strikeouts, guiding her to Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-America honors, along with being named one of three finalists for USA Softball's Player of the Year award.
Top catcher Megan Christopher brought home Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year honors, as she posted a .992 fielding percentage and threw out 44% of attempted stealers on the base paths. Junior Kristin Nottelmann, who stepped in as the ace after Thomas' injury in 2010, enjoyed another strong season with a record of 17-1 and a 1.92 ERA. Her .944 winning percentage is the best ever in a single-season at Mizzou.
In 2012, the staff followed up their impressive season in 2011 with a 1.53 ERA and 460 strikeouts, the second-most in a single-season at Mizzou. Thomas went 27-9 with a 1.16 ERA and 306 strikeouts in 229.1 innings pitched, on her way to First Team All-America recognition for the second consecutive year. Freshman Bailey Erwin emerged as a solid No. 2 started, going 8-0 on the season with a 1.12 ERA - tops on the team - in 23 appearances.
A native of Monrovia, Md., D'Amour graduated from Mizzou in 2008 with a degree in general studies. D'Amour started throwing underhand at the age of four while serving as batboy for his father's fast pitch team. He has played shortstop and pitched men's fast pitch for the past seven seasons, including three in the ISC Travel League and was the MVP of the NSA World Series in 2007. During his last ASA National Tournament, D'Amour hit .500 (7-for-14) with three home runs. D'Amour also played two years of college baseball - one under head coach Ehren Earleywine - at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where he was an infielder.
D'Amour and his wife, Meredith, originally from Edina, Mo., were married during the summer of 2010. D'Amour's parents, Peter and Beverly D'Amour, live in Hedgesville, W.Va. He also has one sister, Krista D'Amour (29), who lives in Alexandria, Virginia. D'Amour has additionally continued his studies into post-graduate work at the University of Missouri, progressing towards a master's degree in sports psychology.
