Former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott and former Lady Vols co-head coach Ralph Weekly were officially inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, Oct. 31, in Oklahoma City.
The ceremony
According to USA Softball, the 45th annual induction ceremony took place at the Oklahoma City Convention Center in front of more than 300 friends, family and members of the softball community. The 2026 class included six individuals and one team: Abbott and Doug Middleton as fast-pitch players, Dewayne Frizzell as a slow-pitch player, Les Novak as an umpire, Weekly as a manager/coach, and the Brakettes as a team.
In their words
Abbott said that playing for USA Softball was her biggest goal and a dream come true, adding that she was "honored and humbled" by the induction. Weekly said he was "tremendously honored" and thanked the coaches, administrators and athletes he worked with during his time with USA Softball.
A first for Tennessee
OKW News and Sports Illustrated reported that Abbott and Weekly are the first representatives of the University of Tennessee softball program to be enshrined in the hall.
Sources: USA Softball, OKW News, Sports Illustrated, The Tennessean