GREENSBORO, N.C. – Four Hokies were named to the Preseason All-ACC Team, the conference announced on Thursday afternoon. Cameron Fagan, Emma Lemley, Emma Ritter and Meredith Slaw all land a spot on the team in their respective positions.
The Hokies were also picked second in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, behind only Florida State. Clemson, Notre Dame and Duke round out the top five.
The Preseason All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of a minimum of 14 players. Each ballot was comprised of five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, a catcher and either a designated player or utility player.
For the second year in a row, Fagan has received All-ACC Preseason honors. The junior started in 55 games last year at second base and recorded a .936 fielding percentage. She was also a standout at the plate for the Hokies, posting a .351 batting average and a .474 on base percentage.
During game six of the Blacksburg Regional against No. 15 Kentucky, Fagan led the Hokies with four RBI. During the 2022 season, the infielder was named to the 2022 NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, All-ACC Second Team and VASID First Team.
Lemley is coming off a breakout freshman season where she was named a 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalist, NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region First Team member, 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year and All-ACC First Team. Most recently, Lemley was named to the USA Softball Top 50 Watch List for Player of the Year.
The right-hander appeared in 30 games last season and started in 23 of those 30 games. She finished her freshman campaign with a 2.12 ERA, 212 strikeouts, and 16 wins. Lemley also racked up ACC Pitcher of the Week three times.
Striking out just six times a season ago, Ritter was named a Third Team All-American by the NFCA and an All-ACC First Team member. The junior played in 56 games last season, where she led the team with a .400 batting average and 23 stolen bases. During the 2022 season, she had 20 multi-hit games and a 25 game on-base streak.
To help the Hokies clinch the conference regular season title against Boston College, Ritter went 3-for-3 with three RBI, a home run and two stolen bases. She was solid for the Hokies in the Blacksburg Super Regional, going 3-for-3, with two home runs and two RBI in the game one win against No. 12 Florida. Along with Ritter's All-American and All-ACC honors, she was named the 2022 VASID Player of the year. The outfielder was also named to the 2023 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List.
Playing primarily as the designated player for the Hokies, Slaw appeared in 46 games in 2022, with a batting average of .353 and a 1.005 OPS. The slugger led the team with 41 RBI and recorded a 12-game hitting streak.
During the series win against No. 2 Florida State, she went 6-for-7 in the first two games, with three home runs and seven RBI. Slaw was named to the 2022 NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, 2022 All-ACC First Team, and was named ACC Player of the Week following the Florida State series.
2023 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
Florida State – 140 (10 First-Place Votes)
Virginia Tech - 131 (2 First-Place Votes)
Clemson - 120 (1 First-Place Vote)
Duke - 108
Notre Dame - 107
Georgia Tech - 89
Louisville - 72
Virginia - 71
Syracuse - 45
NC State - 43
North Carolina - 41
Boston College - 27
Pitt - 19
2023 Softball Preseason All-ACC Team
Valerie Cagle, Clemson, R-Jr., P
McKenzie Clark, Clemson, Jr., OF
Alia Logoleo, Clemson, R-Jr., INF
Devin Flaherty, Florida State, Sr., INF
Kalei Harding, Florida State, Sr., DP/UTL*
Mack Leonard, Florida State, Gr., INF
Kaley Mudge, Florida State, Sr., OF
Kathryn Sandercock, Florida State, R-Sr., P
Emma Kauf, Georgia Tech, Sr., C
Karina Gaskins, Notre Dame, Jr., INF
Leea Hanks, Notre Dame, Sr., OF
Cameron Fagan, Virginia Tech, Jr., INF
Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, So., P
Emma Ritter, Virginia Tech, Jr., OF
Meredith Slaw, Virginia Tech., Sr., DP/UTL*