FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Todd Wetmore, Liberty
June 9, 2011

Longwood’s Short, Wells and Riley, Along with Virginia Tech’s Anderson Garner Top University Softball Honors

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Following a 37-win season, Longwood grabbed three of the top four awards on the 2011 VaSID University Division All-State Softball Team, while the fourth was claimed by a newcomer from Virginia Tech.

Utility player Brooke Short and pitcher Briana Wells of Longwood were named VaSID Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, while their head coach, Kathy Riley, was named the Commonwealth’s Coach of the Year.

Virginia Tech shortstop Dani Anderson took home VaSID Rookie of the Year honors, rounding out the top awards handed out by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).

Short (So., Altavista, Va.,) is a two-time VaSID all-state first-team selection and last year’s VaSID Rookie of the Year. The utility player led the Lancers with a .397 batting average, 16 home runs, three triples and 51 RBIs, to go along with a .795 slugging percentage. Short set a new Longwood program record with her home run total, a mark that ranked No. 23 in the country. She also led the team with 17 multiple hit games and 12 multiple RBI contests.

Wells (Sr., Romoland, Calif.) is making her second-straight first-team VaSID all-state appearance after ranking No. 3 in the country with 34 victories. The senior posted a 34-13 record to go along with a 2.83 ERA and 203 strikeouts, while setting new program standards for victories, complete games (33), innings pitched (308.2), strikeouts and appearances (50).

Dani Anderson (Fr., Rio Linda, Calif.), Virginia Tech’s first VaSID Rookie of the Year since 2006, was a second-team All-ACC selection and one of two Hokies named to the NFCA all-region first-team list. The shortstop batted .363 with 36 runs scored, eight doubles, four home runs and 39 RBIs and was a perfect 9-of-9 in stolen base attempts.

Riley picks up her first VaSID Coach of the Year accolade after leading the Lancers to a 37-13 record, the top Division I winning percentage in the Commonwealth (.740). Riley, in her 14th year at the helm of Longwood’s program, posted a 10-2 record against in-state opponents and was one of two Commonwealth coaches to pick up their 500th career victory during the course of the 2011 season.

All in all, 22 players were named to the first and second team all-state listings, including six student-athletes who had notched a spot on previous all-state squads.

Liberty, the only team in the Commonwealth to advance to the NCAA Regionals, led all programs with five all-state selections, including four second-team honorees.

Radford followed behind the Lady Flames with four all-state selections, while James Madison, Longwood and Virginia Tech each had a trio of all-state honorees. Norfolk State and Virginia rounded out the 22 all-state selection with a pair of honorees for each program.