Prior to this year, there had not been a softball player inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of fame. That will all change Oct. 3, when Washburn Lady Blues softball coach Lisa Carey will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Wichita. Carey recently finished her eighth season at Washburn.

Carey was excited and shocked with the news of entering into such an elite group.

“I didn’t believe it at first, but its an amazing honor and something I will cherish,” said Carey.

Speaking as the first softball player inducted into the Hall of Fame, Carey believes more awareness should be raised for softball players competing in the sunflower state.

“There have been so many great athletes playing softball in Kansas,” said Carey. “Hopefully I will become one of many new softball players inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Carey, who is Washburn’s all-time leader in coaching wins, has compiled a 237-191 record.

Prior to coaching at Washburn, Carey was a three-time All-American selection at Oklahoma leading the Sooners to the 2000 national championship and was named the Big 12 player of the year that same season after leading the Sooners in batting with a .405 average. Carey’s stats for the Sooners consisted of 90 hits, 20 home runs, 77 RBI, a .779 slugging percentage and 173 total bases.

Carey, a Topeka native, attended high school at Washburn Rural. Her individual record was 48-3 with a 0.31 ERA and 130 strikeouts during her career. In her four seasons as a Junior Blue, Carey helped Washburn Rural to an 87-4 record.