LYNCHBURG, Va. – The final honors for the 2019 season have come to close on Monday, as the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced its all-state softball team for the university division, headlined by Virginia Tech's Pete D'Amour winning Coach of the Year and Kelsey Bennett earning Rookie of the Year.
The Hokies' outfielders were well represented, with all three starters making either first or second team all-state, while in the circle, both pitchers made the team and three infielders did, too.
In total, eight players made the cut, the second most of any team behind JMU. The Dukes and Hokies swept the awards, as JMU's Kate Gordon won Player of the Year and Megan Good earned Pitcher of the Year.
The all-state first-teamers for Tech were Bennett (.369 BA, 45 RBIs) at third base, Carrie Eberle (1.84 ERA, 164 Ks) at pitcher and outfielders Emma Strouth (.404 BA, 68 RBIs) and Darby Trull (.406 BA, 37 RBIs). Tech's all-state second-teamers were Jayme Bailey (.380 BA, 44 Rs) at first base, Caitlyn Nolan (.299 BA, 18 HRs) at shortstop, Al Velazquez (.335 BA, 50 Rs) in the outfield and Keely Rochard (1.81 ERA, 193 Ks) at pitcher.
Bennett adds some more hardware to her impressive first season in Blacksburg after already being named one of the 10 best freshmen nationally by Schutt Sports/NFCA and the ACC's Freshman of the Year. The Georgia native becomes the first Hokie since 2016 to win the VaSID award.
Similar to Bennett, D'Amour was awarded by the league office with the coach of the year honor after leading Tech to a regular-season ACC title and Coastal Division crown. He is the Hokies' seventh VaSID Coach of the Year, taking Tech to a regional and was awarded by the NFCA with the Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
2019 VaSID All-State University Division Softball Team
First Team
C – Kylee Lopez, Sr., Norfolk State
1B – Lacy Smith, Sr., Virginia
2B – Amber Bishop, Jr., Liberty
SS – Sara Jubas, So., James Madison
3B – Kelsey Bennett, Fr., Virginia Tech
OF – Kate Gordon, Jr., James Madison
OF – Emma Strouth, Sr., Virginia Tech
OF – Darby Trull, So., Virginia Tech
DP/Utility – Jenna Dunn, So., Longwood
P – Odicci Alexander, Jr., James Madison
P – Carrie Eberle, Jr., Virginia Tech
P – Megan Good, R-Sr., James Madison
Second Team
C – Kierstin Roadcap, Jr., James Madison
1B – Jayme Bailey, Fr., Virginia Tech
2B – Madison Naujokas, Jr., James Madison
SS – Caitlyn Nolan, Sr., Virginia Tech
3B – Hannah File, So., James Madison
OF – Cambry Arnold, Jr., James Madison
OF – Shelby DesChamps, R-Jr., Norfolk State
OF – Logan Newton, So., James Madison
OF – Al Velazquez, So., Virginia Tech
P – Chase Cassady, Sr., Liberty
P – Julia DiMartino, Sr., Liberty
P – Keely Rochard, So., Virginia Tech
VaSID Player of the Year – Kate Gordon, Jr., James Madison
VaSID Pitcher of the Year – Megan Good, R-Sr., James Madison
VaSID Coach of the Year – Pete D'Amour, Virginia Tech
VaSID Rookie of the Year – Kelsey Bennett, Virginia Tech