2010-11 Softball News

  • NFCA Names Rainey an All-American
    May 27, 2011
    Roanoke outfielder Leona Rainey (pictured) was named an All-American by the NFCA last week in its annual awards ceremony at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship banquet in Salem. The ODAC was represented by 11 student-athletes on the NFCA All-Region teams.
  • Marlins Eliminated from NCAA Play
    May 13, 2011
    Virginia Wesleyan was eliminated from the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament during its regional action at Salisbury University. The Marlins fell to Christopher Newport University, 8-6, in the first round on Thursday. The next day, Kean University out-slugged VWC, 13-5, in five innings.
  • Marlins Head to Salisbury for NCAA Play
    May 09, 2011
    Virginia Wesleyan will be the lone representative from the ODAC in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, as announced in the NCAA selection show on Monday afternoon. The Marlins earned their place in the NCAA field by winning the ODAC Tournament as the sixth seed. VWC took the shortest route to the title, winning four games including the final against Randolph.
  • Childress, Lee Top ODAC Softball Awards
    April 29, 2011
    BC's Lauren Childress and EMU's Lisa Lee top the All-ODAC Softball Teams as the pair was named the Player and Pitcher of the Year. Childress added a second honor as she was tabbed the scholar-athlete winner. VWC's Brandon Elliott was named the Coach of the Year, and fellow Marlin MacKenzie Creech was selected as the Rookie of the Year.
  • Creech Named National Player of the Week
    April 27, 2011
    Virginia Wesleyan hurler MacKenzie Creech was named Co-National Player of the Week by the NFCA for her performance during the ODAC Softball Tournament. Creech went 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA in 30 innings on the way to the Most Outstanding Player honor. She fanned 27 and gave up only 19 hits. Click to read the full story from the NFCA.
  • Marlins Win Sixth ODAC Softball Title
    April 23, 2011
    Virginia Wesleyan College took the shortest route to its sixth ODAC softball title on Friday afternoon as the Marlins completed a 4-0 run through the winners' bracket with a 7-0 victory over Randolph College in the championship game of the 2011 ODAC Softball Tournament. The Marlins earn the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
  • Royals Move on with Win Over LC
    April 22, 2011
    Eastern Mennonite kept is hopes of three straight trips to the ODAC title game alive with a 6-4 win over Lynchburg. Lisa Lee picked up the victory of the Royals, improving to 19-7 on the season. Megan Viafora collected three hits to lead the offense. LC's Rachel Gallagher matched her with three knocks for the Hornets.
  • Bridgewater Tops Guilford, Will Face EMU
    April 22, 2011
    Bridgewater scored three runs in its half of the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run single back up the middle by shortstop Hillary Rees to help propel the Eagles past Guilford, 4-2, and into a meeting with local rival Eastern Mennonite.
  • Marlins Top Randolph in 1-0 Thriller
    April 22, 2011
    Paige Pritchett rocketed the ball past the third baseman and into left field, scoring Tori Higginbotham for the game's only run as Virginia Wesleyan took the shortest route to Saturday's title game with a 1-0 victory over Randolph in the winner's bracket. Randolph will face the winner of Eastern Mennonite and Bridgewater for the chance to join VWC in Saturday's title contest.
  • BC Holds Off EMU After Rain Delay
    April 22, 2011
    Three runs in three hours. That's how many runs the Bridgewater Eagles scored in a rain delayed fourth inning as the Eagles softball team prevailed by a 3-1 score over Eastern Mennonite to stay alive in the ODAC softball tournament at the James I. Moyer Complex.
  • Randolph Headed to ODAC Final
    April 22, 2011
    Randolph College rallied to knock off second-seeded Bridgewater College, 6-3, to earn a spot in the ODAC Softball Tournament final Saturday at 2 p.m. The WildCats (22-18) will need to knock off the Marlins of VWC twice tomorrow to win the conference crown as Virginia Wesleyan is still sitting without a loss.
  • Extra Innings Aplenty on Day One
    April 21, 2011
    Four of eight games went into extra innings on the first day of the ODAC Softball Tournament as the eight-team field was pared down to six by the day's end. Randolph and Virginia Wesleyan won twice, while two of the top four seeds exited early.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: April 18, 2011
    April 18, 2011
    ODAC spring championships have either begun with conference athletes continuing to perform at a high level. Those earning weekly honors include: Chris Martin, HSC; Brooke Hensley, EMU; Andy Richter, EMU; Lisa Lee, EMU; Jeff Keating, RC; Sheila Anthony, HU; Noah Ratner, GC; Katie Gordon, BC; Tyler Mercier, GC; Ashley Allen, LC; Johnathan Smith, GC.
  • ODAC Softball Heads Back to Moyer
    April 18, 2011
    For the second straight year, it took tie-breakers to determine the top two seeds in the ODAC softball postseason. Head-to-head results propelled defending champion, Eastern Mennonite University (25-11 overall, 14-4 ODAC), into the top spot with Bridgewater College (25-8, 14-4) holding the second seed entering the 2011 ODAC Softball Tournament.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: April 11, 2011
    April 11, 2011
    Bad weather threatened play last week, but ODAC athletes came through with flying colors. Those who earned weekly honors include: Mark Manthe, RC; Lauren Childress, BC; Will James, GC; Jessica Burcham, GC; Jeff Keating, RC; Tara Harding, VWC; Mike Redwood, BC; Ariel Taylor, SBC; Peter Hawkins, BC; Krystle Landes, LC; Rachad Davis, LC.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: April 4, 2011
    April 04, 2011
    Golf took a brief hiatus from play last, but 10 other student-athletes earned weekly honors, including: C.J. Thompson, W&L; Lisa Scruggs, RC; Matt Morgan, LC; MacKenzie Creech, VWC; Richard Lachlan, RC; Kelly Egan, RMC; Hayden White, W&L; Jen Snyder, W&L; Sean Whitson, VWC; Carmen Graves, RC.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: March 28, 2011
    March 28, 2011
    ODAC athletes continued to perform over the past week. Those earning ODAC weekly awards include: Jordan Walton, RMC; Brooke Hensley, EMU; Gregg Laswell, W&L; Heather Jenkins, BC; Cole Hawthorne, HSC; Lesley Buckingham, LC; Noah Ratner, GC; Whitney Fitzwater, RC; John Michael Pavia, LC; Brittany Wilson, BC; Shad Harrell, HSC.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: March 21, 2011
    March 21, 2011
    Outdoor track competed for the first time this season, putting all nine ODAC spring sports in action. This week's Players of the Week include: Jonathan Mason, BC; Leona Rainey, RC; Jody Davis, W&L; Lisa Lee, EMU; Jason Lumpkin, W&L; Meegan Rourke, RC; Max Wyndorf, RMC; Carmen Graves, RC; Johnathan Smith, GC; Ariel Taylor, SBC; Rich Pugh, HSC.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: March 14, 2011
    March 14, 2011
    The weather played some tricks with spring action last week, but plenty of games and standout performances still featured throughout the conference. This week's players of the week include: Kyle Wooden, GC; Paige Smith, RMC; Kevin Chandler, BC; Heather Jenkins, BC; Taylor Chamberlain, BC (not pictured); Henry Farley, GC; Martha Vlahakis, RMC; Brad DeWitt, BC.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: March 7, 2011
    March 07, 2011
    Spring Break is in full swing for many schools, with tournaments featuring in several spring sports. This week, nine athletes earned weekly honors, including: Joseph Lucas, BC; Katie Bruce, LC; Shayne Paskanik, VWC (not pictured); Brenae Pettit, VWC; Tim Gavrich, W&L; Gina Valles, RC; Jeff Keating, RC; Christina Douglas, W&L; Will Hall, W&L
  • ODAC Players of the Week: Feb. 28, 2010
    February 28, 2011
    Golf joined the group of sports participating in weekly conference action. This week, nine athletes earned weekly honors, including: Jacob Clifton, RC; Lisa Scruggs, RC; Michael Haslam, RC; Heather Lewis, R-MC; Noah Ratner, GC; Wilton Megargel, W&L; Tyler Midwinter, R-MC; Sarah Budrus, HU; Jeremy Becht, W&L.
  • ODAC Players of the Week: Feb. 21, 2010
    February 21, 2011
    On the eve of a pair of championships, 12 athletes earn weekly honors. Those individuals include: Jay Thompson, BC; Ami Hutcherson, GC; Sammy Stuart, GC; Caitlin Dolby, LC; Todd Phillips, EMU; Kala Yoders, EMU; Randy Lott, VWC; Erica Garber, EMU; Micah Keller, HSC; Emmy Mathews, W&L; Tyler Mercier, GC; Ellen Yeatman, W&L.
  • Lynchburg Tops Tight Softball Poll
    February 14, 2011
    Lynchburg College and Katie Bruce (pictured) topped the ODAC softball poll with 88 points and a pair of first place votes. Only 12 points separate the top four teams, and five teams received first place consideration. Roanoke (1), Guilford (5), Bridgewater (1) and Eastern Mennonite (1) also earned first place votes.
  • E&H Hires Jordan to Coach Softball
    September 28, 2010
    Emory & Henry announced the hiring of a new softball coach on Tuesday afternoon. Jack Jordan, former head coach of Virginia Wesleyan softball (1985-90) and women's basketball (1985-91), returns to the ODAC to take the reins of the Wasps' softball program. He compiled a 170-58 softball record while at VWC, and led the team to two NCAA appearances.
  • Cubbage Named Randolph Softball Coach
    August 03, 2010
    Randolph Director of Athletics Tina Hill has named Caroline Cubbage as the new WildCat head softball coach Tuesday. Cubbage earned her undergraduate degree from Lynchburg College, where she was a three-time All-American and two-time ODAC Player of the Year.