FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jamie Chagnon, Randolph
June 15, 2011


Tidewater Area Nabs Top College Softball Awards

LYNCHBURG, VA – Christopher Newport University third baseman Jessie Atkinson (Sr., Mechanicsville, VA) was selected as the 2011 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Softball College Division Player of the Year and Virginia Wesleyan College newcomer MacKenzie Creech (Fr., Hillsbourough, NC) earned Rookie of the Year honors. CNU head mentor Keith Parr earned Coach of the Year laurels after guiding his team to the NCAA runner-up spot in this year’s NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.

Atkinson was a first-team All-American, All-Region and All-USA South selection at third base, while also earning USA South Player of the Year honors. The talented hot corner occupant posted a .430 batting average to go with 17 homers, 61 RBI and 41 walks. She was just as efficient at third base, posting a .964 fielding percentage.

Creech had a stellar season for the Marlins, who were the winners of the 2011 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament much in part to the efforts of Creech. The Hillsbourough, North Carolina native was named the ODAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player while also picking up 2011 ODAC Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ODAC honors. She was a second-team All-Atlantic Region honoree after finishing the season with 18 wins, a 1.83 ERA and 158 strikeouts.

Parr was named Coach of the Year after leading his Captains to the NCAA Championship Game, as the Captains were the only unranked team in the eight-team Finals. The Captains finished the season 38-12 and ranked No. 3 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll. Parr was also the 2011 USA South Coach of the Year.

In all, 24 players were named to the All-State squads, with 12 each on the first and second teams. CNU was well represented, posting five players on the two teams, while Virginia Wesleyan College, Eastern Mennonite and Randolph College each earned three players.  VWC, EMU, Shenandoah University and Roanoke College each posted two first-teamers.