by Amber Miles

Lady Techsters softball coach Sarah Dawson made history Oct. 1.

Dawson was the first softball player to be inducted into the University of Louisiana-Monroe?s Hall of Fame.

?I am very honored,? Dawson said. ?ULM has a long history of producing outstanding athletes, and I am honored to be recognized.?

Dawson?s career as a Lady Indian at the school formerly known as Northeast, lasted from 1993-97.

Dawson became an All-American pitcher at Louisiana-Monroe. During her four years on the mound for the Lady Indians, she produced some incredibly impressive numbers that still rank on the NCAA Division I all-time single season and career records list.

In her career, Dawson amassed a record of 120-56 while registering 151 complete games, 1,242.1 innings pitched, 1,280 strikeouts and 74 career shutouts. Her complete games, innings pitched, strikeouts and career shutouts all rank in the top five in NCAA Division I history while her 120 career wins ranks No. 6.

In 1997 during her senior season at UL-Monroe, Dawson earned a spot on the Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American first team. During that year Dawson registered 446 strikeouts in 400.2 innings while recording 50 complete games in only 54 starts and amassing a record of 45-10.

She still holds the school record for career victories, lowest earned run average (0.69), inning pitched, strikeouts, shutouts, games pitched, games started and complete games.

She earned numerous awards, including being named the 1994 and 1997 Southland Conference Player of the Year, the 1994 SLC Newcomer of the Year and the 1997 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Year.

Following her college career, Dawson joined the Women?s Professional Fast-pitch League in the summer of 1997 where she earned the first year league?s inaugural MVP award, ranking No. 1 in wins (30) and saves (4) and second in shutouts, complete games, earned run average and opponents batting average.

Dawson hopes her legacy will live on.

?In the card the (Lady Techsters) team gave me, someone wrote, ?It?s nice to have you as a role model.? I hope from my experience the girls realize all of the other opportunities out there and see all of the places that softball can take them,? Dawson said.

Dawson?s family flew in from California for the induction ceremony. Her mother gave the introduction.

?Our mom was so influential as a coach and in shaping us as individuals, so for her to introduce me was special in itself,? she said.

Ruth Dawson-Strauch, Dawson?s younger sister, said the family is proud of Sarah and her accomplishments.

?We feel like she?s very deserving of the honor, and the fact that so few female athletes are chosen for such an honor makes it that much more special,? Strauch said. ?She helped put Monroe on the map and this is one important way to recognize her.?

Although Dawson is grateful for the recognition, she said it is not the most important reward.

?The pay off really isn?t wrapped up in the award. Hopefully your reward is on the ball field and you?re not waiting for the accolades when your career is over,? she said.

?There were six of us who played together from age 12 until our senior year of college. I think having that history made the adjustment to college easier, and that core of a team who knew each other so well was a large part of our success. I think us six playing together is just as much of a reward as post-season play or any individual award I have received.?

In her acceptance speech, Dawson noted two coaches specifically who served as examples throughout her softball career.

?Coach Rosemary Holloway (head softball coach at ULM) helped make one of my dreams ? playing Division I softball ? come true. Her belief in holding family first, then school and softball, helped me keep things in perspective,? Dawson said. ?And she was a Godly example, which was important for me to find coming from a Godly background and being so far from home.?

While Dawson had positives to say about Holloway, the feelings were mutual.

?Having Sarah as our first softball player brings a lot of pride to our present team and former teams that were teammates of hers,? Holloway said. ?As a whole, her records will be very difficult to break so she will always be an honored permanent fixture with the roots of the Lady Indian program.?

Holloway praised Dawson for her achievements on and off the field.

?Louisiana Tech is fortunate to have her as she does bring more to the table than just a strong pitching arm. She's a brilliant lady with a strong family Christian background,? Holloway said.

?As her coach I try to stay humble with her honor(s) and let her soak it all in, but I am most proud of her and how she has handled her success and successes.?
Dawson also recognized her travel ball coach, Ron Hover.

?I credit him with preparing me for college. He took pride in us being complete ball players by knowing two or three defensive positions, being versatile offensively by being able to hit right and left handed and by having an understanding of game strategy,? she said.

?His standards were high all of the time, and by his mentally preparing us, there wasn?t a college situation I encountered that I wasn?t ready for.?
Hover was a paraplegic.

Dawson said, ?There were no limitations that he couldn?t overcome, and that?s something I learned.?