June 7, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - University of Virginia softball players Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa) and Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) were two of 12 players selected by the Virginia College Sports Information Directors to the 1999 VaSID Division I University Softball Team. Hampton, Liberty, Virginia and Virginia Tech made up the field of schools from which the 12 players were selected.

Dennis, a first-year at Virginia, spent time this season as a first baseman, pitcher and designated hitter for the Cavaliers. She entered the '99 season with Virginia carrying high expectations from her excellent high school career. She did not disappoint anyone with her performances this season, as she stepped right into the Cavalier lineup and finished the year as one of UVa's top players. Aside from being named to the All-ACC Team, Dennis was tabbed as the 1999 ACC Rookie of the Year. She becomes the first Cavalier ever to earn the honor as a softball player.

Dennis started all 59 games she appeared in this season for Virginia. She was selected to the 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament Team and was chosen to the UNC Triangular Classic All-Tournament Team this season. Dennis was named the ACC Pitcher of the Week on April 27 and was tabbed the ACC Player of the Week on Feb. 23. 15 of her 59 starts were as a pitcher, were she posted a record of 9-6 (.600). She demonstrated she is one of UVa's most versatile players as she excelled at first base, pitcher and at the plate in her first season of collegiate play.

Dennis batted .347 with 176 appearances at bat. She recorded team-highs with 247 putouts, 27 RBI, 16 doubles and two homeruns. Dennis finished third on the team with 61 hits (including one triple) and 27 runs scored. She was successful on seven of her nine stolen base attempts. Dennis appeared in 18 games as a pitcher, were she posted a 1.64 ERA. She faced 482 batters through 111 innings of work and was second on the team with 92 strikeouts and four shutouts. Dennis finished third on the team with ten complete games pitched and tallied a .986 fielding percentage. She also gathered one save as a pitcher.

Dennis ranks first in the ACC in double per game with a 0.27 average, fourth in the conference with a .347 batting average, fourth in the ACC with a 1.64 ERA, fourth in the conference with a 5.80 strikeouts per game, fifth in the ACC in pitching victories percentage with a mark of 9-6 (.600) and is fifth in the conference with one save this season.

Young, a second-year right fielder at Virginia, started all 61 games she appeared in for UVa in right field. She is one of the Cavaliers top players and has flourished in her role as UVa's lead off hitter and starting right fielder the past two seasons. Young was selected to the 1999 ACC All-Tournament Team and was named the ACC Player of the Week on May 4. She was also selected to the UVa 'Hoos Who All-Tournament Team .

This season, Young batted .321 with 209 appearances at the plate. She recorded a team-high 67 hits, including eight doubles, two triples and one homerun. Young finished second on the team with 28 runs scored and was fourth on the squad with 21 RBI. She was successful on 11-17 stolen base attempts (.647) and tallied 49 putouts to go along with .935 fielding percentage. Young has already collected 133 career hits in just two seasons, putting her on pace to shatter the current all-time hit total of 186.

Virginia Tech's Kara Krumhardt was named the NCAA Division I University Virginia State Softball Player-of-the-Year, and Virginia Tech's Scot Thomas was named the State's Coach-of-the-Year.

1999 VaSID State University I Division Softball Team

Name              School         Yr.  Position
Clarisa Crowell   Virginia Tech  Fr.  Pitcher
Ashlee Dobbe      Virginia Tech  Fr.  Pitcher
Leslie Inge       Liberty        Jr.  Pitcher
Erika Cotton      Hampton        Jr.  Catcher
Kristen Dennis    Virginia       Fr.  First Baseman
Michelle Meadows  Virginia Tech  Jr.  Second Baseman
Charisse Thompson Hampton        Fr.  Short Stop
Kara Krumhardt    Virginia Tech  Jr.  Third Base
Brandi Cobb       Hampton        So.  Outfielder
Libi Cook         Liberty        Sr.  Outfielder
Meaghan Young     Virginia       So.  Outfielder
Amy Csider        Liberty        So.  Designated Player