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May 16, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia softball players Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) and Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) have been named to the 2002 All-Southeast Region Teams as voted on by the Southeast Region’s head softball coaches. Dennis has been selected to the 12-member first-team for the second consecutive year, while Field has been chosen to the 13-player second-team. Both players are now eligible for Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America honors. The All-American teams will be announced at the 2002 College Softball World Series, which will be held later this month.
Dennis, a fourth-year pitcher/designated player, earns 2002 All-Southeast Region honors as the utility player. Dennis was a first-team All-Southeast Region pick last season at designated player. She was a second-team All-Region pick in 1999. Dennis, who captured 2001 Louisville Slugger/NFCA second-team All-America honors, had an even more impressive season this year. She was selected as the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and was named All-Conference for the fourth consecutive season. She is only the second UVa performer to be named the ACC’s Player of the Year and is the first Virginia player to earn All-ACC accolades four times.
Dennis set UVa single season records for batting average with a mark of .417 (73-175) and total bases (134) in 2002. She also had an on-base percentage of .547 and a slugging percentage of .766. Dennis also broke her own school records for home runs (13), RBI (58) and walks (54) this season and set a career best in doubles (18). Dennis holds the ACC records for career doubles (58) and walks (144) and is second all-time in home runs (29) and RBI (158). In addition to establishing Virginia’s career records in doubles, walks, home runs and RBI, she holds the school record in total bases (414). Dennis is second all-time at UVa in career batting average at .363 (255-703), hits (255), at-bats (703), and games played (251).
In the circle in 2002, Dennis was an impressive 24-11 with a 0.97 ERA. In 217 innings or work, Dennis struck out 293 batters while walking 45 for a 6.5 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio. She made 41 pitching appearances in 2002 with 25 starts and 21 complete games. Dennis, who was recently named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District III University Division Softball Team, recorded nine shutouts and one save while limiting opponents to a .188 batting average. As of games played May 12, Dennis is the only Division I softball player with at least 20 wins and a .400 batting average.
Field, a second-year shortstop, is the recipient of All-Southeast Region honors for the first time. The second-team selection posted a career-high .374 batting average in 2002. Field had 71 hits in 190 at-bats, both of which are career highs, and led UVa with 12 sacrifice hits in 2002. Her 71 hits are the fourth most in a season by a Cavalier. Field led UVa with 39 runs scored and 18 stolen bases and was second on the team in doubles (15), walks (33) and total bases (99), all of which are also career bests. She drove in 32 runs, had an on-base percentage of .474 and a slugging percentage of .521. Field posted a team-best 13-game hitting streak in 2002 and had 19 multiple-hit games. She started all 67 of UVa’s games at shortstop.
Field ranks third all-time at Virginia in career batting average with a mark of .352 (133-378). She has started 135 of a possible 136 games in two seasons for the Cavaliers. Her eight career home runs tie for seventh all-time at UVa and she stands tied for eighth in doubles (23).
Virginia concluded the 2002 season with a 45-22 mark. The 45 victories are the second most in program history, only surpassed by the 2001 squad’s school record 52 wins.