Newton AAC Player of the Year, Three Others All-Conference

April 30, 2008

AAC Player of the Year Shelley Newton, Britney Lawson, Lauren Snead and Maddi Rideonour.

Bristol, Tenn. – UVa-Wise’s Shelley Newton earned Appalachian Athletic Conference softball Player of the Year while Britney Lawson, Lauren Snead and Maddi Ridenour joined her on the All-AAC team announced on Wednesday.

Newton, a senior from Chesapeake, Va., became a four-time All-AAC selection to go along with the Player of the Year honors.  Along with being a leader on the field, the catcher has helped UVa-Wise to three AAC titles and two NAIA Region XII and NAIA National Championships appearances.  The four-year starter can also become a four-time NAIA All-Region XII selection in the next week.

The Western Branch High product has a .378 average with 12 doubles, six home runs and 38 rbi in 36 games.  In four seasons, Newton has a .353 average with 218 hits in 617 at bats heading into the second day of the AAC Tournament.

Outfielder Britney Lawson makes her second appearance on the All-AAC team.  The junior from Duffield, Va. leads the Lady Cavs for the second year with eight home runs to go with a .385 average and 34 rbi.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Snead (Troutville, Va.) gained her first selection on the all-conference team.  She has an 11-9 record with a 2.16 earned run average while striking out 120 batters, the second year in a row to fan over 100 batters.

Freshman outfielder Maddi Ridenour rounded out the all-league picks.  The Suffolk, Va. native leads the AAC with a .462 average (60 hits in 130 at bats) from the leadoff spot.  She has scored 45 runs, lined 60 hits, 10 doubles and five triples while stealing a Lady Cavs record 33 bases.