SIU’s winningest softball coach in program history will have her name immortalized this weekend.

The field at Charlotte West Stadium will be named after Saluki Hall-of-Famer Kay Brechtelsbauer during a dedication ceremony Saturday.

“It’s hard to express how honored I am,” Brechtelsbauer said in a release. “We started off with just an open field; we had no backstop and pounded stakes in the ground each practice for bases. I was very fortunate to work for Dr. Charlotte West, and I had great players and great support from the administration. We have come a long way, and I’m so pleased that the growth of the program has continued.”

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Brechtelsbauer served as Saluki softball coach for 32 years and won 633 games during her tenure. SIU made five Women’s College World Series appearances under Brechtelsbauer.

She still stands as the fourth-winningest coach in Missouri Valley Conference history.

Current coach Kerri Blaylock — who was an assistant coach from 1991 to 1999 under Brechtelsbauer — said she wouldn’t be coaching today if it weren’t for Brechtelsbauer.

“She was so good to me,” Blaylock said. “She turned it into a full-time position. I had sent my resume out across the country, and she said she could scrape together $5,000 for me and took a chance on me.”

The dedication ceremony takes place before the noon doubleheader Saturday at Charlotte West Stadium against Northern Iowa. 

“She gave her professional career to Saluki softball,” Blaylock said. “She’s so deserving of having this done. I’m really extremely happy for her.”

Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307.

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