BLACKSBURG -- Four members of the Virginia Tech softball team were named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon. Jayme Bailey, Kelsey Brown, Emma Lemley and Emma Ritter were recognized for their performance on the field and in the classroom.
The 2023 Academic All-District Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined academic and athletic performances. Student-athletes are recognized for having a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher.
A third team All-ACC honoree, Bailey posted a .310 batting average in conference play with 22 hits, including two doubles and six home runs. At first base, Bailey has not committed an error all season, recording 274 putouts with six assists. Overall, Bailey is third on the team with 12 home runs, adding 39 RBI and four doubles on the year.
Leading the team in overall batting average with a .409, Brown also led the team in conference play with a .480 average. She tallied 24 hits in her 16 ACC games played, including two doubles and 11 runs scored. She struck out only three times in conference play and had stolen five bases. Overall, Brown is a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen bases with 38 hits.
Lemley was a second team All-ACC member and finished the conference season with 121 strikeouts to lead the league in ACC games. She ended the regular season with a 19-10 overall record with a 10-6 ACC record, including two shutouts. Lemley currently ranks first in the ACC and third nationally with 268 total strikeouts. She also leads the conference in strikeouts per seven innings.
Ranked first as the toughest to strikeout in the ACC, Ritter finished with a .316 batting average in conference play, adding two doubles and five home runs, as well as 15 RBI. She struck out only three times in ACC games and four times total this season in 173 at bats. Ritter currently leads the Hokies in hits with 62 and is a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases.