Central Michigan University Athletics
Hall of Fame Class of 2023: Softball Standout Leslie Grimes Was Maroon & Gold Through and Through
9/21/2023 9:43:00 AM | General, Softball, Our Stories
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – As Central Michigan is set to welcome the Class of 2023 to the Central Michigan University Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame, former softball standout and assistant coach Leslie Grimes is among those being inducted.
A four-year letter winner from 1989-92, Grimes shined both behind the plate and at it, earning All-MAC First Team honors in her final two seasons and, as a senior, she received All-Region First Team recognition. She will be inducted along with the class in a ceremony at McGuirk Arena on Sept. 29 (6 p.m.).
A catcher, Grimes made significant contributions both to the success of the program during her playing days and to the program record book, nearing the triple digit mark for career RBI with 96 which ranks ninth in program history. Nearly half (44) of that RBI total came in 1991 and it still ranks as the second highest single-season mark in program history.
In her final season, she hit .333 and registered a team-high 10 doubles. For her career, she was a .265 hitter in 195 games and served as a team captain.
Led by legendary coach Margo Jonker, Grimes, now Grimes-Phelan, and her team posted a winning record in each of her four seasons and they captured the MAC championship in 1991.
A devoted Chippewa, Grimes moved into a coaching role under Jonker after her playing days. She spent five seasons as an assistant and finished her career as a part of three championship teams.
Following her time as an assistant at CMU, Grimes started Western Kentucky's softball program as head coach, highlighting her five years with a runner-up finish in the Sun Belt Conference in 2002.
As a player and a coach, Grimes had an immense impact on all of her teams and, as a devoted Chippewa who bleeds Maroon and Gold, will forever be remembered for her contributions to the program.
A four-year letter winner from 1989-92, Grimes shined both behind the plate and at it, earning All-MAC First Team honors in her final two seasons and, as a senior, she received All-Region First Team recognition. She will be inducted along with the class in a ceremony at McGuirk Arena on Sept. 29 (6 p.m.).
A catcher, Grimes made significant contributions both to the success of the program during her playing days and to the program record book, nearing the triple digit mark for career RBI with 96 which ranks ninth in program history. Nearly half (44) of that RBI total came in 1991 and it still ranks as the second highest single-season mark in program history.
MARCY WESTON CMU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CEREMONY
Date: Friday, Sept. 29, 2023
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: McGuirk Arena
Admission: Free and open to the public
In her final season, she hit .333 and registered a team-high 10 doubles. For her career, she was a .265 hitter in 195 games and served as a team captain.
Led by legendary coach Margo Jonker, Grimes, now Grimes-Phelan, and her team posted a winning record in each of her four seasons and they captured the MAC championship in 1991.
A devoted Chippewa, Grimes moved into a coaching role under Jonker after her playing days. She spent five seasons as an assistant and finished her career as a part of three championship teams.
Following her time as an assistant at CMU, Grimes started Western Kentucky's softball program as head coach, highlighting her five years with a runner-up finish in the Sun Belt Conference in 2002.
As a player and a coach, Grimes had an immense impact on all of her teams and, as a devoted Chippewa who bleeds Maroon and Gold, will forever be remembered for her contributions to the program.
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