Former Sacramento State softball player Lindy Winkler’s childhood dream came true Saturday when she had her jersey retired and commemorated on the outfield wall of Shea Stadium.

In between games of softball’s double-header against CSU Bakersfield, 216 fans and members of both teams gave Winkler a standing ovation as Sac State honored the former great by officially retiring her jersey, placing it next to the other former Sac State legend No.17 Susie Bugliarello, adorning the right field fence.

“It means a lot that my friends and teammates that I played with here at Sac State came out to support me during the ceremony,” Winkler said.

During her time at Sac State, there was nobody better.

Winkler still ranks among the top-10 in eight career offensive categories – first in total at-bats (732), runs (140), hits (262) and triples (17). She ranks second in program history in stolen bases and third in batting average (.358) and fifth in doubles (35).

Winkler’s performances on the base paths were not only inspiring to her players, but to her coaches as well. Former head coach Kathy Strahan remembers Winkler’s demeanor during her time here from 2003-06.

“Lindy is like a duck in water,” Strahan said. “The water would just glide right off of her. She was the most stress-free hitter. It could be bases loaded and she would have a full count and it would not affect her.”

During her time at Sac State, the Hornets won at least 30 games per season and Winkler still holds single-season records in batting average (.434), runs (47), hits (76) and triples (7). In her senior year, Winkler broke out and outshined everyone as she hit .434 with 17 doubles, five triples and five home runs.

At the time in 2006, her batting average was the 12th best in the nation. That same year she was awarded accolades including second team All-American, first team All-Region, Pacific Coast Softball Conference Player of the Year and first team All-PCSC.

Strahan said one coach who faced the Hornets in those four years was a chair member of the West region All-American committee. The coach told her that she defended Winkler to be an All-American in 2006.

“She told me that she walked into the room and told the group that Lindy was someone that she did not like to see come to the plate for four years and that she is glad to see her go,” Strahan said. “But she deserved to be an All-American.”

Winkler is only the fourth member of the program’s history to named an All-American, along with pitcher Tami Blunt (1993-1996), catcher Terrie Cissna (1990-1993) and Bugliarello, pitcher (1994-1997).

After Winkler finished at Sac State, she was drafted to the National Professional Fastpitch League by the New England Riptide in the summer of 2006. Winkler was one of seven softball players in school history to play professionally.

During the 2006 season in the National Professional Fastpitch League, she helped the Riptide to championship as a starting outfielder.

Winkler said she never played the game thinking of the awards she would be given for playing well enough, it was to help her team win games and that was it.

“I would be crazy to tell you that I thought how crazy it would be if I got my number to be retired on the wall in right field here at Sac State,” Winkler said.