Niagara Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2009

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University Athletics Department will induct three new members into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 13, as part of a special Hall of Fame Weekend. The 2009-10 class includes Chris Begg (baseball), Eva Cunningham (women's basketball), and Dick McCarthy (football).

Chris Begg
Begg, a 2001 graduate of Niagara, was the 2001 MAAC Pitcher of the Year. He holds the NU record for career strikeouts (195), complete games (13) and shutouts (3), as well as the single-season record for wins during the 2001 season with eight. Begg led Niagara to the 2001 MAAC Championships with an 8-3 record and 86 strikeouts. His 3.61 career earned-run average still ranks second in the schools career annals.

Begg pitched in the San Francisco Giants organization, having reached Triple-A Fresno during the 2007 season. He pitched in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing for Team Canada, earning a shutout victory over China.

Eva Cunningham
Cunningham, a 2005 graduate of Niagara, earned the 2005 MAAC Player of the Year. The shooting guard holds the Niagara record for career points (1,753) and career assists (552) while ranking third with 276 steals. Cunningham helped led the Purple Eagles to a pair of MAAC semifinal appearances in 2003 and 2005. Her 552 assists rank seventh all-time in the MAAC.

Cunningham is currently in her first season as the head coach at Buffalo Seminary High School. She spent the previous three seasons playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico, Portugal and Ireland.

Dick McCarthy
McCarthy served as co-captain of the last football team in Niagara history in 1951. He played the center position, creating enormous running holes for Hall of Fame running backs Jack McCoy and Jack Fitzpatrick as well as allowing tremendous time for record-setting quarterback Theobold. Playing the center position allowed McCarthy to learn the true art of teamwork, since he didn't score, but contributed to numerous NU touchdowns and wins.

Before McCarthy enrolled at Niagara he was drafted into the Army for a 10-month tour in Japan. After graduation, he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 28 years.