LYNCHBURG, Va. – The accolades continue to pile up for the Radford Softball program as
Kristen Shifflett (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) was named VaSID State Player of the Year and her coach Mickey Dean took home the coach of the year honor for the second straight season
The 2010 NCAA Regional finalists finished with a 38-17 record topped the charts with a state-best seven honorees, including five on the first team as announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) today.
Joining Shifflett on the first team are catcher
Sarah Himan (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton), outfielders
Hope Creasy (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) and
Shannon Keefe (Lemont Township, Ill./Lemont) and second baseman
Nichole Beall (Culpeper/Culpeper County). Earning second team distinctions were pitcher
Chelsea Kelley (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) and first baseman
Michelle Beall (Culpeper/Culpeper County).
The five first teamers are the most for the back-to-back Big South champions, breaking the previous mark of four set the past two seasons, while the seven honorees ties 2008 and 2009 for the most in school history.
Shifflett is now in the company of former RU shortstop Melissa Pickel (1995-97, ’99) as the only two state players of the year from the Highlanders. Pickel took home the honor in 1996.
Himan picked up her third straight first team distinction becoming Radford’s first ever three-time first team honoree. Himan, Creasy, Shifflett join former pitcher Ashley Taylor (2005-08) as the only three-time selections.
Shifflett and Creasy were also named to the squad for the third time, second year on the first team. Keefe’s and Nichole Beall’s first team honors came a season after being named to the second team. It was the second nod for Kelly, following a first team accolade in 2009, and the first distinction for Michelle Beall.
2010 Individual Highlights
Kristen Shifflett, SS, Jr.
Big South and VaSID State Player of the Year… First Team all-region, conference and state… Radford’s new all-time leader in home runs (36) and runs scored (150) after just three seasons… Also became the first Highlander to record 200 hits (201) before their senior season… Batted .615 (8-13) with a double, two home runs (both vs. No. 24 FSU), four RBIs and 1.154 slugging and .615 on-base percentages at NCAA Regionals... In 3-2 Regional win over FSU, hit game-tying long ball and then scored game-winning run, helping RU to Regional finals... Led league in batting average, runs, hits, slugging, on base, total bases and stolen bases and ranked second (tie) in home runs, third in doubles (tie) and fourth (tie) in RBI… Ranked nationally in runs (13th), batting average (17th), slugging (29th), HR/game (42nd) and home runs (48th).
Head Coach Mickey Dean
Back-to-Back Big South and VaSID State Coach of the Year… Won 200th career game with 3-1 victory over Villanova… Teams have averaged 42 win in his four seasons… Highlanders are winningest Division I program in Virginia last six seasons (248-121/.672).
Sarah Himan, Catcher, Sr. (pictured top left)
(2010): First team all-Region, conference and ctate… Ranked in the Big South top five in batting average, doubles, RBI, hits, slugging, total bases and fewest strikeouts and top 10 in home runs and on-base percentage… Recorded a perfect 1.000 (233 attempts), a first for any player with 75 or more attempts. Recorded game-winning hit in NCAA Regionals vs. No. 24 Florida State... Reached base safely in 30-consecutive games (3/13-4/24) and 48-of-55 (42 with hits) this season… 13-game (.442) and 11-game (.500) hitting streaks…
(Career): Three-time first team all-conference and all state… Two time first team all-region… As a four-year starter, she finished her career second all-time with 243 hits, 142 RBI, 46 doubles and 376 total bases… Also finished career ranked in batting average (3rd/.345), on base pct. (5th/.391), home runs (6th/25), slugging (6th/.533), walks (t8th/56) and runs (9th/105)… Set a school record with a career .994 fielding percentage.
Hope Creasy, RF, Sr.
(2010): Big South Woman of the Year… First Team all-region, conference and state… Ranked in the top 10 in the league in home runs (t-4th), slugging (5th), runs (t-9th), total bases (9th) and RBIs (t-9th)… ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team selection… Two-time league player of the week (3/15 & 4/19) … Registered a pair of multi-home run contests, against Albany and Charleston Southern…
(Career): Two-time first team all-conference and all-state (‘08 & ’10)… Garnered second team honors as a third baseman in 2007… Four-year starter… Broke Radford’s career home run mark (32) and finished career ranked second all-time with 32… Also ranked in RBI (4th/133), total bases (5th/338), slugging (7th/.514), doubles (t8th/36), hits (t8th/196) and walks (10th/50).
Shannon Keefe, CF, Jr.
First Team All-Conference and State… Second Team All-Region… Made a pair of defensive gems that resulted in all three seventh-inning outs of Big South championship game… Robbed a leadoff home run and then snagged a sinking line drive and doubled off the runner at second for the final out… Led team in doubles, second in stolen bases and third in batting average … Tied for league lead and 32nd in the nation in doubles… Ranked in top 10 in batting average (7th) and stolen bases (t-5th)… Season-high 13-game hitting streak (3/18-4/2) … Just one of two outfielders in Big South with 50-plus chances that recorded a perfect fielding percentage.
Chelsea Kelley, P, Jr.
First team all-conference and second team all-state… Selected to Big South all-academic team… Overall league leader in wins (28th NCAA) and appearances, tied for second in shutouts, third in innings pitched and fifth in opponents batting average… Tossed four one-hit shutouts and five overall… Also allowed just one hit in a 6.2-inning shutout relief appearance vs. PC … Fourth one-hitter came in regionals vs. Elon.
Nichole Beall, 2B, So.
First team all-conference… Set Radford single-season home run mark with 18… Big South All-Tournament selection… First team all-state… Led Big South in home runs, ranking 18th (per game) and 20th (overall) nationally… Hit pair of long balls in NCAA Regional win vs. Elon and broke school record with 10 total bases... Batted .417 (5-12) with three runs and four RBIs in NCAA Regionals... Second in Big South in slugging, total bases, fourth in runs scored and also top 10 in RBIs, on base percentage and hits… Hit walk-off home run in 11-10 win over Presbyterian… NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team, batting .467 (7-15) with four home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored.
Michelle Beall, 1B, So.
Started every game… Second on team in triples… Nine multiple-hit games, going 3-for-3 vs. Charleston Southern and recording a pair of hits against Liberty, Coastal Carolina and Winthrop… Five home runs, including go-ahead shots in win at North Carolina and two in a doubleheader at Appalachian State… 3-for-8 with an RBI in NCAA Regionals, recording two hits in regional final against No. 9 Georgia ... Batted .379 with a pair of doubles, a triple, home run and six RBIs in 10 games against Virginia opponents.
VaSID All-State First Team
C Sarah Himan – Radford
1B Kayle West – Liberty
2B Nichole Beall – Radford
SS Kristen Shifflett – Radford
3B J’nae Jefferson – Liberty
OF Hope Creasy – Radford
OF Shannon Keefe – Radford
OF Sarah Tacke – Virginia
DP/UTL Brooke Short – Longwood
P Melanie Mitchell – Virginia
P Tiffani Smith – Liberty
VaSID All-State Second Team
C Katie Spitzer – James Madison
1B Michelle Beall – Radford
2B Cassie Hendrix – Liberty
SS Ashley Burnham – James Madison
3B Kelsei Saunders – Hampton
OF Jasmine Butler – James Madison
OF Camille Ketsdever – Longwood
OF Kami Nuckols – Longwood
DP/UTL Nicole Koren – Virginia
P Chelsea Kelley – Radford
P Briana Wells – Longwood
Player of the Year
Kristen Shifflett, Radford
Pitcher of the Year
Melanie Mitchell, Virginia
Rookie of the Year
Brooke Short, Longwood
Coach of the Year
Mickey Dean, Radford