Eight Softball Players Named All-State

June 2, 2003 – The Virginia Sports Information Directors Association has announced it's All-State Softball selections and the DIAC is represented by eight players.  Christopher Newport's Michelle Kass and Vanessa Gray, along with Jeri Hughes of Averett, were named to the First Team.  CNU's Dallas Slosjarik, Jen Harrell and Gray, AU's Magen Powell and Ferrum's Lindsay Cox were all named Honorable Mention. 

Kass, a sophomore, was 16-3 with a 0.86 ERA.  She had eight shutouts, 136.1 innings pitched, 83 hits, 24 runs, 13 earned, 17 walks and 129 strikeouts.  She was named the Dixie Conference’s Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Dixie pitcher and was named Second Team All-South Region pitcher. 

Third baseman Gray led the team with a .407 batting average, she also had a team high 46 hits and 13 doubles and finished with two home runs and 27 RBIs.  Gray was named the Dixie Conference’s Player of the Year, she was a Second Team All-Dixie choice at third base and a First Team All-Dixie selection as a pitcher and was a Third Team All-South Region choice.

 Hughes led the Cougars with a .391 batting average and added 17 RBI.  She was selected to the DIAC First Team. 

Slosjarik was second on the team in batting average, .381, second in hits with 45, first in triples with six and finished with two home runs and 28 RBIs.  She was a First Team All-Dixie Conference choice in the outfield and earned Second Team All-South Region honors. 

First baseman Harrell hit .359 after going 0 for her first 19 to start the season.  She finished with a team high 36 runs, seven home runs and 36 RBIs.  She was named to the Second Team All-Dixie Conference, named to the 2003 All-Tournament Team, and earned Third Team All-South Region honors. 

Gray was also named to the Honorable Mention team as a pitcher.  The Dixie’s Player of the Year finished 15-4 overall with a 0.93 ERA with eight shutouts, 71 hits, 23 runs, 12 earned, 14 walks and 88 strikeouts.