Lakeland graduate Savannah Nuckols signed a full scholarship to play softball at the University of Virginia at Wise earlier this month. Ridenour becomes the sixth player from South Hampton Roads and the second Suffolk student-athlete on the Highland Cavaliers’ squad.

In her senior year for Lakeland, Nuckols hit for a .408 batting average with four doubles, two triples, a home run and 12 runs scored. She also had a .442 on-base percentage and a .633 slugging percentage for the season.

Nuckols was elected first-team All-Southeastern District as a shortstop/third baseman and was voted Lakeland’s team MVP.

Nuckols is joining a softball program that has reached the NAIA National Championship tournament three of the past five seasons, including this past spring, and has won back-to-back Appalachian Athletic Conference tournaments. UVA-Wise was 31-18 last season.

Nansemond River alum Maddi Ridenour is the starting centerfielder and leadoff hitter for UVA-Wise. Ridenour earned NAIA All-American honors in 2008, her freshman season.

Nuckols is an honor graduate from Lakeland and plans to major in music and minor in art.