Lady Cavs Set to Continue Dominance of AAC Softball

February 5, 2008

Wise, Va. – With a young team last spring, the Lady Cavaliers not only matured over the season as a unit but also captured a surprising second NAIA Region XII title and trip to the NAIA National Championships in program history. The 2008 University of Virginia's College at Wise will look to take a tested, experienced and talented team into the year to continue its dominance of the Appalachian Athletic Conference softball ranks.

UVa-Wise ran its AAC title streak to four and five in six years. Head coach Tori Raby-Gentry has guided the program to 105 wins and a .618 win percentage over her three seasons directing the Lady Cavs.

The Lady Cavs will surprisingly head into the 2008 campaign second in the AAC softball preseason coaches poll. The team was the lone conference team to receive a vote in the NAIA softball preseason top 25.

The UVa-Wise finished 2007 with a hard-fought 32-27 record. The 2008 edition will be solid throughout its lineup but will take on arguably the toughest schedule of the NAIA Region XII squads.

“There are no cupcakes on the schedule at all,” pointed out the head coach. “It does no good other than to get easy wins.”

The 2008 docket will include home and away dates with NCAA DII’s Tusculum, Lees-McRae and Univ. of Charleston along with nationally-ranked Lee University and Campbellsville. The Lady Cavs also have the Mid-South’s Lindsey Wilson and Georgetown College to go with AAC foes.

Last year’s Region Coach of the Year, Raby-Gentry will have two All-Region players in senior catcher Shelley Newton and junior outfielder Britney Lawson and two All-AAC players in senior pitcher Amanda Wheeler Sims and junior outfielder/third baseman Mary Wilson as part of the foundation. Seniors Sarah Frazier and Michelle Osborne complete the core to another stocked roster of talented players for another title run.

“Our bench will have even more depth this season especially with people to play a variety of positions,” noted the Lady Cavs’ coach.

“We should have the ability to score runs even when struggling with the speed and ability to get hits this year and not have to rely on the home run.”

CATCHER

The ‘commander and chief’ of the Lady Cavs will again be senior backstop Shelley Newton. The three-time All-Region and All-AAC player is the most respected catcher in the region.

The veteran player led UVa-Wise in six offensive categories. She lined 68 hits in 183 at bats for a .372 average while driving in 61 runs with 16 doubles and 10 homers.

Newton will refocus on hitting more line drives in her final season and continue being the team’s stalwart three-hole hitter.

Versatile players Mary Wilson, who didn’t catch a lot last year but calls a good game, and freshman Candace Winslow will back up Newton as part of the battery.

PITCHERS
The pitching staff will be better not only due to the group maturing but coach Raby-Gentry’s ability to devote more time working with them due to the addition of assistant Kelly Salyer to the coaching staff.

“Being able to devote more time to them before games and daily will make a huge difference. What each pitcher brings is also such a compliment to the other.”

Left hander Wheeler Sims will be expected to continue her steady work on the mound where she was 14-12, 2.85 ERA and two shutouts last season.

The ‘work horse’ of the staff will be sophomore Lauren Snead. She has gained speed and movement from a year ago where she won 15 games and fanned 156 batters in 179.0 innings.

Two freshmen, Megan McCoy of Va. Beach’s Princess Anne HS and Appalachia High’s Erin Wilson complete the group. A downstairs pitcher, McCoy has a good fastball and may be used in a close role, while Wilson will battle for time in the circle.

FIRST BASE

Solid defensive junior Hannah Ellis will take over first base full-time. The clutch hitter won two games with extra base hits and recorded a .987 fielding percentage.

Mary Wilson will be her backup.

SECOND BASE

For the second year in a row, second base will be a battle between sophomore Christine Cantone and junior Bobbi Mihelarakis. A good base and situational hitter, Cantone has good range and does a good job defensively. She hit .256 with 31 hits her first year.

Selective hitter Mihelarakis is a headzy player with a good glove and arm. She tied for the team best with 21 walks and hit .240.

The team’s most improved player from the fall, athletic Holly Gilliam of Big Stone Gap will be another option at the position.

SHORT STOP

The infield leader Frazier will return to short stop with her good range and quick release. The strategic batter and ‘sparkplug’ stole 15 bases and batted .279.

THIRD BASE

Utility player Mary Wilson will make her usual home at the ‘hot corner.’ The All-AAC performer hit a key late-game home run in the Regional championship while lining five round-trippers, driving in 24 runs and batting .266 in 139 at bats.

Winslow from Chesapeake will serve a good backup. She reacts well to the ball and has a good glove.
Second-year player Sarah Smith, a good pitch hit option and defensive player, will throw her talents in the mix.

OUTFIELD

After improving in seven offensive areas, All-Region outfielder Lawson will try to build off her breakout season. She will move from center to left field and into the ‘clean up’ spot in the order. The junior had a year of .326, 51 runs, 62 hits, 10 home runs, 31 rbi, 25 walks and 23 stolen bases.

Freshman Maddi Ridenour will take over patrolling centerfield. The speedy newcomer controls an outfield and the slap hitter will bat leadoff.

Senior Osborne will add a third solid glove to “the green” in right field. She has a strong arm and reacts well to the ball.

The junior trio of Brittany Tunnell, Melanie Sutherland and Sarah Stone will provide experienced backups to the outfield spots and hitting choices to the lineup.