April 22, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
Marian Kneer and Bill Kennedy. Those two names have become synonymous with Illinois State softball, and now, they will have a day in their honor, as the Redbird softball team will hold separate ceremonies to honor each during ISU's Saturday home doubleheader versus Northern Iowa, scheduled to begin at noon at Marian Kneer Softball Stadium.
RELATED LINKS
News: July 25, 2008: Illinois State BOT Approves Marian Kneer Softball Stadium
Marian Kneer Softball Stadium Photo Gallery
Kneer (ca-NEER), who donated $250,000 to the Illinois State Athletics Department in July 2008, and as a result, had the facility renamed for her, will be honored just prior to Saturday's scheduled first pitch at noon between the Redbirds and Panthers.
Illinois State University President Dr. Al Bowman, along with ISU Director of Athletics Dr. Sheahon Zenger, will show their respect and gratitude for Kneer's generosity to Illinois State Athletic during a pregame on-field ceremony. Kneer, who was known in the 1940s as the "world's greatest softball catcher," will then catch the ceremonial first pitch from Kennedy.
Kennedy will be honored in between games of the noon doubleheader. The former Redbird pitching coach, who worked alongside head coach Melinda Fischer for 24 years, retired in February. Shannon Nicholson, who pitched under the watchful eye of Kennedy for four years (2003-07), took over as the Illinois State pitching coach upon Kennedy's retirement.
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