Lady Cavs Softball Seek Return Trip and Success at the NAIA Championships

February 21, 2006

WISE, VA ­- After getting the program’s first taste of the NAIA softball national championships, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise aims for a return trip and chance to make some noise against the top teams in the nation.

In 2005, the Lady Cavs produced the best campaign in school history. The first team under head coach Tori Rabi-Gentry claimed the Appalachian Athletic Conference and NAIA Region XII titles, finished 38-22 and reached the NAIA national championships before they were stopped in three games.

“Our main goal is to get back to the national championships,” explains the UVa-Wise head coach. “We want to return and get out of pool play.”

The Lady Cavs should have a talented roster to continue their recent run of success on the diamond. UVa-Wise has claimed AAC crowns in 2002 and 2004 while sharing the title last year. The team has made four-straight trips to the Region XII tournament.

The AAC title run is projected to continue for the upcoming season. In the AAC preseason softball poll, the Lady Cavs received five first place votes and 61 points to top its toughest league competition, Tennessee Wesleyan, who had the other four first place votes and 59 points. Virginia Intermont was third (50 pts.) before a big drop off in points with the rest of the field.

The Lady Cavs will be tested more this season than any other. The squad will begin its 2006 campaign at the Lander Bearcat Classic, an all NCAA Division II field. UVa-Wise will play six more games against NCAA DII competition, four contests versus Lincoln Memorial and two against Concord College. The team will also take part in both the Tennessee Wesleyan Classic and the NAIA Leadoff Classic, which has four other national championship qualifying team from a year ago.

“This year’s team will have more depth than we had in 2005,” tells Rabi-Gentry. “We will have a lot of people that can play different positions and are willing to do so to help the team be the best it can.”

UVa-Wise will have a versatile and talented squad but still a young team. Pitcher Dani Benton and infielders Ashley Addington, Courtney Brannon and Krystal Showers are seniors but 15 of the team’s 21 players will be entering either their first or second collegiate seasons.

All-AAC and All-Region XII hurler, Benton, will lead what should be a very strong pitching staff. The senior tallied a 21-6 record, 114 strikeouts, 1.83 ERA and six shutouts. She was in the top 10 of the AAC in wins, ERA, strikeouts and opponent’s batting average (.174).

Benton also swings a good bat. She hit .284 with 33 hits, four doubles, 23 runs and 10 rbi at the plate for the 2005 season.

Sophomore Amanda Wheeler will rejoin Benton in the staff. The lefty finished 8-11, 75 strikeouts and a 2.13 ERA. She held batters to a .205 average and was eighth in strikeouts per game (3.23) in the league.

Sophomore Michelle Osborne and freshmen Stacia Caldwell and Mallory Mazur round out the Lady Cavs pitchers.

Mazur was one of Virginia’s top pitchers last year at Kempsville High and has a good variety of pitches. Even though a freshman, she brings good experience by playing travel ball.

Primarily an outfielder, Osborne will see more of a closing role on the mound with her good movement on her pitches. Caldwell will look to gain experience in spot appearances this season.

“Offensively we should be much better this season,” says Rabi-Gentry. “We had good hitters from the one to five spots last year but with the added bats and growth of others we can have a quality lineup from top to bottom this season.”

All-AAC and All-Region as a freshman, Shelley Newton will be a big part of this potent lineup and the top catcher for the second year. She will be the leader in a deep backstop position. The sophomore belted an AAC and team-best 20 doubles while topping the squad with 42 rbi and .512 slugging percentage as well. She ranked in league leaders in four other offensive categories. Newton added 53 hits and 38 runs while hitting .312 in 170 at bats.

Sophomore Terri Ann Hill, who has a good arm and bat, will provide solid backup. She lined two homers and drove in 16 runs.

Freshmen Melanie Sutherland, a five-time all-district player at Haysi High, and Mary Wilson will try to break into the playing rotation in their first year.

The Lady Cav infield will be the strength and foundation of the club with the three seniors of Brannon, Addington and Showers anchoring the group.

Brannon and junior Alicia King will give a good one-two punch at first base. Both players are good defensive corner infielders and quality hitters.

King lined 41 hits, 11 doubles and three triples while hitting .277 last year. Brannon scored twice and had a hit to her credit.

All-District player at Lee High, Hannah Ellis brings a lot of potential once she gets collegiate experience.

All-around solid player Addington returns at second base. She batted .325 with 39 hits, four two-baggers and 17 rbi for her 2005 effort.

Freshman Bobbi Mihelarakis, a quality fielder and hitter, will play behind Addington along with newcomer Brittany Tunnell, who looks to gain experience while being used as a pinch runner with her speed.

The UVa-Wise clean-up hitter and best infield glove, Showers, should provide the power of the lineup and best arm. After a slow start, the senior came on for a strong finish last year. She lined 15 extra base hits out of her 47 for the season. Showers belted six homers, eight doubles and 38 rbi while hitting .297 and tops in walks with 10.

Outfielder Sarah Frazier and Mihelarakis will give rest for Showers.

Third base is slated to have junior transfer Amber Quillen take over the job. She comes to the Lady Cavs from Walter State where she was an all-conference performer. Quillen will give more offensive punch to the lineup and has great instincts.

Catchers Newton and Hill will spell Quillen at the ‘hot corner.’

A trio of sophomores, Osborne, Frazier and Charity Gilliam, are penciled in as the starting outfield.

Osborne, the team’s most experienced outfielder, will take her great arm strength and knowledge to left field. She walked three times, lined a hit and scored twice in her first year.

Frazier looks to replace the departed All-AAC and the Region Player of the Year Kendall Rainey in center field. The second-year player has a good head for the game and the speed to cover a lot of ground. She will take over lead off spot in the batting lineup after legging out 34 hits, a triple and scored 24 runs.

After gaining a lot of experience in 2005, Gilliam takes over right field. She gets great jumps on balls and developed into one of the outfield leaders. Gilliam walked eight times, scored eight runs and sliced eight hits a year ago.

Freshmen Britney Lawson, Sarah Stone, Sutherland and Wilson look to break into the outfield rotation.

Lawson will bide for time with her great athletic ability. She has all the tools including power at the plate from the left side but lacks experience.

Stone is learning the outfield while having a good bat to pinch hit while getting more comfortable at the collegiate level.