Hornets, Maroons, Marlins Each Place Three on First Team

SALEM, Va. --- Nine players from three schools account for all but three spots of the first team selections amongst the 2010 ODAC Softball All-Conference Teams.  Lynchburg College, Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan College each garnered three honorees on the All-ODAC First Team.  Lynchburg’s Lauren Duguay took home a pair of individual honors as the ODAC Player of the Year and ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete.  VWC’s Brittaney Brown was named the ODAC Pitcher of the Year.

The league’s top coaching honor went to Eastern Mennonite University mentor, J.D. McCurdy.  Roanoke outfielder Leona Rainey was tabbed the ODAC Rookie of the Year in addition to a nod on the All-ODAC First Team.

Duguay, a senior from Williamsburg, Va., stars both on and off the field for the Hornets, and is the second straight winner from Lynchburg of softball’s scholar-athlete award.  In the classroom, Duguay boasts a 3.53 grade point average while majoring in communication studies with an emphasis on public relations and journalism.  She also minors in health promotions.  A perennial member of the Lynchburg Dean’s List and the All-ODAC Academic Team, Duguay is also a member of the PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America).

A two-time All-ODAC First Team choice, Duguay posted a .434 overall batting average with seven homeruns and 35 runs batted in.  Her numbers improved against tough ODAC opponents in the regular season.  She sported a conference-best .520 batting average against league foes, hitting six homers to go with 21 RBI.  She was also 5-for-5 in stolen bases.  Duguay also flashed the leather, going errorless in 33 total chances including one outfield assist.  She was 17-for-17 in outfield chances in conference-play.

Brown, a senior from Chesapeake, Va., adds the 2010 top pitching award to the one she earned in 2008.  This is also her second showing on the All-ODAC First Team.  She led the conference in nearly every pitching statistic, posting a 25-8 overall record and four saves to with a 1.02 earned run average in 205.2 innings of work.  She surrendered just 168 hits and 28 walks while fanning 218 batters.  Against ODAC competition in the regular season, Brown went 10-4 with one save and a 0.72 ERA in 78.1 innings.  She struck out 86 batters with 61 hits and eight walks allowed.

McCurdy led Eastern Mennonite to the program’s second ODAC title, becoming the first eighth seeded team in any sport to win an ODAC title.  The Royals won the ODAC tournament in the minimum amount of games, having defeated #1 Guilford College, #4 Lynchburg, #6 Randolph-Macon College and #3 Virginia Wesleyan.  McCurdy and Royals look to continue their run in the NCAA Division III Tournament in May.

Rainey, a freshman from Sandston, Va., posted a .466 overall batting average while stealing a conference-best 30 bags in 31 attempts.  Against ODAC opponents, Rainey hit .490 with a homer and 17 stolen bases in 18 tries as the Maroons’ lead-off hitter.  In the outfield, Rainey made just one error in 40 chances with 36 putouts and three assists.

Listed below are the complete 2010 ODAC Softball All-Conference Teams.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.

2010 ODAC SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
Player of the Year: Lauren Duguay, Lynchburg
Pitcher of the Year: Brittaney Brown, Virginia Wesleyan
Coach of the Year: J.D. McCurdy, Eastern Mennonite
Rookie of the Year: Leona Rainey, Roanoke
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Lauren Duguay, Lynchburg

All-ODAC First Team
Pitcher: Brittany Brown, Virginia Wesleyan
Pitcher: Katie Bruce, Lynchburg
Catcher: Jaclyn Quinn, Virginia Wesleyan
First Base: Laura Bauer, Randolph-Macon
Second Base: Kristy White, Virginia Wesleyan
Third Base: Lauren Childress, Bridgewater
Shortstop: Taylor Walker, Lynchburg
Outfield: Lauren Duguay, Lynchburg
Outfield: Kimberly Keys, Guilford
Outfield: Leona Rainey, Roanoke
Designated Player: Lisa Scruggs, Roanoke
Utility: Hollee Warlitner, Roanoke

All-ODAC Second Team
Pitcher: Ashley Gills, Bridgewater
Pitcher: Abigail Rexrode, Roanoke
Catcher: Nicole Shelton, Eastern Mennonite
First Base: Lindsay Cross, Randolph
Second Base: Sarah Smith, Lynchburg
Third Base: Morgan Reynolds, Virginia Wesleyan
Shortstop: Leah Cossentino, Bridgewater
Outfield: Jessica Blosser, Eastern Mennonite
Outfield: Aven Thomas, Bridgewater
Outfield: Brittany Willingham, Randolph
Designated Player: Emily Morris, Bridgewater
Utility: Lisa Lee, Eastern Mennonite

All-ODAC Honorable Mention
Angela Spinelli, First Base, Bridgewater
Nicole Wade, Pitcher, Eastern Mennonite
Ashley Ebersole, Shortstop, Emory & Henry
Charissa Duncan, Outfield, Guilford
Meagan Fredenberg, Catcher, Lynchburg
Nichole Smith, Third Base, Randolph
Paige Smith, Third Base, Randolph-Macon
Kelsey Ruitenberg, First Base, Roanoke
Katelyn Jones, Pitcher, Sweet Briar
Brianna Bertovich, Shortstop, Virginia Wesleyan