Published: May 07, 2008 12:23 am            

All-WVC softball team announced

PRINCETON — Alderson-Broaddus’ Ashley Mooney has been selected by West Virginia Conference coaches as the league’s Player of the Year for the second time in her career. West Virginia State’s Samantha Kinder is the Pitcher of the Year, while standout rookie Brandy Jester of Wheeling Jesuit is the WVIAC Freshman of the Year. Veteran West Virginia Wesleyan mentor Steve Warner was recognized by his peers for the 11th time as the conference’s Coach of the Year.

Mooney currently stands second in the WVIAC with a .430 batting averge and is tied for the league lead with a dozen home runs. The senior also walloped a dozen doubles in pacing her Alderson-Broaddus squad to a second place WVIAC regular season finish. Mooney, who was also named the WVIAC Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2006, ends her standout career as a Battler with 40 home runs and a .371 batting average.

In addition, Charleston and Fairmont State earned two first team picks each. Michelle Sabelhaus and Stefanie Rossman are the UC selections. Alyssa Childers and Kristy Rausch were the choices from Fairmont State.

Kinder is a key component as West Virginia State won their first WVIAC Tournament championship and will make their initial trip to the NCAA Division II postseason. The Blair, WV native was named the MVP of the recently completed WVIAC Tournament and is second in the league in earned run average (1.32) and victories (25-7). The senior takes a career mark of 63-34 and a 1.77 earned run average into Wednesday’s NCAA Tournament battle against defending national champion Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

Jester ranks among the WVIAC leaders in nearly every pitching category as she becomes Wheeling Jesuit’s second straight league Freshman of the Year. The Georgetown, DE rookie finished 18-11 with a 1.56 earned run average and a conference-high three saves. Her 156 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings stand third in the league rankings.

Warner’s West Virginia Wesleyan squad won the 15th WVIAC regular season title in school history as the Bobcats cruised to 26-2 league record. WVWC is the first squad in league history to win or 50 or more contests in a season as they take 50-18 overall record into NCAA Tournament play on Wednesday versus Lewis (IL). Warner currently holds a 598-232 career record in his 16th season at the helm in Buckhannon.

Mooney, Kinder, and Jester are joined on the 16-player All-WVIAC first team by three West Virginia Wesleyan selections. Stephanie Wheeler, Trisha Thurston, and Emily Nieman represent the Bobcats on the top squad.

Kinder is joined by teammate Jessica Osborne for West Virginia State, while Wheeling Jesuit also had two first team selections as 2007 WVIAC Freshman of the Year Ashley McSweeney was tabbed along with Jester.

The first team All-WVIAC squad is rounded out by Glenville State’s Kayla Shobe, Salem International’s Kyanna Cape, Shepherd’s Stephanie Sims, and West Liberty State’s Rachel Mason.

Mason, McSweeney, Mooney, Osborne, and Sabelhaus are repeat selections from the 2007 All-WVIAC first team. Cape, Childers, and Kinder move up from last season’s second team.

        

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