GREENSBORO, N.C. – After its fourth-place finish in the league season, Virginia Tech softball is well represented in the annual conference awards and All-ACC teams announced Thursday by the conference.
In a season that saw her go 24-7, junior pitcher Keely Rochard is the ACC Pitcher of the Year for the first time in her career. The Williamsburg, Virginia native is the fifth ACC Pitcher of the Year in school history and a Tech pitcher has now won the award in consecutive full seasons.
Rochard has had an incredible year, leading the ACC in seven statistical categories at the season's end. The right-hander leads the conference and the country in strikeouts (288) and shutouts (13) and leads the ACC in innings pitched (194.0), complete games (25), opponent batting average (.144), earned run average (1.12) and is tied for the league lead with 24 wins.
The Hokies placed five on the All-ACC teams, tied for the second most among the conference with Clemson, one behind both Florida State and Notre Dame. The Hokies matched their school record from 2019 with five players making an All-ACC team.
Rochard is the lone first-teamer while Jayme Bailey, Kelsey Bennett, Kelsey Brown and Cameron Fagan made the second team. Fagan, a true freshman this season, also made the All-Freshman team, just the sixth ACC All-Freshman team member in program history, joining teammates Bailey and Bennett (2019).
The Hokies (32-12, 23-11 ACC) will be back in action Thursday in the ACC quarterfinals versus Notre Dame (31-12, 20-10 ACC). The game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
Player & Freshman of the Year: Valerie Cagle, Clemson
Pitcher of the Year: Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Sherrill, Florida State
Coach of the Year: John Rittman, Clemson
First Team
Emma Kauf, Fr., C, Georgia Tech
Tricia Awald, Jr., 1B, Georgia Tech
Devyn Flaherty, Fr., 2B, Florida State
Sydney Sherrill, Jr., 3B, Florida State
Deja Davis, Jr., SS, Duke
McKenzie Clark, Fr., OF, Clemson
Marissa Guimbarda, Jr., OF, Clemson
Jameson Kavel, Sr., OF, Duke
Abby Sweet, Sr., OF, Notre Dame
Valerie Cagle, Fr., P, Clemson
Kathryn Sandercock, So., P, Florida State
Keely Rochard, Jr., P, Virginia Tech
Peyton St. George, Sr., P, Duke
Shelby Walters, Jr., P, Duke
Taylor Roby, Jr., P, Louisville
Second Team
Ellie Mataya, Jr., OF, Boston College
Alia Logoleo, Fr., 3B, Clemson
Caylan Arnold, Sr., P, Florida State
Cameron Stanford, Jr., OF, Georgia Tech
Carmyn Greenwood, Sr., OF, Louisville
Angie Rizzi, Sr., OF, NC State
Kristina Burkhardt, Sr., OF, North Carolina
Emma Clark, Jr., OF, Notre Dame
Karina Gaskins, Fr., DP, Notre Dame
Sarah Seamans, Jr., 1B, Pitt
Neli Casares-Maher, Sr., SS, Syracuse
Jayme Bailey, So., 1B, Virginia Tech
Kelsey Bennett, So., 3B, Virginia Tech
Kelsey Brown, So., OF, Virginia Tech
Cameron Fagan, Fr., SS, Virginia Tech
Third Team
Susannah Anderson, Jr., P, Boston College
Ansley Gilstrap, Gr., SS, Clemson
Kalei Harding, Fr., OF, Florida State
Dani Morgan, Gr., OF, Florida State
Breanna Roper, Jr., OF, Georgia Tech
Randi Farricker, Gr., IF, NC State
Sam Russ, Jr., OF, NC State
Taylor Greene, Jr., C, North Carolina
Brittany Pickett, Sr., P, North Carolina
Alexis Holloway, Sr., P, Notre Dame
Katie Marino, Gr., 2B, Notre Dame
Payton Tidd, Jr., P, Notre Dame
Cami Compson, Fr., OF, Pitt
EC Taylor, So., OF, Pitt
Alexa Romero, Gr., P, Syracuse
All-Freshman Team
Valerie Cagle, P, Clemson
McKenzie Clark, OF, Clemson
Alia Logoleo, 3B, Clemson
Millie Thompson, P, Clemson
Devyn Flaherty, 2B, Florida State
Kalei Harding, OF, Florida State
Emma Kauf, C, Georgia Tech
Karina Gaskins, DP, Notre Dame
Cami Compson, OF, Pitt
Cameron Fagan, SS, Virginia Tech
