Radford Baseball Legend Phil Leftwich to be Inducted into Big South Hall of Fame
5/2/2025 11:00:00 AM | Baseball, Radford Athletics, General
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A historic Highlander is headed into the Big South Hall of Fame as the conference office announced Friday morning that baseball alumnus Phil Leftwich will be a member of the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
Â
Leftwich (1988-90) departed Radford with 13 school pitching records at the conclusion of his career. A Lynchburg, Va., native, Leftwich was Radford's first all-conference and all-state pitcher. He helped Radford's young baseball program turn the corner, leading the Highlanders to their first winning season in 1989. Leftwich was 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA for the 27-19 Highlanders that year, in only their fifth season of varsity play. Overall, he was 19-14, pitching 25 complete games and 265 innings from 1988-1990.
Â
In 1988 and 1989, Leftwich was named to the Big South first-team all-conference and was later named to the 1980's all-decade team. After the 1990 Big South Tournament, he was one of the first Highlanders named to the All-Tournament team. Leftwich's 10 single-season and 25 career complete games still stand as Radford program records to this day.
Â
At the conclusion of his collegiate career at Radford, Leftwich became the Angels' top selection in the 1990 Major League draft where he was taken in the second round. He became the first Radford athlete in the major leagues when he joined the California Angels in 1993.
Â
Leftwich was inducted into Radford Athletics' Hall of Fame inaugural class in 1995 and will become the 13th Highlander to be enshrined in the Big South Conference Hall of Fame.
Â
Radford Highlanders in the Big South Hall of Fame
Dante Washington (Men's Soccer, 1988-92) - Class of 2003
Stephanie Howard (Women's Basketball, 1986-89) – Class of 2003
Doug Day (Men's Basketball, 1989-93) – Class of 2005
Shannon Wilkey (Women's Basketball, 1990-94) – Class of 2005
Chuck Taylor (Director of Athletics, 1974-96) – Class of 2006
Charlene Curtis (Women's Basketball Coach, 1984-90) – Class of 2006
Dr. Donald Newton Dedmon (Radford/BSC President) – Class of 2007
Dr. Ron Bradley (Men's Basketball Coach, 1991-2002) – Class of 2010
Ian Spooner (Men's Soccer, 1991-95) – Class of 2013
Sue Williams (Women's Soccer, 1990-93) – Class of 2015
Anne Fontaine (Volleyball & Women's Basketball, 1990-95) – Class of 2017
Duane Filchner (Baseball, 1992-95) – Class of 2022
Â
The Big South Hall of Fame, created in 2003 as part of the League's 20th Anniversary celebration, now totals 81 former Big South Conference student athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors with the addition of this year's class. Joining Leftwich in the Class of 2025 are former Winthrop track and field athlete Octavia Goode and former Gardner-Webb football player Mario Williams.
Â
Leftwich (1988-90) departed Radford with 13 school pitching records at the conclusion of his career. A Lynchburg, Va., native, Leftwich was Radford's first all-conference and all-state pitcher. He helped Radford's young baseball program turn the corner, leading the Highlanders to their first winning season in 1989. Leftwich was 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA for the 27-19 Highlanders that year, in only their fifth season of varsity play. Overall, he was 19-14, pitching 25 complete games and 265 innings from 1988-1990.
Â
In 1988 and 1989, Leftwich was named to the Big South first-team all-conference and was later named to the 1980's all-decade team. After the 1990 Big South Tournament, he was one of the first Highlanders named to the All-Tournament team. Leftwich's 10 single-season and 25 career complete games still stand as Radford program records to this day.
Â
At the conclusion of his collegiate career at Radford, Leftwich became the Angels' top selection in the 1990 Major League draft where he was taken in the second round. He became the first Radford athlete in the major leagues when he joined the California Angels in 1993.
Â
Leftwich was inducted into Radford Athletics' Hall of Fame inaugural class in 1995 and will become the 13th Highlander to be enshrined in the Big South Conference Hall of Fame.
Â
Radford Highlanders in the Big South Hall of Fame
Dante Washington (Men's Soccer, 1988-92) - Class of 2003
Stephanie Howard (Women's Basketball, 1986-89) – Class of 2003
Doug Day (Men's Basketball, 1989-93) – Class of 2005
Shannon Wilkey (Women's Basketball, 1990-94) – Class of 2005
Chuck Taylor (Director of Athletics, 1974-96) – Class of 2006
Charlene Curtis (Women's Basketball Coach, 1984-90) – Class of 2006
Dr. Donald Newton Dedmon (Radford/BSC President) – Class of 2007
Dr. Ron Bradley (Men's Basketball Coach, 1991-2002) – Class of 2010
Ian Spooner (Men's Soccer, 1991-95) – Class of 2013
Sue Williams (Women's Soccer, 1990-93) – Class of 2015
Anne Fontaine (Volleyball & Women's Basketball, 1990-95) – Class of 2017
Duane Filchner (Baseball, 1992-95) – Class of 2022
Â
The Big South Hall of Fame, created in 2003 as part of the League's 20th Anniversary celebration, now totals 81 former Big South Conference student athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors with the addition of this year's class. Joining Leftwich in the Class of 2025 are former Winthrop track and field athlete Octavia Goode and former Gardner-Webb football player Mario Williams.
Women's Lacrosse wins thriller at Longwood, punches ticket to Big South Tournament!
Thursday, April 23
Women's Lacrosse takes down Gardner-Webb on Senior Day!
Sunday, April 12
Sam Flippo causes SEVEN turnovers to set new Radford record!
Thursday, April 02
Women's Basketball Press Conference vs. Morehead State
Saturday, March 21
