2016 — Female Inductees — Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame

Casey Clutch-Creakbaum

Remembering the journey is important to Casey Clutch, and staying the course enabled her to keep competing in Women's Fastpitch at the elite level for 11 seasons for the Indiana Slammers (inducted into the 2015 Illinois USSSA Hall of Honor).

Casey joined the Slammers in 2003 after her sophomore year of college as she wanted to feel the fun of playing summer ball again. She quickly became a leader of the team and eventually mentored the younger pitchers along the way. From 2007-2013, the Slammers had a record of 105-12 in USSSA tournaments and Casey's USSSA pitching record was 26-0, with a 1.03 ERA with 14 shutouts in 42 appearances. Her overall record for those same 7 years was 43-2, with a 1.07 ERA with 19 shutouts in 75 appearances.

In USSSA play, Casey is a five-time Women's Illinois State Champion (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), three-time Women's World Series Champion (2008, 2009, 2011) and a 2012 World Series runner-up. She also received numerous USSSA individual awards, including 2012 Illinois State Tournament MVP, 2011 World Series All-Tournament Team, 2009 World Series Outstanding Pitcher and 2009 Illinois State Tournament Team.

At 13, Casey started playing travel ball and was impressed with the pitchers at that level of play, including the ones she had caught that summer. She decided she wanted to learn how to pitch so her high school team could be competitive throughout her career, and she felt she would have more impact on the mound versus behind the plate. She and her dad, John, took their gloves down that journey together and sought pitching instructors and clinic opportunities to learn the craft. Casey learned quickly and handled half of the varsity pitching load her freshman year at Frankton High School in Indiana. In her junior year, she led the team to their first ever State Championship in 2000 (Class 1A).

In 2001, she was named Indy Star Metro North Softball Player of the Year with a high school career record of 64-16, 0.35 ERA, 44 shutouts, 900 K's, 10 no-hitters and 3 perfect games, along with a .431 batting average.

Casey's career continued as a 4-year starting D-1 pitcher at the University of Evansville with the team winning the 202 Missouri Valley Conference tournament and a trip to the NCAA regionals. In UE history, Casey is 4th in wins with 47, 3rd in shutouts with 16 and 4th in saves with 5. Casey was a two-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete and named to the 2004 MVC All-Tournament Team.

In 2002, she was selected at an open tryout to attend the USA Women's National Team Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. Pitching for and against Olympic players was an amazing experience and a spectacular opportunity.

Casey graduated cum laude in 2005 with a BS in exercise science from UE and graduated summa cum laude in 2007 with a MS in kinesiology from Texas Women's University with an emphasis in coaching. She is a 4-star NFCA Master Coach.

Even though she is retired from playing, Casey continues to be involved in softball by providing softball instruction through her business Clutch Athletic Performance, Inc.

Casey lives in Fishers, IN with her husband Eddie Creakbaum and their two sons Eli (5) and Alex (1).