Randolph-Macon College sophomore righty Gracie Ellis is the lone representative from an ODAC school recognized as an All-American by the NFCA on Thursday. The two-time ODAC Pitcher of the Year was named a Third Team All-America selection.
Randolph-Macon College split the second and third games of its NCAA Division III Softball Super Regional series with Rowan University on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets shut out the Profs, 3-0, in the day's first outing, but a 5-3 setback in the winner-take-all second contest saw Rowan posted a 5-3 victory to earn a spot in the national championship series in Marshall, Texas, next week.
Virginia Wesleyan University split two games at Christopher Newport University in NCAA Division III Softball Super Regional action on Saturday morning and afternoon. The Marlins won the first game of the day, 5-2, to force a winner-take-all second outing. The Captains posted a 6-4 victory for its second win of the series to earn a trip to the national championship series in Marshall, Texas.
The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (38-12) lost 3-1 to Christopher Newport University in game one of the NCAA DIII Softball Super Regionals.
Randolph-Macon's offense was held in check by Rowan University on Friday afternoon as the Yellow Jackets posted their run in the seventh inning on the way to a 5-1 loss to the Profs in the opening game of the Ashland Super Regional of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.
Sophomore pitcher Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) tossed two complete game shutouts in the regional final against Swarthmore on Saturday to capture the Yellow Jackets' second consecutive regional title.
The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (38-11) split with TCNJ in the NCAA Regional Finals to move on to the Super Regionals of the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament.
Roanoke College saw its run in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship come to a close on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 loss to nationally 10th-ranked Christopher Newport University in the first of two possible regional championship games.
The 9th -ranked Randolph-Macon softball team looked to bounce back against St. John Fisher on Friday afternoon in an elimination game. The Yellow Jackets topped the Cardinals in five innings to advance to play Ramapo in game three of the day, where they broke the tie late to win 5-2 to move to the regional final.
Roanoke College was on the wrong end of a perfect game against nationally 10th-ranked Christopher Newport University in their first outing of the day. But the Maroons shook off the 2-0 shutout and defeated Misericordia University for the second time in two days with a 6-1 result to stay alive in NCAA Division III Softball Championship regional action.
The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (37-10) defeated No. 18 The College of New Jersey 9-3 to move on to the final round of the double elimination tournament.
The 9th-ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets hosted Swarthmore College for the first game of the NCAA Tournament in Ashland. Swarthmore hit a go-ahead triple in the ninth inning to complete the upset over the top-seed RMC, 3-2.
Roanoke College scored three times in the first inning and cruised thereafter in a 3-0 shutout over Misericordia University in their opening contest of regional play in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship on Thursday.
Virginia Wesleyan University collected a league-high eight all-conference honors while conference champion Randolph-Macon College earned three-of-five special individual honors to headline the 2023 All-ODAC Softball Awards.
Yellow Jackets righty Gracie Ellis earned her second straight ODAC Pitcher of the Year plaque from the league's head coaches and paired it with ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year distinction in a vote of the conference's athletic communications personnel. R-MC first baseman and pitcher Rilee Baughan garnered ODAC Player of the Year laurels. Roanoke College mentor Mike Mitchell received ODAC Coach of the Year recognition from his peers, and Virginia Wesleyan second baseman Laci Campbell received ODAC Rookie of the Year plaudits.
Randolph-Macon College backed up its game one win over Roanoke College with a victory in game two to claim the best-of-three championship series in the ODAC Softball Tournament at Botetourt Sports Complex on Friday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets 4-3 triumph over the Maroons secured their second conference title, joining the crown R-MC donned in 2015.
The new format of the ODAC Softball Tournament showed off the depth of talent in the conference, but ultimately the top two seeds advanced to the final best-of-three championship series following the first weekend of the league's postseason event. Top-seeded Roanoke College and second-seeded Randolph-Macon College will square off for the ODAC trophy this week at Botetourt Sports Complex in Troutville, Va.
Dates for the final series will be confirmed early this coming week. The final series is currently slated for Thursday and Friday, May 11-12. Possible conflicts with graduation ceremonies and other end-of-year functions on both campuses may allow for Friday and Saturday to serve as competition dates.
FOREST, Va. --- The ODAC regular season closed on Tuesday evening, setting the placements in the upcoming ODAC Softball Tournament bracket in stone with eight teams slated to embark on a two tournament format. Roanoke College and Randolph-Macon College headline the field enter the conference postseason.
The ODAC tournament's traditional home -- the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. -- is in the midst of a $15-20 million facelift as it prepares to host further ODAC, NCAA, and other local, regional, and national action in the coming years. That will include the opening weekend of the ODAC postseason and the final eight teams of the Division III Softball Championship in 2024.
This year, both weekends of the league's new format will be hosted at member campuses. The structure mimics the Division III's regional and super-regional rounds. On the first weekend slated for May 5-7 at the #1 and #2 seeds, the tournament's field will be split into two four-team pods for double-elimination competition. The winners of those two pods will meet a few days later, May 11-12, in a best-of-three championship series for the right to lift the ODAC trophy and earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA bracket.
Week 35 marks the final report of the 2022-23 season with all ODAC sports continuing or entering their postseason slates over the next week. Fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming events based on the performances from the past week. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, May 1, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Payton Saville from Lynchburg women's lacrosse, Hunter Cole from Randolph-Macon baseball, Riley Hastings from LYN men's lacrosse, Rianna Lowery from R-MC women's lacrosse, Tyler Hadley from LYN men's lacrosse, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, Jacob Faivre from Shenandoah baseball, and Rilee Baughan from R-MC softball.
An end becomes a beginning for some with the close of the ODAC regular season upon us over the next few weeks. Week 34 marks the final report for women's and men's tennis as those conference championship events begin on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 24, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Emma Stiffler from Shenandoah women's lacrosse, Warren Seeds from Washington and Lee men's lacrosse, Addison Schmidt from Roanoke women's lacrosse, Hudson Pokorny from W&L men's lacrosse, Sarah Prosser from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Benton Jones from Lynchburg baseball, Lauren Long and Evan Erb from W&L tennis, Lauren Bible from VWU softball, and Jack Bachmore from LYN baseball.
ODAC standings are starting to take shape with just a couple of weeks left in the 2022-23 regular seasons. The lines making those shapes are sharper for some than others as results from Week 33 in some conference sports muddied the league tables with no way to predict who might sit where for seeding until all the games are completed. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 17, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Lilly Burns from Roanoke softball, Owen Tappy from Hampden-Sydney baseball, Jada Karnes from RC softball, Levi Vigdorchik from Lynchburg men's tennis, Natalie Mason from RC women's lacrosse, Owen Gucwa from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Paul Ryhsen from Averett women's tennis, Tyler Blittersdorf from Shenandoah baseball, Elizabeth Peasley from AU women's lacrosse, and Ethan Robinette from R-MC men's lacrosse.
Week 32 of the Division III season means we are just a few weeks away from the start of spring championships and the stretch run of the 2022-23 campaign. ODAC teams and athletes are certain ready for such challenges based on the high caliber of play coming from all corners of the league. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 10, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Zack Potts from Lynchburg baseball, Naomi Sadler from Randolph-Macon softball, Brody Langlotz from Roanoke baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, Thomas Harry from Hampden-Sydney lacrosse, Rachael Robinson from Bridgewater women's lacrosse, Artem Babaiev and Jahveesha Combs from Shenandoah tennis, Jake Rust from LYN men's lacrosse, and Hanna Bishop from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse.
April signifies the stretch run for any Division III season, and that is no different this year with Week 31 reporting marking the first days of the month. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 3, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, Allie Schwab from W&L women's lacrosse, Luke Kammerman from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Lauren Long from W&L women's tennis, Wesley Arrington and Emily Charlton from Lynchburg baseball and softball, Will Perry from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, Sam Van Belle from W&L women's lacrosse, Carrson Atkins from LYN baseball, and Julia Piotrowski from Virginia Wesleyan softball.
Temperatures are rising outside and so are ODAC athletes' performances as evidenced by the strong crew of award winners and honor roll members for Week 30 of the 2022-23 academic year. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 27, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Jacob Bell from Shenandoah baseball, Felix Bevc from Virginia Wesleyan men's tennis, Lauren Long from Washington and Lee women's tennis, Kyleigh Chickering from Roanoke women's lacrosse, Oliva Owens from Randolph-Macon softball, Avery Neaves from Lynchburg baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, Tyler Hadley from LYN men's lacrosse, Raven Felder from Averett women's lacrosse, and Riley Mitchell from LYN men's lacrosse.
Spring sports are at full-go with outdoor track & field joining the action for Week 29 (announced on Tuesday). Movement in ODAC standings became more frequent and will continue to take shape as we draw deeper into March. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 20, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Sarah Watts from Lynchburg softball, Gaines Weis from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, Caroline Kranich from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Jahveesha Combs from Shenandoah women's tennis, Kooper Anderson and Jacob Bell from SU baseball, Walker McKnight from W&L women's lacrosse, Wyatt Whitlow from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Emily Seale from Virginia Wesleyan softball, and Jovan Cirkovic from SU men's tennis.
A wintry blast limited action for spring sports in Week 28, but that didn't keep ODAC stars from continuing their high level play in all arenas. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 13, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Jada Karnes and Caleb Lingenfelter from Roanoke softball and baseball, Lauren Roberts and Gabriel Alexand from Bridgewater women's and men's lacrosse, Matt Sinko from Virginia Wesleyan baseball, Rilee Baughan from Randolph-Macon softball, Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, Isabela Guilarte from Sweet Briar women's tennis, Tyler Hadley from Lynchburg men's lacrosse, and Eugenie Rovegno from W&L women's lacrosse.
If early season play is any indication, ODAC fans are going to have a lot to cheer about during the spring season. Week 27 featured big time wins in tennis and high-output performances in baseball, lacrosse, and softball.
Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 6, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Ruth de Souza from Sweet Briar tennis, Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, Julia Thomson from W&L women's lacrosse, Mark Sprague from Virginia Wesleyan men's lacrosse, Kayla Davis from Randolph-Macon softball, Colby Martin from Shenandoah baseball, Ashley MacFarlane from SU women's lacrosse, Tyler Carney from Bridgewater men's lacrosse, Rilee Baughan from R-MC softball, and Will Turner from Roanoke baseball.
Weather did not cooperate in some areas for our spring sports as Week 26 marks the first fully outdoor report of the spring season. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, February 27, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Eugenie Rovegno from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Jack Smith from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Sarah Watts from Lynchburg softball, Isaiah Hairston from Guilford basketball, Shannon Timoney from W&L women's lacrosse, Andres Mercedes from GC men's tennis, Emma Adams from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Tyler Hadley from LYN men's lacrosse, Gabi Moss from W&L women's tennis, and Hayden Snelsire from R-MC baseball.
Week 25 marks the largest report of the season with a full slate of spring sports joining basketball in the final week of "crossover season." Softball, women's lacrosse, and tennis honors its first athletes of the year with baseball and men's lacrosse continuing and basketball wrapping up its regular season with this week's ODAC Tournament beginning Monday evening.
Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, February 20, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Tyler Hadley from Lynchburg men's lacrosse, Caroline Kranich from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Robert DiSibio and Mary Schleusner from W&L men's and women's basketball, Evan Blair from W&L baseball, Taylor Sullivan from Averett softball, Allie Schab and Hudson Pokorny from W&L women's and men's lacrosse, Elizabeth Teefey from LYN women's tennis, Federico Maccari from Roanoke men's tennis, Gracie Dooley from LYN softball, and Ethan Currin from Hampden-Sydney baseball.
ODAC softball has been wildly successful for much of the last decade on several levels with a combination of single-school dominance and multi-institutional parity. This year's ODAC Softball Preseason Poll may illustrate that better than ever with just one point separating two of the 15 squads that have qualified for NCAA Tournament play over the past five seasons.
Six-time defending ODAC champion Virginia Wesleyan University sits atop the table but by just one point over fellow 2022 NCAA super regional qualifier Randolph-Macon College. The Marlins collected six first place votes on the way to 95 points, while the Yellow Jackets secured the remaining five top nods to power a 94-point haul.
University of Lynchburg lines up next with 81 markers and is followed closely by 2022 NCAA qualifier Roanoke College with 75 tallies. Bridgewater College rounds out the top-five with 63 points.
R-MC's Ellis Named NFCA Third Team All-American
June 01, 2023Randolph-Macon College sophomore righty Gracie Ellis is the lone representative from an ODAC school recognized as an All-American by the NFCA on Thursday. The two-time ODAC Pitcher of the Year was named a Third Team All-America selection.
