Virginia Wesleyan's Tori Higginbotham and Kristina Karagiorgis and Roanoke's Leona Rainey (pictured, l-r) were announced as All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Thursday night in Salem in conjunction with the NCAA Division III National Championship. The trio lead a list of 15 ODAC softball players who earned All-Region honors.
Roanoke pitcher not only tossed her second shutout of the 2012 NCAA Division III Softball Championship, but she went 3-for-3 at the dish and drove in both of the Maroons' runs as they moved within one game of the national semifinals with a 2-0 win over Luther College. Roanoke faces Linfield at 7:30 p.m. later on Saturday.
Roanoke fell to Linfield College, 6-1, on Sunday evening at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va., eliminating the Maroons from further competition in the tournament. Roanoke received the fourth place trophy (pictured) in the awards ceremony following the game, the program's best finish in three final round appearances.
Roanoke College dropped a 2-0 decision to Montclair State University in Game 8 of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. While the Red Hawks move on to the winner's bracket semifinals, the Maroons drop to the elimination bracket for a matchup with Luther College in a Sunday elimination game.
Roanoke continued its run through the regional round of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, defeating host Christopher Newport (3-1 this time around) for a second time to claim the regional crown and a spot in Salem's national championship series. It will be the first final series appearance for RC since 2001.
Roanoke put up three runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a long-standing 1-1 deadlock with Christopher Newport on the way to a 4-1 win over the host squad in the regional round of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. Kelly Higbie (pictured) limited CNU to just two hits in clinching a spot in Monday's regional championship.
The game schedule at the Newport News Regional of the 2012 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament has changed following partial play on Saturday at Christopher Newport University. Due to a long game early on Saturday, part of Saturday's schedule has been moved to Sunday, with other games moved further to Monday. Click for details.
Trailing 2-0 since the first inning, Roanoke exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to knock off top-ranked Emory University, 4-2, in the regional round of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. Hollee Warlitner (pictured) provided the power in the fifth with a big two-run double, and Kelly Higbie held EU to just two hits over the final six innings.
Roanoke was victorious in its first game of the regional round of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, defeating Messiah, 7-2, on Thursday. The Maroons, who will face Emory University at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, improve to 30-9 while the Falcons fall to 35-9 on the season. This marks the 10th 30-win season for the Maroons.
After a week of waiting, Roanoke College knows who and where it will play in the 2012 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Maroons, winners of the ODAC's automatic bid, will travel to Newport News and Christopher Newport University as the fifth seed for a first round meeting with Messiah College.
VWC's Tori Higginbotham was tabbed the Player of the Year, while teammate Kristina Karagiorgis was named the Pitcher of the Year. Karagiorgis and RC's Kelly Higbie shared Rookie of the Year honors, as did RC's Mike Mitchell and VWC's Brandon Elliott with the Coach of the Year award. RC's Alea Bier was tabbed the ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete.
Roanoke College won its ODAC-record eighth softball conference title on Sunday afternoon as the Maroons topped Bridgewater College, 7-2, in Salem, Va., at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex. RC earns the ODAC's automatic qualifier in the 2012 NCAA Division III Tournament. Selections will be announced on Monday, May 7.
Virginia Wesleyan College, winners of the 2011 ODAC softball championship, enters this year's tournament as the top seed after posting a 27-10 overall record and a 17-1 league mark following Wednesday's contests. Roanoke College (25-9 overall, 13-5) earned the second seed outright. The Moyer Complex in Salem will host all tournament games this weekend.
The final week of the regular season is here with championships around the corner. Those earning weekly honors include (left-to-right, top-to-bottom) Lesley Buckingham, LC (WLAX); Collin Metz, E&H (BSB); Zach Whitaker, HSC (BSB); Kelly Beard, RMC (SB); Luke Heinsohn, W&L (MLAX); Felice Lowery, RC, (SB).
Those earning ODAC weekly awards include (pictured l-r, t-b) Heather Lewis, RMC (SB); Felice Lowery, RC (SB); Katy Bergey, BC (WTEN); Katie Freeman, BC (WLX); Carmen Graves, RC (WTRK); Hunter Weaver, RMC (GOLF); Robert Gallet, BC (BSB); Alex Nuttycombe, BC (BSB); Dylan Hoff, LC (MLX); Peter Hawkins, BC (MTEN); Dan Nafziger, EMU (MTRK).
Virginia Wesleyan earned seven first place votes and 77 total points as the Marlins were picked to repeat as conference champions in the 2012 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll. Eastern Mennonite garnered 65 tallies and a pair of top nods. Bridgewater (57), Guilford (54) and Roanoke (52) are separated by just five votes for the next three slots in the predicted rankings.
Sara Schoenhoft has been introduced as the Head Softball Coach at Emory & Henry College, Director of Athletics Myra Sims announced Friday. She will begin her duties on September 1. Schoenhoft comes to Emory & Henry after serving as the assistant coach at Division III Western New England College.