General 12/13/2013 10:27:00 AM

2013-14 OCU Athletic Hall of Famers to be honored Jan. 18

Hayes, Ledbetter and Sanders to join OCU Athletics Hall of Fame

The 2013-14 OCU Athletics Hall of Fame class is comprised of from left, Paul and Kim Sanders, Ted Ledbetter and Cathy Hayes.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University celebrates its outstanding athletic heritage with the induction of its latest Athletic Hall of Fame class 11:30 a.m. Jan. 18 in the Great Hall of the Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.
The 2013-14 OCU Athletic Hall of Fame class will be speedy softball all-American Cathy Hayes, 2004 NAIA baseball player of the year Ted Ledbetter and contributors Paul and Kim Sanders. Tickets to the induction ceremony are $25 and can be ordered by contacting Melody Seeley at (405) 208-5309 or e-mail mdseeley@okcu.edu. Click here for information.
Hayes became known as one of the nation's premier leadoff hitters for OCU's softball teams from 1988-91. An outfielder from Lodi, Calif., Hayes racked up 167 career stolen bases, swiping 63 as a sophomore. Both marks are OCU records.
As a senior, Hayes hit .353 with 56 runs scored, 10 doubles, five triples and 50 steals while playing error-free in the field in becoming a first-team all-American. For her career, Hayes supplied OCU with a .303 average, 215 runs scored, 233 hits, 75 RBIs, 25 doubles and nine triples.
Hayes led OCU to three NAIA District 9 championships along with two fifth-place finishes and a fourth-place showing in the NAIA Championships. Hayes was a four-time all-district performer.
"Cathy Hayes' mental toughness and attitude were contagious among her teammates," OCU coach Phil McSpadden said. "I appreciate what she did on and off the field for our program. She was a difference maker for us and very deserving of this honor. Cathy was a member of the first class I had for all four years. She was one of the many players from California who have been impactful for Oklahoma City University softball."
Ledbetter became an NAIA Hall of Famer in 2012-13. In 2004, Ledbetter hit .504 with 20 home runs and 90 RBIs as a senior for the Stars. He also produced 84 runs scored, 117 hits, 26 doubles, seven stolen bases and a .976 fielding percentage. Ledbetter became Sooner Athletic Conference and NAIA Region VI player of the year, first-team all-SAC, all-NAIA Region VI and first-team all-American. He set OCU's single-season record for batting average while tying the single-season record for hits.
Ledbetter led OCU to a 73-7 record, setting the NAIA baseball single-season record for wins, the SAC title, NAIA Region VI crown, NAIA Mid-South Super Regional championship and a runner-up finish in the NAIA World Series. He was a part of an NAIA scholar team that carried a team grade-point average of 3.30. He became an NAIA scholar-athlete award winner and first-team CoSIDA academic all-American.
"Ted is one of the best who have come through here with the legacy he's left," OCU coach Denney Crabaugh said. "With the accolades he's earned with being the NAIA player of the year and an NAIA Hall of Famer, it was an easy decision. His senior season was one of the finest seasons in the history of our program."
As a junior, Ledbetter posted a .456 average, 72 runs, 109 hits, 23 doubles, eight homers, 61 RBIs. He collected first-team all-SAC, first-team all-region and second-team all-American accolades. OCU went 62-9 with the SAC championship, region title, super regional crown and a national runner-up finish. The Stars took an NAIA scholar team award with a 3.36 GPA.
He finished as a two-time all-American, all-conference, all-region performer and NAIA scholar-athlete while setting OCU's career batting average mark with a .479 average. His career numbers include 156 runs, 226 hits, 49 doubles, 28 homers and 151 RBIs.
The Florida Marlins selected Ledbetter in the 23rd round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Baseball Player Draft with the 698th pick.
Ledbetter has gone on to a career in athletic administration. He is currently the assistant athletic director for development at the University of Colorado after spending five years in annual and major gift fundraising roles with the University of Michigan athletic department. Ledbetter resides in Lafayette, Colo., with wife, Anne, and daughter, Lucy. He is from Oklahoma City and played high school baseball at Putnam City West.
Paul and Kim Sanders have been erstwhile friends of the OCU athletic department over several years. They have been noted as being one of the most consistent supporters of the university over time.
Kim, a 1969 OCU graduate, and her husband, Paul, have been OCU supporters for more than 40 years. During that time they have attended thousands of OCU athletic contests at home and on the road, frequently scheduling their vacations so that they could attend OCU championship competitions. It is common to see the Sanders at any OCU athletic event.
The Sanders have ticket windows named after them at Abe Lemons Arena, Jim Wade Stadium and Stars soccer field as well as the lounge and reception area at Ann Lacy Stadium, home of OCU softball.
The two will be honored among the meritorious service category of the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Kim and Paul have embraced OCU Athletics and our student-athletes like no other," OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. "They are the most dependable fans and supporters that we have ever had, and their love for OCU is apparent to us daily. Our committee was unanimous in selecting them to enter our Hall of Fame in recognition of their service to our department."

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