May 10, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers softball team has tabbed Leah Heston as team MVP for the 2002 season head coach Aimee DeVos announced today.

Heston, a senior third baseman from Ankeny, Iowa, is ranked among the national leaders in both batting average and runs batted in. Earlier this week, she became the school's first first-team All-Conference USA selection. She finished the season as the league leader in batting (.413), slugging percentage (.660) and on-base percentage (.508). She ranks second in home runs and RBI with seven and 46, respectively.

In her final collegiate at bat, Heston launched a home run to left center, tying her with Stephanie Dunlap for first in Charlotte's single-season record book. In addition to her home run record, Heston broke Charlotte's single-season records for batting average and RBIs. She finished fourth with 62 hits, fifth with 30 runs and sixth with 12 doubles.

This season the 49ers won 24 games, their highest win total since the 1997 season. Their six Conference USA wins were the most since joining the league.