National Senior Softball "Women's Hall of Fame"
The National Senior Softball Hall of Fame was founded in 1995 in
Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its' purpose is to recognize players, managers, umpires, directors, and sponsors, who have achieved the highest honors in Senior
Softball.
Welcome Class of 2009
Woman Player Category
Peggy O'Neill
She has a career on-base percentage of .801 in Senior Softball. Peggy hit eight consecutive at-bat home runs in the 2005 Las Vegas women’s tournament. She has been awarded bat-sponsorships with both Demarini and Miken. In October, 2006, after undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatments, she refused to sit on the bench. She said, “If I’m going to feel lousy, I might as well feel lousy doing something I love.” Over the fourteen months of chemotherapy, Peggy played in more than a hundred games, including tournament in Las Vegas, Florida, and California.
Michael Samuelson wrote, "I cannot imagine any women's or coed teams to have a record as impressive as the twenty-six year run Mom has had coaching and playing."
Miles Davis writes: Peggy’s greatest assets are she knows how to win and always has the attitude that she will win. She plays hard every play, every at bat, and every game. She knows the rules and is very supportive of other players. Peggy has the ability to bring players to their highest level.
Larry Fullerton says Peggy as a player is smart and her head is always in the game. She is an excellent base runner and always looking for that extra base. She can hit to any field and hits behind her runners. She is one of the longest ball hitters in the area, still at her age. I don’t know how old she is, I do know she is over 60 and still plays equal and most times better with players that are in their twenties. I don’t know how many games I have umpired over the years, but I know it’s special when Peggy and her bunch take the field.
Jill Smith writes: Over the past 9 years, I have been associated with Peggy in the Senior Women’s softball program as both a member of an opposing team and as a teammate. Whether she is in the field or on the bench, she is clearly a strong team leader.
Woman Player Category
Donna Hackney
Donna Hackney was born in Lebanon, TN., October, 1936. She retired from Nissan where she was a Group Lender. Donna has been playing senior softball for 13 years. She currently plays for the Tennessee Senior Stars.
Tommy Bryan, sports editor of the Wilson Post writes “Donna has been a vital member of the softball scene in Wilson County and Middle Tennessee for many years, both as a player and a coach. As a player, Donna was and still is a great line drive hitter”.
Renee Page, Tennessee Senior Stars head coach, says the reason she got involved with senior softball was due to Donna Hackney. She was her Little League coach when she was 10 years old. Donna has either coached or played softball her entire life. Donna is very knowledgeable in the game and a good Christian person.
Kim Kendrick reports that she has known Donna for 30 years. She has coached her, played with her as a team mate, and high the highest respect for her ability to motivate her teammates to do their very best. Kim writes that Donna was always and still is a very positive person on and off the field.
Donna’s career batting average is .800 and leads the team in RBI’s. She has played hurt on the field to keep the team motivated. She has always been an outstanding outfielder as well as teacher and friend.
Betti Garnett
Born August 16, 1944 in Providence, RI, Betti started playing ball when she was ten years of age. She played through high school and on semi-professional teams before joining the military in 1962. She spent two years in the U. S. Marine Corps and then in 1973 joined the Navy, retiring in 1994 and moving to Florida.
While on active duty, she played with the Women’s All Navy Team. Being a pitcher, she also plays all infield positions when not on the mound.
Hanna Perez wrote, " Betti exemplifies senior ball as a seasoned player and leader. She brings spark to any team and motivates players to be the best."
Betti , along with her team, was instrumental in developing the “Pelican Tournament”. Not only did she help run this tournament, but was responsible for the entire initial set up of putting the tournament together. She was responsible for ordering awards, acquiring facilities, worked directly with the city as well as acquiring the umpires for that particular tournament.
With her experience with softball, she was also instrumental in starting the “Good Life Games” which shows how Bettie takes control and supports Senior Softball. Betti not only plays the game, but also has been a manager, and has served as the East coast Director for SSWC. As a manager, she is fair, friendly and determined to win.
Betti has won many awards while playing with various teams. She has been awarded MVP, All-American, and All-Tournament not just once, but several times.