2018-19 ODAC Softball News
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Lynchburg's Chitwood Named Division III Player of the Year
May 31, 2019For the third straight season, the softball player of the year calls an ODAC school home. University of Lynchburg first baseman Mackenzie Chitwood earned Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III Player of the Year honors as announced by the NFCA on Friday afternoon. The award is an addition to the First Team All-America nod she received from the organization earlier this month. -
Randolph-Macon Wraps Historic Softball Season in Texas
May 24, 2019Randolph-Macon saw its historic softball season come to a close on Friday afternoon in their second contest of the national championship series in the 2019 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler at Suddenlink Field in Tyler, Texas.
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Yellow Jackets Force Deciding Game on Hill's Walk-Off Single
May 18, 2019Randolph-Macon junior Shelby Hill (Mechanicsville, Va. / St. Margaret's) singled over the Christopher Newport second baseman, bringing in senior Candace Whittemore (Montpelier, Va. / Patrick Henry) in extra innings to tie the NCAA Tournament Super Regional series at 1-1. The two teams will battle it out in a deciding game three later this afternoon.
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Lynchburg Eliminated from NCAA Softball Tournament
May 18, 2019University of Lynchburg's softball team fell twice Saturday afternoon to No. 18 Emory University, 9-5 and 10-8, as the Eagles captured the NCAA Division III Lynchburg, Virginia Super Regional championship and clinched one of eight berths to the national championships next week in Tyler, Texas.
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TEXAS BOUND! Randolph-Macon Wins Super Regional Championship
May 18, 2019Randolph-Macon is headed to Texas next weekend as the Yellow Jackets won twice on Saturday over host Christopher Newport University to claimed the NCAA Softball Super Regional Championship at Newport News. R-MC posted a 4-3 victory in eight innings in the first game of the day, and then used the same scoreline to secure a second victory in the winner-take-all final contest of the best-of-three series.
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Lynchburg Wins Super Regional Opener with Late Rally
May 17, 2019University of Lynchburg's softball team woke the bats up in the fifth inning rallying for four runs to come from behind in a 7-2 win over No. 18 Emory University in Game 1 of the NCAA Division III Lynchburg, Virginia Super Regional.
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Randolph-Macon Falls in Super Regional Opener at CNU
May 17, 2019Sophomore Ali Celiberti (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) homered in the second inning, helping softball cut into the #11 Christopher Newport lead, but CNU was able to add on in the later innings to win the first game of a three-game series, 8-3, in the NCAA Tournament Super Regional round.
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Randolph-Macon Advances to NCAA Super Regionals
May 13, 2019Randolph-Macon softball has advanced to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament after non-stop rain and poor field conditions forced the end of the Ewing, N.J. Regional at The College of New Jersey. With Randolph-Macon going undefeated this weekend, the Yellow Jackets were declared the champions of the Regional and will advance to face Christopher Newport, the winner of the Union, N.J. Regional.
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Lynchburg Wins Twice to Claim NCAA Virginia Beach Regional
May 12, 2019Mackenzie Chitwood postponed her final exam in religion to travel with the University of Lynchburg softball team to the NCAA Division III Virginia Beach Regional. Sunday, Lynchburg's senior first baseman preached in the church of the longball. Chitwood homered three times as the Hornets topped two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan twice, 7-4 and 4-2, to win the regional tournament and move on to the super-regional round for the second time in program history.
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Lindsay's Walk-Off Sends VWU to NCAA Regional Final
May 11, 2019Jessica Lindsay played the role of hero as her walk off double brought home the sole run of No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan Unversity softball team's win over Lynchburg Saturday morning in the NCAA Division III Regional Round. With the victory, the Marlins improved to 42-4 and have earned a spot in the Regional Round Final. That game will take place at 11 a.m. with the if necessary game to follow. Please follow here or on our social media (FB: Virginia Wesleyan Athletics / Twitter: @vwu_marlins / IG: vwu_marlins) for any changes as inclement weather may become a factor.
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Randolph-Macon Advances to NCAA Softball Regional Final
May 11, 2019Randolph-Macon softball advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional final game for the third year in a row as R-MC blanked Mount Aloysius for senior Candace Whittemore's (Montpelier, Va. / Patrick Henry) second complete game shutout of the tournament. She spun another gem, striking out 12 while allowing just one hit and one walk. Senior Kerstin Roth (Yorktown, Va. / Grafton) hit an RBI triple in the top of the fifth inning to jump start the R-MC offense.
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Lynchburg Stays Alive as Hornets Earn Simmons' 600th Win
May 11, 2019The University of Lynchburg softball team battled the stress of extra innings the day before, a hard-fought loss earlier Saturday and a two-hour rain delay to beat No. 13 Manhattanville, 4-1, in a loser-out NCAA tournament game, sealing the 600th-career victory for Hornets head coach Dawn Simmons.
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Braun Fans 19 in Season-Ending Loss to Transylvania in NCAA Tournament
May 11, 2019The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (26-18) saw its 25th season come to a close with a contest that is sure to go down as one of the most memorable in the annals of program history. The Wasps fell, 5-4, to Transylvania University (29-12) in a 12-inning marathon which lasted over six hours and consisted of two rain delays, the first which was more than two hours long. Not only was it the longest game ever for an E&H softball team, but sophomore pitcher Alex Braun (Cornelius, N.C.) shattered the single-game strikeout record, sitting down 19 batters in her complete-game performance which will also stand as a program record. Additionally, junior catcher Alex Thomas (Orlando, Fla.) tied the school record for putouts by an individual with 18.
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Davidson Squeezes Home Deeter in R-MC's NCAA Win
May 10, 2019Junior Sami Davidson (Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point) laid down a suicide squeeze with sophomore Kaitlyn Deeter (Roanoke, Va. / Lord Botetourt) coming home as Randolph-Macon won a tight 1-0 battle in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Meantime, Whittemore tied her season-high for strikeouts, capturing 13 in a classic pitcher's duel.
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Lynchburg Walks Off in NCAA Tournament Opener
May 10, 2019On the first pitch of the bottom of the 12th inning, University of Lynchburg first baseman Mackenzie Chitwood (Ferrum, Va.) popped a home run over the left field fence, leading the Hornets to a 6-5, extra-inning victory over No. 13-ranked Manhattanville in the opening game of the NCAA Division III tournament's Virginia Beach Regional at Virginia Wesleyan University.
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Marlins Topple Scranton in NCAA Tournament Opener
May 10, 2019The No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan University softball team defeated the University of Scranton, 7-2, Friday evening in the first game of the NCAA Division III Regional Round. With the victory, the Marlins improve to 41-4, while Scranton drops to 32-14. This also means VWU has moved on to the winner's bracket and will square off against Lynchburg at 10 a.m. tomorrow right back at TowneBank Park (Tom & Betty Broyles Field).
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Wasps Drop NCAA Softball Opener to No. 18 Emory
May 10, 2019The No. 18 Emory University Softball Team (31-10) scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth on its way to a 7-3 win over Emory & Henry College (26-17) in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament Friday afternoon.
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Record Four ODAC Schools Earn Berths to the NCAA Softball Tournament
May 06, 2019There will be a mob of ODAC teams in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament as four ODAC schools dot the field of 62 as announced by the NCAA on Monday afternoon. Virginia Wesleyan University, winners of its fourth straight ODAC title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, are joined by a trio of at-large selections in Emory & Henry College, University of Lynchburg, and Randolph-Macon College.
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GC's Carver, VWU's Hull Headline All-ODAC Softball Awards
May 01, 2019Four-time defending ODAC champion Virginia Wesleyan University earned a league-best eight all-conference honors in a vote of the conference's head coaches to lead the 2019 All-ODAC Softball Awards.
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Marlins Claim Fourth Straight ODAC Softball Title
April 29, 2019Virginia Wesleyan University recovered from an early 2-0 deficit powered by a six-run second inning en route to an 8-2 victory over Randolph-Macon College and the 2019 ODAC Softball Tournament title on Monday morning at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. In addition to an ODAC record 12th league crown, the Marlins also earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
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Lynchburg's Chitwood Homers Twice to Set ODAC/Lynchburg Homerun Records
April 27, 2019Lynchburg senior Mackenzie Chitwood hammered two homeruns in the Hornets 9-0 victory over Guilford in Game 3 of the ODAC Softball Tournament. The two blasts -- both 2-run shots -- mark the 38th and 39th of her career to tie and then reset the ODAC and Lynchburg all-time records for career homers.
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Weather Alters ODAC Softball Tournament Format
April 25, 2019The weather forecast for the start of the ODAC Softball Tournament in Salem has prompted a change to the game schedule for the weekend. Local and regional weather services are tracking rain in Salem beginning Thursday evening and continuing thru the afternoon hours on Friday. The rain is expected to let up to allow games to be played that evening.
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ODAC Softball Tournament Field Set
April 23, 2019The upcoming ODAC Softball Tournament has a bit of a new feel with a shakeup in the field compared to last year's team list. That is, if you look past the top seed. Two-time defending NCAA Division III champion Virginia Wesleyan stands atop the eight-team field in the No. 1 position. The Marlins, who have been the nation's top-ranked team for much of the season, occupy the tournament's top perch for a eighth consecutive year.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 34
April 22, 2019The regular season is winding down with two championships in the books and three more slated for this weekend. ODAC athletes continue to perform at high levels, giving fans an idea of what to expect when the hardware is on the line. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Matthew Moody from Hampden-Sydney tennis, Georgia Wright from Washington and Lee women's tennis, Haley Tucker and A.J. Witherell from W&L women's and men's lacrosse, Chase Counts from H-SC baseball, Mackenzie Chitwood from Lynchburg softball, Andrew Earvolino from W&L baseball, Hanna Hull from Virginia Wesleyan softball, and James Mishoe from Guilford men's golf.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 33
April 15, 2019The spring championship season is upon us with the outdoor track & field concluding its regular season slate in preparation for next weekend's ODAC championships. Several other sports are closing in on their final contests, with performances showing that the athletes are ready. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Jamie Hiegel and Calista Ariel from Bridgewater track & field, Joe O'Connor from Washington and Lee track & field, Jesse Bartley from BC women's golf, Alyson Bittinger from Shenandoah women's lacrosse, Brendan Markovic from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Alissa Anderson from Lynchburg women's tennis, Mason Robb from Guilford men's tennis, Nick Roth from R-MC baseball, Carla Hall from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Keegan Woolford from SU baseball, Kendall Varner from Emory & Henry softball, and Zoe Scales from LYN track & field.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 32
April 08, 2019Some outstanding performances dotted each ODAC sport over the past week. Postseason play looms large with each result, making those highlight outings that much more important. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Gerard DePhillips from Shenandoah baseball, Hanna Hull from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Ray Tricarico from Eastern Mennonite baseball, Anna Thomas from Emory & Henry softball, Laurie Jones from Washington and Lee women's golf, Keith Cooper from VWU men's golf, Kelsi Trevisan from Lynchburg women's lacrosse, Eric Husselbaugh from Bridgewater men's lacrosse, Joe Horne from Guilford men's tennis, Ashley Schmitz from Randolph women's tennis, Grant Amoateng from EMU men's track & field, Jennifer Calascione from Roanoke women's track & field, Tristan Lucy-Speidel from LYN men's track & field, and Emily Valle from BC women's track & field.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 31
April 01, 2019We move into April with ODAC teams and athletes coming out of spring break trips and diving deep into league play. The performances have been excellent. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Emmy Saathoff from Randolph-Macon women's golf, Branson Terrell from Lynchburg men's golf, Tori Manahan from Virginia Wesleyan women's lacrosse, A.J. Witherell from Washington and Lee men's lacrosse, Dirk Jones and Emily Valle from Bridgewater track & field, Donovan Fiore and Maggie Seybold from W&L track & field, Keyu Jin from Randolph women's tennis, Mitchell Thomas from W&L men's tennis, Hanna Hull from VWU softball, Trenton Tiller from Hampden-Sydney baseball, Leanna Toler from Emory & Henry softball, and Holden Fiedler from LYN baseball.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 30
March 25, 2019The crossover season from winter to spring is official complete. ODAC teams participated heavily in league play with playing warming up much like the temperatures outdoors. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Alex Nelson from Randolph-Macon men's golf, Maggie Kingora from Virginia Wesleyan women's golf, Jason Sarro from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Haley Tucker from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Rachel Murray from Lynchburg women's track & field, Joe O'Connor from W&L men's track & field, Jessica Cammarata and Reid Sharkey from LYN track & field, Jack Fishwick from RC men's tennis, Whitney Kiser from Bridgewater women's tennis, Tyler Blevins from Hampden-Sydney baseball, Kayla Hugate from LYN softball, Drew Calohan from Ferrum baseball, and Hanna Hull from VWU softball.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 29
March 18, 2019Lots of sunshine last week led to a schedule full of outdoor spring sports and stellar ODAC performances. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Garrett Jackson from Lynchburg baseball, Mackenzie Chitwood from LYN softball, Hunter Campbell from LYN baseball, Hanna Hull from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Joe O'Connor from Washington and Lee outdoor track, Maddie Van Aken and Kevin Moran from LYN outdoor track, Emily Valle from Bridgewater outdoor track, Beth Ann Townsend from W&L women's golf, Adam Hade from Hampden-Sydney men's golf, Christina Harris from LYN women's tennis, Archer Marlow from Emory & Henry men's tennis, Dani Murray from W&L women's lacrosse, and Peter Lindley from Roanoke men's lacrosse.
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ODAC Players of the Week - Week 28
March 11, 2019All spring sports were in action last week for the first time this season, bringing about our first full spring report of the year. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, top-to-bottom left-to-right): Reeves Lowry from Shenandoah baseball, Candace Whittemore from Randolph-Macon softball, Tim Ortega from Ferrum baseball, Amanda Kelley from Bridgewater women's golf, Alyson Bittinger and Ryan Schott from SU lacrosse, Taylor Garcia and Alex Fedor from Washington and Lee tennis, Dalton Hoppe, Rachel Murray, Alex Shadkhoo, and LaMaya Lacy from Lynchburg outdoor track & field, Branson Terrell from LYN men's golf, and Mackenzie Chitwood from LYN softball.
