VIERA, Fla. - The legend of USSSA Pride star hitter Kelly Kretschman is well-known.

• Kretschman grew up on the Space Coast
• Won an Olympic gold medal with the United States in Athens
• Is a three-time Triple Crown winner

“Kelly Kretschman was the best hitter in fast pitch softball in the prime of her career," Pride head coach Gerry Glasco said. "She was the best in the world.”

But does prime know age?

“As an athlete you kind of get a little hesitant to admit you’re the most elderest," the 39-year-old former Olympic gold medalist Kretschman said. 

She's played at the highest level representing her country, and has been with the USSSA Pride since the team's start a decade ago. And since then, she's established a reptuation as one of the most intimidating players to ever step foot on the turf.

“When she walks to the plate, she has the respect of an entire sport," Glasco said. "Not just our country, all over the world, everyone knows who Kelly Kretschman is. They fear her.”

But that fear began long before that. She grew up playing Little League baseball, as opposed to softball. There, she would often hear from the crowd.

“I heard some heckles and what not, and the parents would make comments. 'There’s a girl on the field.' But it quickly got struck down once they struck their little son out,” she said.

It was then her mother Susan knew she was special.

“I liken her to a child that’s born with a voice, or can sit down at three years old and play a piano or whatever," she said. "She was just born with natural ability.”

But it was hearing those heckles that fueled her to compete. 

“I definitely think that environment, and just being put in that environment, and having to prove myself and just show that I belonged with them definitely helped me,” Kelly said.

So since, she's devoted her time playing around the world to help advance the game of softball. It's why she's still playing today, hoping to promote the sport to the younger generation coming out of college.

“I think it’s very important for Kelly to see it succeed, because she’s invested her lifetime in trying to help build the sport and grow the sport of professional softball,” Glasco said.

“That’s the only reason why I’ve played in this league for so long, is I want it to be an avenue for girls when they’re done with college to be a professional outlet,” Kelly said.

That may not mean the heckling has stopped, of course.

“They called her grandma. Some guy yelled in the stands the other night, 'come on grandma,' her mom said. "She wasn’t real happy about that.”

And all that does is further motivate her to continue to compete.

“If I didn’t thrive every day to be great and to want to win, I definitely still wouldn’t be doing it. It would be boring," she said. "Why do anything that’s boring?”