On Sunday September 16, the Sacred Heart softball program honored one of the most recognizable people in its history when Elizabeth “Bippy” Luckie had her Number 10 retired in honor of her outstanding accomplishments both as a player and a coach.

 

The ceremony, which was held in conjunction with the softball team’s  annual Alumni Day, included speeches by co-head

coach Pam London, assistant coach Vicky White and Athletic Director Don Cook, as well as Luckie herself. At the conclusion of the event, the alumni presented Luckie with a water-color painting of her batting with the Number 10 in the background. The painting was done by Luckie's former teammate and SHU alumni Elaine Agosti '92.

 

“When I came to Sacred Heart from my home in upstate New York I never thought that I might be standing here today receiving this honor,” Luckie said. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of all my teammates.”

London, who together with Luckie anchored the Pioneers middle infield for three seasons, described Luckie in one word: “clutch.” White, who played for Luckie from 1993-97, and has been an assistant coach for SHU for the last 10 years, talked about how much the advice she received from Luckie has helped her. “Both as a player and a coach, whenever I needed something she was there for me,” White said.

Luckie, a native of Ogdensburg, NY, came to Sacred Heart in 1983. She  played three years as a shortstop for the Pioneers, helping lead SHU to three straight NCAA Division II Final Four appearances from 1983-85. Along the way, she etched herself into the record books in nearly every offensive category. In her senior season of  1985, Luckie had perhaps the best single season of any player in school history when she piled up 110 total bases, 71 hits and 55 runs scored, all school records that still stand to this day. For her career Luckie was a .357 hitter with 88 RBI and nine home runs. She piled up 179 hits, including nine triples and 30 doubles in her three years, putting her fourth on the all-time list in all three categories. Her 116 runs scored is good for fifth on the record list. In her career she earned All-New England honors three times  and All-NECC honors twice. In 1984 and 1985 she was named a second team All-American. As a senior in 1985 she was named the New England Collegiate Conference Player of the year, capping off her amazing career.

 

Shortly after leaving Sacred Heart as a player, Luckie returned to take over the team as head coach for the 1989 season. Over the last 19 seasons as Pioneers head coach, Luckie has guided five teams to New England Collegiate Conference  championships, each resulting in a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Only the second coach in the 23-year history of the program, she has coached six All-Americas during her tenure. Well regarded by her peers, she was voted NECC Coach of the Year four times (1990,'91,'92 and '95). Most recently, she has helped guide the Pioneers through the transition to Division I.