CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference announced Wednesday afternoon that three Highlanders have been named to all-conference end of year awards highlighted by Lexie Roberts being named Player of the Year. Roberts was also named to first-team all-conference and all-academic while Kari Shedrick, Abby Wilson and Rachel Smith also earned all-conference honors.
Roberts becomes the first Highlander since 2012 to earn the conference's coveted Player of the Year nod. Leading off the top of the order for the Highlanders all season, she set top marks in the Big South for steals, hits, batting average and runs. Those same marks were all top-10 single season records in Highlander program history as well. Her 29 stolen bases rank 15th in the nation.
That wasn't the only award the sophomore took home as she also earned first team all-conference honors and the all-academic award. In conference play, she reached base in 13 of 18 games hitting .475 over 18 games which was a by-far best mark in the Big South. Her 16 runs and 3 triples also rank best in the conference. Roberts was perfect in center field, committing zero errors on 89 chances. Off the field, she's achieved a 4.0 GPA as a sports management major so far in her career.
Shedrick had a break-out year for the Highlanders and made the conference's all-conference lists for the first time in her career landing on the second team. Leading the power department, she slugged a career-high eight home runs and nine doubles. Her four homers inside Big South play rank tied for second. Shedrick was a primary source of Radford's offense as she finished the year with 31 RBI, 20 of which came in conference play which led the Big South. Her .759 slugging percentage against Big South foes also led the conference.
The preseason all-conference member was as-advertised for the Highlanders all season and made her debut on the conference's postseason awards list on the second team. Wilson split time for the Highlanders in the DP spot and as a catcher. Defensively, she set a career-high for fielding percentage at .989. She struck home 27 RBI tying her previous career-best while hitting a new career-best six home runs and 12 doubles.
The beat went on for Smith this year as she earned honorable mention honors from the Big South. The junior had a power surge to the tune of a career-high eight home runs on the season. Three of those home runs came in conference play, which ranked tied for fifth-most. Her season batting average, hits, and doubles were all also career-best marks in her third season at Radford. On the base paths, she was a perfect 11-11 swiping four of those bags in Big South games.
2024 BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE SOFTBALL AWARD WINNERS
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OF - Lexie Roberts, Soph., Radford
OF - Denver Lauer, Jr., USC Upstate
OF - Lauren Fox, Sr., Longwood
1B - Sophia Knock, Soph., Longwood
2B - KaDedra Temple, Gr., Winthrop
SS - Lauren Taylor, Gr., Longwood
3B - Celeste Delorenzo, Sr., USC Upstate
C - Gracie Prince, Jr., Charleston Southern
P - Nealy Lamb, Fr., Charleston Southern
P - Reese Basinger, Jr., Winthrop
DP - Andrea Lyon, Gr., Gardner-Webb
UTL - Megan Powell, Jr., Winthrop
Second-Team All-Conference
OF - Emily Vinson, Jr., Longwood
OF - Kayley DeVivi, Sr., Longwood
OF - Adrienne Visintine, Gr., Gardner-Webb
1B - Kari Shedrick, Jr., Radford
2B - Maddy Lee, Soph., Charleston Southern
SS - Alanna Deal, Jr., USC Upstate
3B - Korynna Anderson, Gr., Longwood
C - Abby Wilson, Gr., Radford
P - Sierra Maness, Fr., USC Upstate
P - Maggie Chapin, Soph., Longwood
DP - Carsten Sandvig, Fr., Charleston Southern
UTL - Kasey Wolfe, Fr., Presbyterian
Honorable Mention All-Conference
BriAnna Brooks, OF, R-Soph., Charleston Southern
Rachel Smith, SS, Jr., Radford
Peyton Rivas, OF, R-Sr., Winthrop
Annicka McLaughlin, 2B, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Abigail Pippen, C, Soph., USC Upstate
All-Freshman Team
Nealy Lamb, P, Charleston Southern
Sierra Maness, P, USC Upstate
Abby Polk, 2B, USC Upstate
Kasey Wolfe, UTL, Presbyterian
Carsten Sandvig, DP, Charleston Southern
Maggie Hiatt, C, Longwood
Cierra Gawryluk, P, Longwood
All-Academic Team
Annah Junge, P, Gr., Charleston Southern
Andrea Lyon, P/OF, Gr., Gardner-Webb
Koryanna Anderson, 3B, Gr., Longwood
Kaitlyn Tucker, 2B, Sr., Presbyterian College
Lexie Roberts, OF, Soph., Radford
Cassie Norris, 1B, Sr., USC Upstate
Reese Basinger, P, Jr., Winthrop
Player of the Year
Lexie Roberts, OF, Soph., Radford
Pitcher of the Year
Nealy Lamb, Fr., Charleston Southern
Newcomer of the Year
Megan Powell, UTL, Jr., Winthrop
Freshman of the Year
Nealy Lamb, Fr., Charleston Southern
Coach of the Year
Chris Hawkins, USC Upstate
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Annah Junge, P, Gr., Charleston Southern
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