Photo courtesy of RU Athletics – (L-R) Highlanders Nichole Beall, Jackie Jenkins and Jessie Hutchens have been named to the 2010-19 Big South Conference all-decade softball team.
Radford University’s Nichole Beall, Jackie Jenkins and Jessie Hutchens have been named by the league office to the Big South Conference all-decade softball team. The selections were announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon.
Beall (2009-12) was Radford’s first NFCA All-American (3rd Team) and was the program’s first player to earn four first-team all-conference, three first-team all-region and two Big South Player of the Year honors. Beall still holds seven Radford career records, including career home runs. She was the second player in Big South history to reach the 50-home-run milestone.
Jenkins (2010-13), was a two-time Big South Pitcher of the Year during her four–year stint and later became an assistant coach under head coach Maggie White. Jenkins is ranked in the program’s top five for career ERA, saves and shutouts. She is ranked in the top 10 in five other categories.
Hutchens (2011-14), capped off a dominant career by being selected to NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second team and First Team All-Big South. As an upperclassman, she posted several team bests and matched the previous program record of 18 home runs in 2014. Hutchens finished fourth in career home runs (33) and tenth in RBIs (118).
The three Highlanders join Suzie Rath, Ashley Taylor, Ashley Smith and Kristen Shifflett in being named to an all-decade team. Rath was selected to the 1990’s squad while Taylor, Smith, and Shifflett were named to the 2000’s team.
Candidates for the all-decade team were determined based on achieving at least one of the following: 1) a multiple All-Conference honoree; 2) an All-American; 3) a member of the Big South Conference Hall of Fame; 4) a college graduate or in good academic standing with the respective institution; 5) a coach who won a conference championship and/or was voted Conference Coach of the Year.
A 15-person committee of Big South Conference administrators served as the official voting panel to determine the All-Decade Team, with fan voting making up 20 percent of the overall total. The 2010-19 Softball All-Decade team features five pitchers, five outfielders, six infielders, one catcher, two utility players, two designated players and one head coach. Kathy Riley of Longwood was named the coach for the all-decade team.
