Softball Hall of Fame

Lorene Ramsey compiled records as an athlete and a coach that might never be equalled.

The first woman to make the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, she was the mainstay of the Pekin Lettes pitching staff for many years, finishing with a 401-90 record. She was named an All-American in major fast-pitch softball four times and took part in many national tournaments in an era when the Lettes were ranked with the top teams in the country.

After retiring as an active player, she started the athletic program at Illinois Central College and became softball and women’s basketball coach. Her softball teams went 846-309, winning two NJCAA national championships in 28 seasons. Her basketball teams went 887-197 and won four national championships, giving her a combined coaching record of 1,733-506, a .796 winning percentage.

On the international scene, Ramsey was assistant coach of the United States Women's softball team that won the gold medal in the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico in 1979, and in 1981 she was assistant coach of the United States basketball team that won the Silver Medal at the World University games in Romania.

She has been inducted into 10 halls of fame, including the National Softball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.