GREENSBORO, N.C. – Following a regular season ACC Championship, head softball coach Pete D'Amour has been named ACC Coach of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday morning. Senior Keely Rochard has also been named Pitcher of the Year, as well as Emma Lemley named Freshman of the Year.
The Hokies also had a conference-high 11 members named to All-ACC teams.
Under D'Amour, Tech posted a 40-6 regular season record as well as a 21-2 conference record, the highest winning percentage in school history. The Hokies earned their second regular season championship in four years, also earning the title in 2019, D'Amour's first year at the helm.
D'Amour earned his 200th career win this season and was the fastest coach in school history to reach 100 wins at Virginia Tech a season ago. His current record at Tech sits at 145-36 (.801 winning percentage) with a 67-17 mark in conference play (.798). The Hokies currently have 11 wins over Top 25 programs and were No. 1 in the RPI through as of May 2.
For the second straight season, Rochard earns Pitcher of the Year after ending the 2022 conference season with a perfect 15-0 record. The senior made 17 appearances over the ACC season, with a 1.67 ERA in 96.1 innings pitched. She struck out 132 batters, allowing only 23 earned runs and a .191 opponent batting average.
Overall, Rochard leads the ACC in strikeouts with 283 total, which also ranks her fifth nationally. She is averaging 11.6 strikeouts per seven innings and has five saves on the season which is second in the conference and ninth in all of Division I. She was named a Top-10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and earned ACC Pitcher of the Week twice this season. Rochard was also named First Team All-ACC.
Lemley made a big impact in the circle for the Hokies, earning Freshman of the Year honors after finishing the conference season with a 6-2 record with two saves. The right-hander had three shutouts in ACC play, including then-No. 14/9 Clemson, Louisville and Boston College to clinch the regular season championship.
The freshman struck out 83 batters in her 51.1 innings pitched in conference play, allowing just 19 earned runs. On the season, Lemley is averaging 11.8 strikeouts per seven innings which is first in the ACC and third in the NCAA. She has 187 total strikeouts and is allowing just 3.97 hits per seven innings. Lemley is a Top-25 finalist for Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year and earned ACC Pitcher of the Week three times this season. She was also named to the All-ACC First Team as an at-large selection and to the All-Freshman team.
Along with Rochard and Lemley, outfielder Emma Ritter and designated player Meredith Slaw were also named First Team All-ACC. Slaw was huge for the Hokies in ACC play, hitting .477 over 19 games played. She hit five home runs, as well as three doubles with a .886 slugging percentage. Ritter has been one of the Hokies most consistent at the plate, hitting .414 on the season and leading the team with 36 RBI. She has struck out only twice in 133 at bats, making her one of the toughest batters to strikeout in the nation.
Four Hokies made the All-ACC Second Team, including Cameron Fagan, Mackenzie Lawter, Morgan Overaitis and Bre Peck. Kelsey Bennett, Kelsey Brown and Darby Trull made the Third Team. Peck and Lemley also made the ACC All-Freshman Team.
2022 ACC Softball Awards
Player of the Year: Karina Gaskins, Notre Dame, So., 1B
Pitcher of the Year: Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech, Sr., P
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Sherrill, Florida State, Gr., 3B
Freshman of the Year: Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, P
Coach of the Year: Pete D'Amour, Virginia Tech
First Team
C – Emma Kauf, Georgia Tech, Jr., C
INF - Jameson Kavel, Duke, Gr., SS
INF - Sydney Sherrill, Florida State, Gr., 3B
INF - Tricia Awald, Georgia Tech, Gr., 1B
INF - Karina Gaskins, Notre Dame, So., 1B
OF - Kaley Mudge, Florida State, Jr., OF
OF - Carmyn Greenwood, Louisville, Gr., OF
OF - Emma Ritter, Virginia Tech, So., OF
P - Peyton St. George, Duke, Gr., P
P - Kathryn Sandercock, Florida State, Sr., P
P - Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech, Sr., P
At-Large - Valerie Cagle, Clemson, R-So., P/UTL
At-Large - Mack Leonard, Florida State, Sr., 1B
At-Large - Meredith Slaw, Virginia Tech, Jr., DP
At-Large - Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, Fr., P
Second Team
McKenzie Clark, Clemson, So., OF
Kristina Foreman, Duke, Sr., 2B
Michaela Edenfield, Florida State, R-Fr., C
Devyn Flaherty, Florida State, Jr., 2B
Kalei Harding, Florida State, So., OF
Logan Morris, NC State, R-Sr., 3B
Emma Clark, Notre Dame, Sr., OF
Leea Hanks, Notre Dame, Jr., OF
Jane Kronenberger, Notre Dame, Fr., DP
Abby Sweet, Notre Dame, Gr., OF
Payton Tidd, Notre Dame, Sr., P
Cameron Fagan, Virginia Tech, So., 2B
Mackenzie Lawter, Virginia Tech, Sr., C
Morgan Overaitis, Virginia Tech, Jr., OF
Bre Peck, Virginia Tech, Fr., 3B
Third Team
Susannah Anderson, Boston College, Sr., P
Ellie Mataya, Boston College, Sr., OF
Alia Logoleo, Clemson, R-So., SS
Millie Thompson, Clemson, So., P
Rachel Crabtree, Duke, Gr., 1B
Ana Gold, Duke, Fr., 3B
Kamryn Jackson, Duke, Jr., OF
Danielle Watson, Florida State, Gr., P
Taylor Roby, Louisville, R-Sr., P
Sara Jubas, North Carolina, Gr., DP
Shannon Becker, Notre Dame, Fr., P
Yvonne Whaley, Pitt, Sr., SS
Kelsey Bennett, Virginia Tech, Jr., SS
Kelsey Brown, Virginia Tech, Jr., OF
Darby Trull, Virginia Tech, Sr., OF
All-Freshman Team
Hannah Slike, Boston College, C
Aby Vieira, Clemson, C
Ana Gold, Duke, 3B
Auburn Dupree, Georgia Tech, OF
Korbe Otis, Louisville, OF
Jane Kronenberger, Notre Dame, DP
Shannon Becker, Notre Dame, P
Sarah Coon, Virginia, 3B
Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, P
Bre Peck, Virginia Tech, 3B