At the age when most children are learning how to ride bikes with training wheels or to run without bringing home skinned knees, Kristen Dennis was picking up a Nerf baseball bat and slamming home runs over the hedge of her family's yard.
Starting to play organized softball in San Diego recreation leagues when she was six-years-old, Dennis' early exposure to the sport appears to have served the Virginia softball phenom well. Over the course of three seasons and into her fourth and final year at the helm of the program, Dennis has emerged as the Cavaliers' best pitcher, one of the team's top hitters, a leader on and off the field and a true success story in the tale of Virginia athletics.
Enrolled in a five-year masters program at the Education School with a bachelor's in exercise science, Dennis has managed to find the balance between two worlds, not only garnering countless softball accolades but also making the Dean's List the past four semesters. In addition to her softball and academic accomplishments, Dennis speaks of the intangible triumph that comes from recognizing her effect on others.
"I'm just proud to be a role model for people," she said. "When younger girls come to our camps and ask me to sign this or that for them, it makes me feel really good to influence someone in a positive way."
Since arriving in Charlottesville four years ago, Dennis has worked diligently to improve her game. In her freshman season, her immediate contribution to the team sang to the tune of a .347 batting average, a .986 fielding percentage and a 9-6 pitching record with a 1.64 ERA. Those numbers notched her All-ACC, ACC All-Tournament team and ACC Rookie of the Year honors. The next season, despite being hampered by injuries, she again led the team in hitting and received All-ACC honors.
Last season, Dennis continued to excel, setting single season school records for home runs (11), RBI (49) and walks (47). On the mound, she went 18-7 with 200 strikeouts and a mere 32 walks. In addition to All-ACC honors for the third consecutive year, she garnered a nomination as a second-team All-American.
"Over her career, Kristen has definitely improved," coach Cheryl Sprangel said. "She becomes more of a leader every year. This year, she's playing very strong once again and has asked me to place a lot of pitching responsibility on her shoulders."
With three ACC Player of the Week nods under her belt, Dennis boasted an impressive record of 20-8 with a career-best ERA of 0.81 going into yesterday's game against Maryland-Baltimore County. Offensively, Dennis is batting .405 and leading the team in doubles (14), home runs (10) and slugging (.730) and on-base percentages (.534). In many situations, the combination of her offensive and defensive talent and pitching prowess proved deadly for opponents and was the difference for Virginia.
"Kristen is just phenomenal," senior outfielder Kelly McCabe said. "I can't say enough about her. She has just stepped up in every single opportunity that she's had to do it. There hasn't been one time when she hasn't. I never in my life played with anyone who has had the ability to do that. For some reason, Kristen always, always finds a way to get it done."
And lest one imagine the success has gone to Dennis' head, McCabe says, "Even though she has a right to be, Kristen's not cocky or obnoxious. She's always glorifying her teammates, willing to help us out. She's never been focused on herself by any means."
The Cavaliers will look to No. 21 to lead them for the rest of the season. It's a position Kristen Dennis is more than willing to fill, a position she now has filled for nearly four seasons.
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