OKLAHOMA CITY – Virginia Tech softball senior Keely Rochard has been invited to participate in the 2022 USA Softball Women's National Team (WNT) Selection Trials, USA Softball announced Sunday. Those athletes who accepted the invitation to try out will vie for a spot on the 18-player roster for the 2022 USA WNT that will compete at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Ala.
The senior will head to Vero Beach, Fla. from January 1-6 to compete at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. She joins an invitee list that includes present and former athletes from seven athletic conferences, including four from the ACC.
"Being invited to the USA Women's National Team tryout is a tremendous honor for Keely. She's put the work in, keeps improving and is a great ambassador for our softball program," head coach Pete D'Amour said. "I know she'll represent herself and Virginia Tech in the best light possible. We're excited for her."
Rochard is coming off a 2021 season in which she was named a First Team All-American by the NFCA, just the third All-American in program history and second First Team selection. 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 finished first in the ACC with 348 strikeouts, 29 wins and 13 shutouts. Along with All-American honors, Rochard was named ACC Pitcher of the Year as well as ACC Pitcher of the Week (three times) and NFCA Division I Pitcher of the week (twice) throughout the season. She threw two no-hitters during the 2021 season, the sixth and seventh of her career.
During the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Rochard went 4-2 in her six starts, holding opponents to a .196 batting average in 37.0 innings. She posted 49 strikeouts and became the first pitcher in Hokies' history to go undefeated, 3-0 at the NCAA Regionals.
Full list of athletes participating in the 2022 USA WNT Selection Trials.