It seemed for a time that Lynchburg College star softball player Brittany Allsop earned an honor on a weekly basis during her senior campaign with a three-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship team.
In 2009, she led the team in several offensive categories. Her .374 batting average was tops on the squad, as was her 50 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, two triples, and .473 on-base percentage. The leadoff hitter also covered lots of ground in centerfield. LC finished the season 38-8-1 overall, including a 16-2 mark in regular-season league play.
The centerfielder began raking in her slew of awards by nabbing a spot on the ODAC All-Tournament team in late April, and quickly followed up with first-team all-conference honors. The ODAC sports information directors voted Brittany as the sport's Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete of the Year; the mathematics major and business minor graduated with a 3.99 cumulative grade point average. She then earned her third-straight first-team spot on the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) All-Academic All-District Softball Team.
The annual year-ending LC Awards Banquet saw Brittany featured prominently, laying claim to the Female Senior Award and the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Brittany was named to the Salisbury University (MD) NCAA Division III First-Round All-Tournament Team, as the Hornets advanced into NCAA post-season play for the third-straight year. In mid-May, the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association tabbed Brittany as a second-team All-Region performer, and Brittany's efforts in the classroom again paid off in late May as she earned CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American honors for the second-consecutive season. Last but not least, Brittany was recognized as a first-team all-state centerfielder.
"Brittany was a true gem for the school and our program," said head softball coach Dawn Simmons. "In her four years, she gave everything she had in the classroom and softball field, earning and receiving many awards and honors in both areas. She was a true leader for our team and her work ethic and dedication were incredible. She will be missed in many ways."
From a challenging college career to a challenging career choice, Brittany accepted a job offer from the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va. "My title will be scientist/analyst in the Strategic and Weapons Control System Department," said Brittany. "I'll be working with nuclear weapons for Navy submarines. All of my analytical skills obtained at LC will be constantly used in this position."
A challenging position seems just right for someone used to overcoming challenges.