By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Ashley Potts Williams, an outfielder for the Tennessee Tech softball team, still stands as one of the softball program's best hitters in its 32-year history.
She is one of five inductees into the 47th class of the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame. After forgoing last year's induction ceremony due to the ongoing factors surrounding COVID-19, the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame returns in 2021 and will hold its 46th and 47th inductions during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 12-13. In addition to the Class of 2020 being recognized, the Class of 2021 will also be honored and officially inducted, with Potts Williams, Frank Harrell (men's basketball head coach/administration, 1980-present), Morris Irby (baseball, 1968-71), Leah Meffert Turner (volleyball, 2007-10), and Chad Oberacker (baseball, 2008-11) all set to join last year's class, consisting of A.J. Kirby-Jones (baseball, 2008-10), Stephanie Place Buchanan (women's cross country/track & field, 2005-10), Thomas Squires (football, 1985-87), and Borja Zarco (men's tennis, 2005-08), as the newest members of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.
In the program records, Potts is third in total at-bats (785), eighth in hits (228), sixth in total bases (382), fourth in doubles (50), third in home runs (35), third in runs batted in (146).
More importantly, she was a key offensive player on a Tennessee Tech squad that won three consecutive Ohio Valley Conference tournament championships from 2005 to 2007, as well as two regular-season championships in 2006 and 2007. The team appeared in three consecutive NCAA Regionals – Athens, Ga. (2005), Knoxville, Tenn. (2006), and Tuscaloosa, Ala. (2007).
During that stretch, the Golden Eagles had a win-loss record of 179-87, 79-23 in the OVC, which includes two 50-win seasons in 2006 and 2007.
In her career, Potts batted .288, scored 99 runs, collected 228 hits, including 50 doubles and 35 home runs, and drove in 146 runs. She was named to the All-OVC first-team roster three times from 2005 to 2007. She was named to the OVC all-tournament team in 2005.
Throughout her career, Potts' numbers steadily rose. She had a solid freshman campaign in 2004, hitting .233 with 12 doubles, four home runs, and 25 RBI. In 2005, she hit .287 with 11 doubles, eight home runs, and 32 RBI. In 2006, she hit .339 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and 42 RBI. In 2007, she hit .294 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs, and 47 RBI.
Potts, who graduated from Tech in 2007 with a marketing degree, is now married with two kids in Columbus, Ga., and works for Aflac.
The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Friday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT in the Multipurpose Room of the University Center. Tickets are available through the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office by calling 931-372-3940 or by visiting TTUSports.com. Both groups will also be recognized at the Homecoming football game on Saturday afternoon against UT Martin, which features a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
