Patty Erickson, who had nearly 500 strikeouts in her high school pitching career with Willmar, will be inducted into the Minnesota Coaches Association Fastpitch Hall of Fame in February.
Erickson, is currently the assistant athletic trainer and softball pitching coach at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, where she pitched four seasons. She was all-conference once and the team's Most Valuable Player once at SMSU. She amassed 305 strikeouts in 520 innings in college and chalked up 42 wins. She pitched five straight shutouts and 34 consecutive scoreless innings during one stretch her freshman season.
At Willmar, Erickson was a five-time letterwinner and five-time all-Central Lakes Conference pick before graduating in 1994. The hard-throwing right-hander helped the Cardinals win three straight CLC titles. She was selected to the Tribune All-Area team four times and All-State three times. Her 487 career strikeouts is currently fifth all-time in the area. She had 98 career wins and a 1.23 ERA.
"Patty exemplifies the type of athlete that gives Minnesota high school softball an honorable name," said Guy Nelsen, her softball coach at Willmar.
She will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony Feb. 2 at the Radisson in St. Cloud.
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Former Minnewaska Area pitcher and shortstop Carrie Cooley (who appeared in Friday's paper) will also be inducted.
- Scott Thoma
