Joplin, Mo. - Shally Lundien is set to be inducted into the Joplin Area Sports Hall of Fame on October 3rd, 2024.
Lundien was an All-American for the Lions in the mid 90's after transferring to Southern from Crowder College. An All-Region and All-American selection at Crowder, Lundien was a member of the USA Softball Junior College team that competed in the Canada Cup in Vancouver in 1993.
At Southern, Lundien was a first-team All-American in 1995 when she was also the MIAA Softball Player of the Year, the Missouri Southern Female Athlete of the Year, and the MIAA's Ken B. Jones Award winner (given to the male and female athletes of the year). She was also a second-team Academic All-American that season after hitting .430 while starting in all 53 games and helping the Lions to a 45-8 record and a trip to the NCAA Regionals. She led the team with 39 runs, 74 hits, 47 RBIs, and seven triples, and was second with 18 doubles, while striking out just three times on the season.
She was a first-team All-Region and All-MIAA selection in 1995, while being an All-MIAA pick in 1994, as well. At her time of induction, Lundien held the Missouri Southern career record for fielding percentage (.986), as well as the single season record for putouts (576). She also ranked second in putouts in a game, and RBIs in a season, while ranking third in hits, doubles, and batting average in a season. Her career batting average of .372 ranked sixth all-time and her 1,070 career putouts rank third all-time.
Lundien was a successful coach at both the high school and collegiate levels. She coached at Carthage, Joplin, Seneca, and Frontenac (Kan.) high schools. She also spent five years as the head coach at Pittsburg State, where she went 120-120. Lundien is currently the Director of Admissions at Crowder College in Neosho.
The Joplin Area Sports Hall of Fame will be held October 3rd at The Roxy located at 102 South Joplin Avenue. The evening will start with a 6:30 p.m. social and followed by the 7 p.m. ceremony. To purchase tickets for the JASHOF banquet call the JSA office at 417.625.1006 and ask for Brittnie.
