BLACKSBURG – The top honors on the 2009 VaSID University Division All-State Softball Team were evenly split amongst three Commonwealth programs, spotlighted by Virginia Tech’s Jenna Rhodes being named Player of the Year, as announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Tuesday.

James Madison’s Meredith Felts was tabbed the Pitcher of the Year, while newcomer Leigh Godfrey of Radford was selected Rookie of the Year. Godfrey’s skipper Mickey Dean rounded out the top accolades, as he was named VaSID Coach of the Year.

Rhodes (Sr., Broadway, Va.), an NFCA third-team All-America selection, batted .474 during her final year in Blacksburg, a number good enough to rank No. 6 nationally in batting average. She also finished second natioanlly in hits (91), second in stolen bases per game (0.88) and third in stolen bases (49).

She also set single-season program records in batting average and stolen bases (49), aiding in her finishing her career as the Hokies’ all-time leader in both categories (.384 batting average and 114 career stolen bases).

Also named from the Hokies were Jessica Everhart (first team), Charisse Mariconda (first team) and Erin Ota (second team). Everhart and Mariconda were both named all-region and All-ACC. For all three, it marks their third all-state selection while it’s the second for Rhodes.

Rhodes becomes the third Hokie to receive player of the year honors in the state, joining Kara Krumhardt (1999) and Michelle Meadows (2000). Angela Tincher was named the pitcher of the year three times (2006-2008).

Felts (Sr., Greenville, N.C.) hurled the Dukes to their first-ever CAA conference championship and NCAA Regional berth, thanks to an 18-5 record and 1.62 ERA inside the circle. A second-team all-state selection in 2008, she set school records in complete games (19), shutouts (9), strikeouts (184) and wins during her final go around at James Madison.

Godfrey (Fr., Perth, Australia), who was also tabbed the Big South Freshman of the Year, led the conference in batting average (.469), hits (84), runs (58), doubles (18) and stolen bases (24), while helping the Highlanders to their first-ever league title.

Dean posted his second-straight 40-win campaign at Radford (41-15), capturing both the Big South’s regular-season and championship titles. The program’s winningest coach in just three years (131-57), guided the Highlanders to their first-ever NCAA Regional berth, which included a victory over Campbell. He was also named the Big South Coach of the Year.

All in all, 22 players were named to the first and second team all-state listings, including eight student-athletes who notched a spot on last year’s all-state squad.

For the second year in a row, the Highlanders paced the way on the all-state team listings, as Radford had seven members represented. James Madison and Virginia Tech followed, as the Dukes and the Hokies each placed four on the all-state listings. Liberty and Virginia had a pair of student-athletes named to the all-state teams, while Hampton, Longwood and Norfolk State rounded out the Commonwealth’s best with a selection each.