Debbie Nelson, owner of All-American Sports Academy on Larch Road, was honored by her hometown of Antioch this past weekend.

The Antioch Historical Society named Nelson as a member of the 2009 class of Antioch Sports Legends. Each year, the society selects graduates of Antioch Senior High School who were athletic standouts during their high school years and went on to distinguish themselves in sports.

Nelson, from Antioch High’s Class of 1983, played volleyball, basketball and softball for the Panthers, and in 2007 her number 12 was retired in recognition of her accomplishments on the softball diamond, including 43 stolen bases in her senior year. That was the year she was named all-league in all three of her sports and was Antioch High’s female athlete of the year.

She went on to play second base for Sacramento State’s softball team, where she earned all-region, all-state and NCAA All-American honors. Since then, she coached softball at St. Francis High School in Sacramento and spent four years as head softball coach at San Jose State University.

She opened All-American Sports Academy in 1997, where she trains local softball and baseball players. All-American Sports Academy also is the host organization for local teams who travel to tournaments around Northern California.

She also is a director for U.S. Sports Nike Softball Camps during the summer.

The Antioch Historical Society honored 13 former Antioch High athletes this past weekend, as well as one coach, one community sports leader and the entire 1970 Panthers baseball team.

The events included a ceremony at halftime of Friday’s Antioch vs. Deer Valley football game, an induction ceremony Saturday morning and a dinner Saturday night.