COLLEGE: Lenoir-Rhyne will add 5 to Hall of Fame next month

HobbsDailyReport.com

HICKORY – Lenoir-Rhyne University’s newest Sports Hall of Fame Class will include five inductees.

The Bears announced the new class — which will be induced on Oct. 13 on Homecoming Weekend before a football game against Limestone — via a press release.

Meredith O’Connor, Scott Walker, Taylor Pugh, Benny Moose and Ben Sheffield will be inducted in a ceremony at the P.E. Monroe Auditorium at 11 a.m. on Oct. 13.

The football game that day kicks off at 2 p.m. in Moretz Stadium.

The Class of 2018:

MEREDITH O’CONNOR (Softball)

She was a two-time South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Pitcher of the Year (2007, 2008) and a third-team All-American in 2007.

O’Connor holds career (916) and single season (327) strikeout records and ranks in the top five all-time in: games started, complete games, innings pitched, appearances and shutouts.

She was a 63-15 with a 1.47 ERA and led the Bears to three SAC championships and three NCAA Division II Regional appearances.

She is now a registered nurse and clinical supervisor in Charlotte.

SCOTT WALKER (Football)

He was a four-year letterman as a cornerback and wide receiver from 1987-91.

A prolific return man, Walker owns career (2,227) and single season (758) records for kickoff return yards. He also owns the career (34.5) and single season (26.2) marks for average kickoff return.

In 1988, he led NAIA in kickoff return yardage with 34.5 yards/return and he still owns the record for most kickoff yards in a game (199).

Walker is fourth all-time with 1,998 career receiving yards and his 959 yards in a single season ranks fifth in program history.

After amassing 4,788 career yards, Walker signed with the Houston Oilers as a free agent and later played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

He has been an educator, coach and administrator in the Lamar (Tex.) County school system for 24 years.

TAYLOR PUGH (Softball)

A three-time first-team All-SAC outfielder, she owns the career record for most runs scored (201) and ranks in the top-five all-time in a multitude of categories including: at-bats (703), hits (243), total bases (406), sacrifice hits (29) and stolen bases (44).

She had a career batting average of .346 and hit 32 home runs.

Pugh was first-team All-Region three times as the Bears won three SAC titles and one SAC tournament crown.

She married former LRU baseball player Derek Pugh.

BENNY MOOSE (Football, Track and Field)

A dual-sport athlete, Moose played under the late Hanley Painter from 1966-69 and helped the Bears go 26-11 record in that span.

Moose was a three-time All-Carolina Conference pick and an NAIA All-District defensive back in 1967. He was a part of three conference title teams and was a two-time Lutheran Al-American.

He is a member of the Cabarrus County Hall of Fame in football, basketball, baseball and track and field.

Moose has spent 45 years as an educator, coach and administrator.

BEN SHEFFIELD (Football, Track and Field)

Sheffield sandwiched his athletic career around a two-year service in the Army.

He was the team leader in receiving during the 1974, 1975 and 1976 seasons.

The Bears won a league title in 1975 and Sheffield was a 12th round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was All-SAC in 1975 and 1976, all-district in those seasons and made an honorable mention list for an All-American team.

In track and field, Sheffield was a three-year letterman and All-Carolinas Conference in 1975.

Sheffield was elected to the USSA Softball Hall of Fame in 1995.

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