Hesse, Leamy headline Springfield Sports HOF Class of 2024

SPRINGFIELD, Mo–The Springfield Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2024 Tuesday.

The class consists of six people and the Hillcrest high school baseball program under coach Dick Birmingham.

Included in the class, a pair of Missouri State coaching legends:

Holly Hesse, won 922 softball games in 36 seasons.

And Jon Leamy coached Bears soccer for three decades.

Former Bears football player Dennis Heim, MSU hockey club founder Stan Melton, champion golfer Christie Blasi and broadcaster Rob Evans make up the class of 2024.

The group will be inducted on October first.

The Hall also handed out money to local youth sports organizations and awarded two scholarships to college bound high school students.

Leamy saluted his teams over three decades.

“We were blessed throughout the years to have such great chemistry with so many different kids. And the diversity, from different areas that pulled together for that common bound. They wanted to win, they wanted to perform, they wanted to keep playing. And it’s a neat thing. There’s nothing like a good team. And we were so fortunate to have alot,” said Leamy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.