Roanoke, Virginia Wesleyan Secure Major Accolades

FOREST, Va. --- Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan College took home several honors in the 2012 All-ODAC Softball Teams, including each of the major accolades.  VWC outfielder Tori Higginbotham was tabbed the ODAC Player of the Year, while teammate Kristina Karagiorgis was named the ODAC Pitcher of the Year.  Karagiorgis and Roanoke hurler Kelly Higbie shared ODAC Rookie of the Year honors, as did RC mentor Mike Mitchell and Marlins coach Brandon Elliott with the ODAC Coach of the Year award.  The Maroons' Alea Bier was tabbed the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year in a vote of the league's sports information directors.

Higginbotham, a sophomore from Glen Allen, Va., put together a strong all-around campaign in just her second season.  The Marlins' centerfielder currently leads the ODAC with 66 hits, a .465 batting average and a .761 slugging percentage.  She has recorded 24 extra-base hits including 13 doubles, four triples and seven homeruns.  She has also stolen 26 bases while collecting 24 RBI and an ODAC-high 56 runs scored.  In 42 total games, she hit safely 38 times and reached based on all but three occasions.  Higginbotham's success carried into conference play where she hit safely in 16-of-18 games played towards a .460 batting average.  Her 26 runs scored sit atop the statistical charts, and she is top five in hits (29), triples (2), homers (5), steals (11), and total bases (54).

Karagiorgis, a freshman from Ashburn, Va., stood out both on the rubber and at the dish.  She took to the pitcher's circle 26 times (20 starts) and went 16-4 with four saves.  She posted a 1.28 earned run average, second-best in the ODAC, in 118.1 innings pitched.  She went 9-1 in 10 starts against ODAC competition, picking up a save in her remaining league outing.  She struck out 124 batters overall and 68 in conference play, both tops in the conference.  She also recorded four shutouts with two coming in ODAC games.  At the plate, Karagiorgis posted a .382 batting average with five doubles, five triples, seven homers and a league best 48 RBI.  Against ODAC foes, she hit .448 with 25 runs batted in, which topped the league charts.

Higbie, a freshman from Midlothian, Va., threw every inning of Roanoke's first 21 games to open the 2012 campaign.  She went on to pitch in all but one of RC's 38 total games played, racking up an ODAC-high 208.2 innings pitched.  She posted a 24-8 overall record, tops in the conference in wins.  Her 1.54 earned run average ranked third in the league.  In ODAC play, Higbie went 9-4 with two saves and a 1.68 ERA in 87.1 innings of work.  Of her 33 total starts, she posted 29 complete games, including 11 in 13 conference starts.  She also tossed six total shutouts, two against ODAC foes.  She fanned 116 batters overall, 46 in league games.

Bier, a junior from Bent Mountain, Va., adds the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete honor to a first team selection at first base.  In the classroom, Bier boasts a 3.96 grade point average as a Criminal Justice major.  She is a three-time honoree on the Roanoke College Dean's List, in addition to the last two semesters when she earned distinction on the President's List (4.0 GPA for the semester).  She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa (national academic), Alpha Chi (national scholarship/character) and Alpha Phi Sigma (national criminal justice) honor societies.  On the field, Bier batted .400 (46-of-115) with an ODAC second-best 15 doubles.  She also scored 33 runs and drove in 29.  She stole 12 bases and posted a .481 on-base percentage, sixth-best in the conference.

Elliott, in his fifth season guiding the Marlins, enjoys his second overall and second straight ODAC Coach of the Year honor.  He has led the Marlins to a 30-12 overall record, including a 17-1 mark in league play, which secured the top seed in the ODAC tournament.  This season marks the second time during his tenure that the Marlins have won at least 30 games (34 in 2010).

Mitchell, in his fourth season at the Maroons' helm, earns his first ODAC top coaching honor.  He led Roanoke to an ODAC-record eighth conference softball title, the program's first since it won three straight from 2004-06.  RC's overall record of 29-9 marks the second-most wins under Mitchell, following Roanoke's 30-9 record in 2010.  The Maroons will be making their seventh appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament later this month.  It will be their first national postseason showing since 2006.

Listed below are the complete 2012 All-ODAC Softball 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.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.

2012 ALL-ODAC SOFTBALL TEAMS
ODAC Player of the Year: Tori Higginbotham, So., OF, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Pitcher of the Year: Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Co-Coach of the Year: Brandon Elliott, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Co-Coach of the Year: Mike Mitchell, Roanoke
ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year: Kelly Higbie, Fr., P, Roanoke
ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year: Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., P, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Alea Bier, Jr., 1st Base, Roanoke

ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Kelly Higbie, Fr., Roanoke
Pitcher: Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., Virginia Wesleyan
Catcher: Felice Lowery, Sr., Roanoke
First Base: Alea Bier, Jr., Roanoke
Second Base: Kelly Keys, So., Virginia Wesleyan
Third Base: Brianna Bertovich, Sr., Virginia Wesleyan
Shortstop: Ashley Gardner, Jr., Randolph
Outfield: Tori Higginbotham, So., Virginia Wesleyan
Outfield: Leona Rainey, Jr., Roanoke
Outfield: Hollee Warlitner, Jr., Roanoke
Designated Player: Sarah Heretick, Sr., Bridgewater
Utility: Jaclyn Quinn, Sr., Virginia Wesleyan

ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: MacKenzie Creech, So., Virginia Wesleyan
Pitcher: Heather Lewis, Jr., Randolph-Macon
Catcher: Laura Bauer, Sr., Randolph-Macon
First Base: Sarah Cutright, Jr., Guilford
Second Base: Cynthia Hayes, So., Guilford
Third Base: Melanie Lamb, Jr., Bridgewater
Shortstop: Taylor Walker, Sr., Lynchburg
Outfield: Jessi Hall, Fr., Lynchburg
Outfield: Lauren Stevenson, Jr., Randolph
Outfield: Melanie Tenney, So., Lynchburg
Designated Player: Gina Pagano, Sr., Randolph
Utility: Lisa Lee, Sr., Eastern Mennonite

ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Heather Jenkins, Jr., Bridgewater
Pitcher: Hope Johnson, Fr., Lynchburg
Catcher: Rasheeda Crews, Sr., Eastern Mennonite
First Base: Sara Jenkins, Jr., Eastern Mennonite
Second Base: Courtney Allman, Jr., Eastern Mennonite
Third Base: Katherine Kouri, Sr., Roanoke
Shortstop: Brooke Hensley, So., Eastern Mennonite
Outfield: Rhea Schleicher, Fr., Roanoke
Outfield: Amanda Sopko, Fr., Randolph-Macon
Outfield: Morgan Williams, Jr., Bridgewater
Designated Player: Carolyn Gilbertson, So., Randolph-Macon
Utility: Aven Thomas, Jr., Bridgewater