Radford, Va.----The Virginia Renegades will welcome the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro FastPitch League (NPF) for an exhibition softball game on Saturday, June 19. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Moyer Softball Complex in Salem, Va. Wingate University rising senior right-handed pitcher Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) is a member of the Renegades.

The Renegades U-23 Summer Travel team roster features several local standouts from the Commonwealth, consisting of collegiate athletes from Radford, Roanoke, Virginia Tech, Elon, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Wingate.

Bolstered by world-renowned U.S. gold medalist Jennie Finch, the Bandits are the 2008 NPF World Champions. Under the direction of Radford head coach Mickey Dean, they have claimed four of five regular-season league titles during his tenure.

In 2009, Blankenship was named to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region second team. A first team All-South Atlantic Conference choice, Blankenship is a two-time All-Region pick. Blankenship went 19-8 overall with a 1.39 ERA in her junior season with the Bulldogs. She had 138 strikeouts against only 42 walks in 186 1/3 innings of work, while opponents hit .197 against her. She led the league in innings pitched, ranking third in wins, ERA and complete games and fourth in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average.

In her three years, Blankenship has 57 career victories. Her total is only 12 shy of the school record. In 2010, she allowed two earned runs or fewer in 24 of her 31 appearances. The Bulldogs went 35-15 in 2010, earning a number 10 ranking which is the highest mark in school history. Blankenship is 57-26 overall in her career, with a 1.81 ERA and 387 strikeouts in 556 1/3 innings of work.

“I am thrilled for Brittany and the opportunity she has been given to compete against such tremendous athletes,” Wingate head coach Michelle Caddigan says. “This is certainly very exciting for her and something she will always remember. She is a true competitor and has worked hard to put herself in this position. I know it will be an invaluable experience for her. I am proud to say she is a member of the Wingate University softball program.”

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 34 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.

(Radford University assistant director of athletic communications Brian Stanley and Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton contributed information to this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)