SHIFFLETT, DEAN TAKE HOME TOP HONORS; SEVEN HIGHLANDERS HONORED
5/12/2010 8:28:52 PM | Softball
CONWAY, S.C. – Radford softball was honored in big way on Wednesday evening when junior shortstop Kristen Shifflett) and head coach Mickey Dean were named Big South Player and Coach of the Year, while a total of seven Highlanders, six on the first team, were named all-conference. The awards presentation was held on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.
Joining Shifflett on the first team were outfielders Shannon Keefe and Hope Creasy, second baseman Nichole Beall, catcher Sarah Himan) and pitcher Chelsea Kelle. Outfielder Lauren Williams earned second team honors, while Kelley was named to the academic squad.
Shifflett is just the second Highlander to garner the player of the year distinction, joining former shortstop Melissa Pickel (1995-97, '99) who earned the honor 14 years ago in 1996.
Shifflett, a three-time first team selection, ranks in the League's top five in 11 offensive categories, leading the Big South in batting average (.400), hits per game (1.33), runs scored (50), total bases (111) and stolen bases (22). She ranks 17th in the nation in runs per game (1.04) and owns the top fielding percentage amongst Conference shortstops (.946).
The three-time Big South Player of the Week and Big South Preseason Player of the Year led Radford with 21 multiple-hit games, including 10 in Big South action. In Conference play, Shifflett led the League in hits (tie-26), home runs (7), runs scored (22) and slugging percentage (.898), and was second in doubles (6), RBI (16) and on-base percentage (.493). Her Conference-best 14-game hitting streak started a stretch of hits in 35 of her last 41 contests.
Shifflett, along with Himan, join Ashley Taylor (2005-08) as the only three-time Highlander first team honorees. Keefe is also a three-time all-conference selection, earning her second first team accolade. Beall, Creasy and Kelley were named to the first team for the second time, while Williams garnered her first all-conference accolade.
Dean, who was tabbed for the second straight season, guided Radford to its second consecutive regular season title and along the way his Highlanders received votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll as well as recording their highest NCAA RPI in school history (42).
Radford will open up tournament play tomorrow, May 13 at 4:30 p.m. when it faces the winner of the contest between No. 4 Gardner-Webb and No. 5 Charleston Southern at CCU Softball Field.
First-Team All-Conference
OF: Hope Creasy, Radford
OF: Shannon Keefe, Radford
OF: Jana Matthews, Charleston Southern
1B: Christa Fullwood, Gardner-Webb
2B: Nichole Beall, Radford
SS: Kristen Shifflett, Radford
3B: J'nae Jefferson, Liberty
C: Sarah Himan, Radford
P: Tiffani Smith, Liberty
P: Chelsea Kelley, Radford
DP: Cacia Pierre, Coastal Carolina
UT: McKenzie Morenus, Gardner-Webb
Second-Team All-Conference
OF: Tera Powell, Presbyterian College
OF: Meredith Baisden, Liberty
OF: Lauren Williams, Radford
1B: Megan Hall, Charleston Southern
2B: Cassie Hendrix, Liberty
SS: Jazmin Daigle, Coastal Carolina
3B: Shayla Cullum, Charleston Southern
C: Mandy Ward, Gardner-Webb
P: Kat Johnson, Liberty
P: Cari Wooldridge, Winthrop (tie)
P: Cindy Boomhower, Gardner-Webb (tie)
DP: Kristin Kelleher, Charleston Southern
UT: Danielle Howard, Liberty
All-Academic Team
Caitlin Allen, Charleston Southern
Ashley Frederick, Coastal Carolina
Christa Fullwood, Gardner-Webb
Chelsea Kelley, Radford
Brittany Howell, Presbyterian College
J'nae Jefferson, Liberty
Lauren Levin, Winthrop
Player of the Year
Kristen Shifflett, Radford
Pitcher of the Year
Tiffani Smith, Liberty
Coach of the Year
Mickey Dean, Radford
Co-Freshman of the Year
Jazmin Daigle, Coastal Carolina
Kat Johnson, Liberty
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Caitlin Allen, Charleston Southern
Thursday, April 23
Sunday, April 12
Thursday, April 02
Saturday, March 21
