Christopher Newport's Leah Andrews and Patty Maye Ohanian Named NFCA First-Team All-Americans
Christopher Newport senior outfielder Leah Andrews and freshman designated player/pitcher Patty Maye Ohanian were selected first team All-America Wednesday night by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Ohanian becomes the first Christopher Newport freshman to ever achieve first team All-America status in any sport.
Andrews, from Newport News, and Ohanian, from Burke, Va., both enjoyed record-setting seasons for the Captains. Andrews set new program single-season marks for doubles (22) and runs scored (63). Ohanian posted a new school mark for runs batted in (68), hits (75), slugging percentage (.852) and total bases (132).
Andrews, who led off for the Captains and started all 47 games in centerfield, was selected the National Player of the Week in late March, was also the Capital Athletic Conference's Player of the Week. She was selected a first team All-Conference outfielder, and provided outstanding defense as well as batting .421 with 67 hits including 22 doubles and eight home runs. She also knocked in 49 runs while scoring 63 times. Andrews, a product of Menchville High School, was named All-Conference her last three seasons and was also an All-Region pick following her junior and seniors seasons.
In the 51-year history of Christopher Newport athletics, more than 600 student-athletes have been honored as All-American, and Ohanian becomes the first freshman to receive first team All-American status. Ohanian also started all 47 games for CNU and was utilized as both a designated player and pitcher. She recorded the second-highest batting average in school history this year, .484, while leading the squad in six different offensive categories. She clubbed a dozen home runs to go with her 68 runs batted in, and was selected the CAC's Player of the Week in early April. The Bishop O'Connell High School graduate also registered a 5-2 record in the pitching circle in 13 appearances with 22 strikeouts in 41.2 innings of work.
It's the third straight year the Captains have produced an All-American, following Scoop Simon's first team honor in 2016 and Rachael Payne's second team selection last year. CNU softball now has 16 All-American honors in program history, going to 14 different Captains. Jessie Atkinson (2009 and 2011) and Sabrina Hill (2013 and 2014) were both two-time picks. Andrews' and Ohanian's honors this year give the Captains seven first team All-Americans in the 34-year history of the softball program (Dallas Slosjarik, Jessie Atkinson twice, Taylor Morgan, and Scoop Simon being the others).
Christopher Newport was 37-10 this spring and captured the Capital Athletic Conference regular and post-season titles. Keith Parr's squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 12th straight season, losing to Virginia Wesleyan at Captains Park in the Newport News Regional Final.