Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame
Katie (Phillips) Bigham
- Induction:
- 2017
- Class:
- 1999
Softball: 1996-99
Katie (Phillips) Bigham was one of the driving forces that helped Liberty’s reinstated softball program quickly rise to be a power in the Big South Conference. At the time of her induction, nearly two decades after her playing career finished, she held the program’s career record for ERA (1.59, still first as of 2026), wins (62, now third) and shutouts (23, now second).
Two years prior to her freshman season, Liberty won eight games during its first season back as a varsity program. However, Bigham guided the Lady Flames to 146 wins (146-90) over her four-year career, including the team’s first-ever 40 win season in 1999 (41-25).
A local product from Concord, Va., Bigham was twice named to the All-Big South second team (1996 and 1997) and twice selected to the VaSID All-State first team (1997 and 1998). She became the program’s first-ever 20-game winner, posting a 20-12 record as a sophomore, while finishing her second year at Liberty with a 1.66 ERA, 26 complete games, seven shutouts and 137 strikeouts.
During her junior season, Bigham was named to the Big South Softball Championship All-Tournament team and shared co-MVP honors for the event. Bigham’s efforts in the circle helped the Lady Flames make their first-ever Big South Softball Championship title game appearance in 1998.
Katie (Phillips) Bigham was one of the driving forces that helped Liberty’s reinstated softball program quickly rise to be a power in the Big South Conference. At the time of her induction, nearly two decades after her playing career finished, she held the program’s career record for ERA (1.59, still first as of 2026), wins (62, now third) and shutouts (23, now second).
Two years prior to her freshman season, Liberty won eight games during its first season back as a varsity program. However, Bigham guided the Lady Flames to 146 wins (146-90) over her four-year career, including the team’s first-ever 40 win season in 1999 (41-25).
A local product from Concord, Va., Bigham was twice named to the All-Big South second team (1996 and 1997) and twice selected to the VaSID All-State first team (1997 and 1998). She became the program’s first-ever 20-game winner, posting a 20-12 record as a sophomore, while finishing her second year at Liberty with a 1.66 ERA, 26 complete games, seven shutouts and 137 strikeouts.
During her junior season, Bigham was named to the Big South Softball Championship All-Tournament team and shared co-MVP honors for the event. Bigham’s efforts in the circle helped the Lady Flames make their first-ever Big South Softball Championship title game appearance in 1998.
Thursday, June 18
Thursday, June 18
Monday, June 15
Monday, June 15
