Virginia's Ruby Rojas Named ACC Softball Rookie Of The Year
Story Links
May 8, 2000
GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Virginia first-year softball player RubyRojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) has been selected as the Atlantic CoastConference Softball Rookie of the Year in a vote of the conference’s fivehead coaches. In addition, second-year first baseman/pitcher KristenDennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) has been named to the 2000All-ACC Softball team.
Rojas is the second consecutive UVa player to earn ACC Rookie of the Yearhonors as Dennis garnered the award same award last season. Rojas wasVirginia’s third leading hitter in 2000 with a .294 batting average. Sheappeared in 62 games and started 58 and was fourth on the team in RBI with23, just on shy of the team high. Rojas was third on the team in hits anddoubles with 53 and 11, respectively. She split time starting at shortstopand designated player for the Cavaliers. Rojas was also named to the ACCAll-Tournament team after hitting .389 (7-for-18) in five games.
Dennis earned All-ACC honors as a first baseman. It marks the secondconsecutive season that Dennis has captured All-ACC honors. She led the’Hoos in hitting in 2000 with a .312 batting average. Dennis tied with twoother players for team-high honors in RBI with 24 and was the Cavaliers’leader in walks with 21. She was second on the team in hits (58), doubles(13) and tied for second in home runs (3). Dennis led UVa with 260 putoutsand registered a .971 fielding percentage. As a pitcher, Dennis was 6-13,but led the team with a 1.89 ERA. She pitched 133.2 innings and struck out120 batters while holding opponents to a .203 batting average.
Virginia finished the 2000 season with a 27-38 overall record and tied forthird in the ACC with a 3-5 mark. UVa was also 5-5 in the SouthernAtlantic Softball Alliance.
The entire 2000 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Team follows:
| Staci Brandon | Florida State | DH | Jr. | Peoria, Ariz. |
| Serita Brooks | Florida State | CF | Jr. | Cottondale, Ala. |
| Leslie Malerich | Florida State | P | So. | Merrillville, Ind. |
| Brandi Stuart | Florida State | 2B | Fr. | Cerritos, Calif. |
| Anne Knobbe | Georgia Tech | C | Sr. | Brea, Calif. |
| Jennifer Potzman | Maryland | SS | Jr. | Trexlertown, Pa. |
| Beth Radford | Maryland | C | So. | Dunkirk, Md. |
| Natalie Anter | North Carolina | C | So. | Upland, Calif. |
| Crystal Henderson | North Carolina | 2B | Sr. | Severn, Md. |
| Michelle Semmes | North Carolina | SS | Jr. | Fayetteville, N.C. |
| Radara McHugh | North Carolina | P | Jr. | Tulsa, Okla. |
| Kristen Dennis | Virginia | 1B | So. | Encinitas, Calif. |
ACC Player of the Year: Michelle Semmes, North Carolina
ACC Rookie of the Year: Ruby Rojas, Virginia
ACC Coach of the Year: Donna Papa, North Carolina