LYNCHBURG, VA. -- After a memorable and historic 2021 season, culminating in the program's second ever appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals, six Hokies have been named to the All-State team by the Virginia Sports Information Directors on Tuesday.
Highlighted by four members on the first team and two on the second team, the Hokies are well-represented on the All-State team from the university division. Jayme Bailey, Kelsey Brown, Cameron Fagan and Keely Rochard were named First Team All-State, while Kelsey Bennett and Alexa Milius were second team honorees.
Rochard earned first team honors after she finished the season in the top three in all of NCAA Division I in strikeouts, shutouts and wins for the second straight season. The right-hander became just the third NFCA All-American in program history and second First Team All-American.
Bailey started in all 52 games for the Hokies in 2021, earning NFCA Mid-Atlantic First Team honors as well as Second Team All-ACC. In 162 at bats, Bailey had 50 hits including 13 doubles, three triples and eight home runs. She was also tied for the team-lead in RBIs with 42.
A serious threat on the base paths, Brown was named to the first team after going a perfect 31-for-31 in stolen base attempts. She made an appearance in all 52 games, tallying 172 at bats with a team-high 66 hits. The sophomore also scored 46 runs, good for first on the team. Her five triples were also a team-high.
Rounding out the first team is Fagan, who recorded a hit in 29 of 34 games, including 14 multi-hit games. She went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored in Game 1 in the Los Angeles Super Regional and batted .417 at the Tempe Regional. The freshman ended the 2021 season with a .401 batting average with 47 hits.
Bennett, a second team member, also made an impact at the plate, finishing the season with a 1.028 OPS with 48 hits, seven doubles, three triples and a team-high 13 home runs. The infielder went 9-for-11 at the Tempe Regional, with at least two hits in each game, including a career-high four hits at No. 12/8 Arizona State, and two home runs.
Milius earned second team honors in the utility spot, appearing in 43 games this season. The sophomore hit .636 at the Tempe Regional, leading the team with five RBIs and tying for the team-lead with two home runs, including the walk-off home run vs. BYU to send the team to its second ever Super Regional.
First Team
C – Tuli Iosefa, Norfolk State
1B – Jayme Bailey, Virginia Tech
1B – Autumn Bishop, Liberty
2B – Amber Bishop-Riley, Liberty
SS – Sara Jubas, James Madison
3B – Cameron Fagan, Virginia Tech
OF – Kelsey Brown, Virginia Tech
OF – Kate Gordon, James Madison
OF – Logan Newton, James Madison
DP/Utility – Odicci Alexander, James Madison
P – Alissa Humphrey, James Madison
P – Emily Kirby, Liberty
P – Keely Rochard, Jr., Virginia Tech
Second Team
C – Lauren Bernett, James Madison
1B – EJ Bankson, George Mason
2B – Madison Naujokas, James Madison
SS – Kelsey Bennett, Virginia Tech
3B – Lynsey Meeks, James Madison
OF – Kara Canetto, Liberty
OF – Sydney Fisher, Radford
OF – Gabby Vaughan, Norfolk State
DP/Utility – Alexa Milius, Virginia Tech
P – Sydney Backstrom, Longwood
P – Kirsten Greene, Norfolk State
P – Karlie Keeney, Liberty
VaSID Player of the Year – Kate Gordon, James Madison
VaSID Pitcher of the Year – Odicci Alexander, James Madison
VaSID Coach of the Year – Loren Laporte, James Madison
VaSID Rookie of the Year – Alissa Humphrey, James Madison