2023 Softball Players of the Week

  • Rilee Baughan, Randolph-Macon, Sr., 1st Base/Pitcher
    May 01, 2023
    Baughan, a senior from Warsaw, Va., registered four multi-hit games on the way to slashing .714/.647/1.143 in a 4-0 week for nationally 12th-ranked Randolph-Macon. She also went 1-0 in two appearances in the circle. At the dish, Baughan went 6-for-8 with two doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored in an ODAC road sweep (8-0, 7-0) at Ferrum. In game two, she went 4-for-5 with both doubles. She also went the distance in the circle, earning the shutout on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Baughan went 4-for-6 with a walk in a second ODAC road sweep (4-0, 4-3) at Guilford. She was 2-for-3 in game one with a walk, two RBI, and a run score. In game two, she again was 2-for-3 with a double and the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning. She started that game in the circle, working the first 5.0 innings and giving up two runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of punchouts in a no-decision. For the season, Baughan is slashing .366/.400/.634, with her SLG ranking third in the league. She is second in homeruns (7), RBI (40) and total bases (78). She is third in hits (45) and doubles (12). On the pitching plate, Baughan is 15-2 in 19 appearances, all starts. She is tied with teammate Gracie Ellis for the ODAC lead in wins, is third in innings pitched (118.1), fourth in ERA (1.48), and fifth in strikeouts (84). Opponents are hitting .239 against her.
  • Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, So., Pitcher
    May 01, 2023
    Ellis, a sophomore from New Kent, Va., continues the ODAC's strong representation of national caliber pitching performances as she is the second straight ODAC Pitcher of the Week to feature a perfect game among her weekly exploits. Ellis went 3-0 last week with pair of shutouts and victories in both set of a doubleheader. Her second career perfect game was a seven-inning effort in an 8-0 triumph at Ferrum. She struck out 12 batters in facing the minimum number of Panthers. Ellis threw up another zero on the scoreboard with a 4-0 shutout in game one at Guilford. She scattered six hits and did not walk a batter while fanning eight Quakers. She earned the victory in game two of the series, working the final two innings of a 4-3 triumph. She allowed one run on three hits. She did not walk a batter and struck out three. For the season, Ellis is 15-4 with two saves in 21 appearances including 17 starts. She leads the ODAC in complete games (16), shutouts (8), strikeouts (157), strikeouts per game (8.86), ERA (1.13), and opponent batting average (.153). She is second in innings pitched (124.0).
  • Sarah Prosser, Virginia Wesleyan, Fy., Centerfield
    April 24, 2023
    Prosser, a first-year from Clayton, N.C., was not just an on-base machine as Virginia Wesleyan's lead-off hitter last week, but she was adept as a run-producer to help the nationally 13th-ranked Marlins to a 6-0 showing against ODAC foes. Prosser went 9-for-13 overall with six RBI, seven runs scored, and nine stolen bases. In a sweep (3-2, 4-1) of Shenandoah, Prosser went 1-for-2 in game two and stole a base in both contests. She went 4-for-5 in a road sweep (8-1, 14-0 in 5 inn.) of Eastern Mennonite. She drove in a run, scored once, and stole a base in game one. In game two, she plated a pair of Marlins and scored twice herself while also swiping two more bases. In a sweep (14-5 in 5 inn., 15-0 in 5 inn.) of Ferrum, Prosser registered her second and third straight 2-for-2 games. She walked, scored twice, and drove in a pair with a stolen base in game one. In the second game, she stole three bags, doubled in a run, and scored two more times. For the season, the Marlins centerfielder leads the ODAC in this (51) and runs scored (35). She is second in batting (.415) and stolen bases (30), sixth in total bases (55), and eighth in OBP (.450).
  • Lauren Bible, Virginia Wesleyan, So., Pitcher
    April 24, 2023
    Bible, a sophomore from Danville, Calif., highlighted a strong pitching week in ODAC softball as she collected three victories and allowed just one unearned run over 16.0 innings in the circle for nationally 13th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan. Bible's effort included a five-inning perfect game in a 15-0 triumph over Ferrum. She struck out four of the 15 Panthers she faced in Sunday's triumph. Earlier in the week, Bible gave up one unearned run on three hits in a 4-1 victory over Shenandoah. She walked one and struck out four over 7.0 frames. She closed the game by retiring 10 of the final 11 Hornets she faced. Bible's middle outing of the week was also nearly unblemished. She tossed four shutout innings to earn a 14-0 win at Eastern Mennonite in a five-inning shortened affair. She gave up three hits and walk one while striking out a pair. For the season, Bible is 10-1 in 17 appearances including seven starts. She has struck out 43 batters in 74.0 innings in the circle. She owns a 1.42 ERA -- third-best in the ODAC -- and opponents are hitting .240 against her.
  • Lilly Burns, Roanoke, Jr., 3rd Base/Shortstop
    April 17, 2023
    Burns, a junior from Bristow, Va., reached base at least once in all six of the Maroons games last week with at least one RBI in five outings to help Roanoke post a 5-1 week that included road sweeps of Averett (10-0 in 6 inn., 7-0) and nationally ninth-ranked Randolph-Macon (4-3 in 8 inn., 8-0 in 5 inn.) and a split (9-1 in 6 inn., 1-6) at 10th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan. Burns went 8-for-17 overall with five doubles, a homer, 10 RBI, and four runs scored. She was 3-for-5 at Averett with a 2-run double and a sacrifice fly in game one and another sac fly in game two. At Randolph-Macon, Burns was 2-for-6 with a two-run blast in the seventh inning to force extras in game one and a two-run double for a 5-0 advantage in game two. Against the Marlins, Burns smacked three doubles in going 3-for-6. Both of her two-baggers drove in runs in game one, while she was left stranded after doubling in game two. For the season, Burns is slashing .322/.344/.576 with seven doubles, a triple, two homers, and 16 RBI.
  • Jada Karnes, Roanoke, Sr., Starter
    April 17, 2023
    Karnes, a senior from Roanoke, Va., went 3-0 in three starts to garner her second ODAC weekly honor of the season. All three victories were on the road with two coming at nationally ninth-ranked Randolph-Macon and #10 Virginia Wesleyan. Karnes opened with a complete game three-hit shutout at Averett in a 10-0 Maroons' triumph in six innings. She walked two Cougars and registered eight strikeouts, her most since striking out 11 batters in her first start of the season against Concordia-Chicago. She faced two batters over the minimum and needed 96 pitches (65 strikes) to complete the effort. Karnes worked all eight innings to registered a second complete game in a 4-3 triumph at Randolph-Macon. She surrendered three runs (2 earned) on seven hits. She walked one and struck out three. Seventy-four of her 111 pitches went for strikes as she limited the Yellow Jackets to just one extra-base hit. After giving up two runs before recording an out in the first inning, she settled down to not allow a run or more than one baserunner in any inning until the tiebreaker runner came around in the eighth inning. Karnes capped her week with a third complete game in a 9-1 triumph at Virginia Wesleyan in six innings. She gave up one run on six hits. She did not walk a batter and fanned a pair. She registered eight ground ball outs and benefitted from one double play. Fifty-nine of her 93 pitches went for strikes. For the season, Karnes is 7-3 in 12 appearances including 10 starts. In 77.2 innings in the circle, she has allowed 16 runs (14 earned) on 53 hits with 56 strikeouts. She leads the ODAC with a 1.26 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .196 against her, third-best in the conference.
  • Naomi Sadler, Randolph-Macon, So., Right Field
    April 10, 2023
    Sadler, a sophomore from Emporia, Va., did a little bit of everything in a 4-0 week over nationally ninth-ranked Randolph-Macon featuring a home sweep (3-0, 4-2) of #6 Virginia Wesleyan and road sweep (4-0, 4-3) at Mary Washington. Sadler was a menace on basepaths with eight stolen bases after reaching base in all four outings including one swipe in game two against Virginia Wesleyan. She also threw out a runner at the plate in a key double play in game one from her right field position. At Mary Washington, Sadler reached based in all eight of her plate appearances, including legging out a dropped third strike in her own appearance in the batter's box without a hit. She doubled and walked while scoring two runs in game one. She stole two bases in that contest, but then ran wild in game two with five steals as part of a 2-for-3 effort. She walked again in that game, but it was her last hit that proved the difference with a RBI single to short that plated the would-be game-winning run in the seventh inning. For the season, Sadler is leads the ODAC in stolen bases (26), is second in runs scored (24), fourth in OBP (.489), fifth in batting (.405), and sixth in hits (32) and walks (12).
  • Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, So., Pitcher
    April 10, 2023
    Ellis, a sophomore from New Kent, Va., posted two big victories for nationally ninth-ranked Randolph-Macon to earn her second ODAC weekly honor of the season. Ellis registered a two-hit shutout over #6 Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday and then no-hit Mary Washington on Saturday. In the 3-0 game one win (of a sweep) of VWU, Ellis faced two batters over the minimum with a pair of double plays helping her cause. She walked two batters in addition to surrendering two hits and fanned three Marlins. She set down nine batters in a row at one point before issuing a free pass with one down in the seventh inning. Two foul outs clinched game one in national top-10 matchup. Ellis's weekend 4-0 shutout in game one of a sweep at Mary Washington marked her second career seven-inning no-hitter and the third no-no overall. She faced the minimum number of Eagles with a fourth-inning walk wiped away by a pick-off at first from catcher Kayla Davis. Ellis struck out eight batters. She retired the first 10 batters she faced and closed with 11 straight outs. For the season, Ellis is 9-3 in 12 appearances featuring 11 starts. She owns a 1.39 ERA and has struck out an ODAC-high 97 batters in 75.2 innings in the circle. Opponents are hitting .148 against her.
  • Julia Piotrowski, Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., Right Field
    April 03, 2023
    Piotrowski, a junior from Franklin Square, N.Y., collects her first ODAC weekly honor after helping nationally sixth-ranked Virginia Wesleyan post a 6-0 week all on the road with sweeps of Mary Washington (8-1, 4-2), Averett (9-4, 10-1), and Guilford (8-0, 5-0). Piotrowski slashed .500/.542/.650 in going 10-for-20 with hits in all six games. She drove in seven runs, scored four times, and stole eight bases with at least one swipe in five of the six outings. At Mary Washington, Piotrowski went 4-for-7 with two RBI in each game. She stole three total bases, two coming in game one. She was 3-for-8 with a walk at Averett. She doubled and scored twice in game two and stole a base in game one. In Greensboro, Piotrowski went 3-for-5 against the Quakers with a pair of walks. She triple and drove in three runs in game one. She scored once and stole two bases in both games. For the season, Piotrowski is top-five in the ODAC in all three percentages -- .423 batting, .488 OBP, and .676 slugging. She leads the ODAC with eight doubles and is fifth with 30 hits. She has driven in 15 runs and is second with 48 total bases.
  • Emily Charlton, Lynchburg, Jr., Pitcher
    April 03, 2023
    Charlton, a junior from Chesapeake, Va. put together three good starts for nationally 16th-ranked Lynchburg, posting two wins and helping the Hornets to a 3-3 overall record fo the week. Charlton went the distance in a six-inning shortened effort to earn a 9-1 victory over Marymount University (Va.). She allowed just one run on five hits. She walked fun and struck out one batter. She faced just one batter over the minimum, needing just 70 pitches to record 21 outs. She retired eight straight batters at one point through the middle innings. Charlton tossed a full seven frames on the way to a 2-0 three-hit shutout of Guilford. She did not walk a batter and fanned seven Quakers. All three Guilford hits came in the seventh inning as Charlton set down the first hitters she faced. Charlton was not involved in the decision in her final start of the week, a 4-3 loss to Ferrum. She worked the first five innings and outside of a three-error inning in which three unearned runs scored, she was again strong in the circle. She gave up three hits and walked one batter with a strikeout. For the season, Charlton is 5-3 in 12 appearances including eight starts covering 53.1 innings. She has struck out 33 batters and owns a 2.23 ERA. Opponents are hitting .222 against her.
  • Olivia Owens, Randolph-Macon, Jr., 2nd Base
    March 27, 2023
    Owens, a junior from Salisbury, Md., made a habit out of reaching base with a hit in all six victories for nationally 10th-ranked Randolph-Macon last week including four multi-hit efforts. Owens hit .632 (12-for-19) with a .682 on-base percentage and generated 10 runs to help the Yellow Jackets improve to 14-4 on the year with three series sweeps. Owens went 3-for-6 with a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base in a week opening sweep (5-0, 6-1) over Southern Virginia University. She again went 3-for-6 in two ODAC wins (4-1, 10-3) over Shenandoah with a RBI in game one. In R-MC's 8-0 and 8-2 sweep of Gettysburg College, Owens went 6-for-7 overall with a pair of three hit games. She doubled and drove in five runs overall in game one. In game two, the Yellow Jackets second baseman scored twice and plated a run while adding a walk and two stolen bases. For the season, Owens leads the ODAC in batting (.490) and is third in OBP (.509). She is 25-for-51 on the year with 12 RBI and .549 SLG.
  • Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, So., Pitcher
    March 27, 2023
    Ellis, a sophomore from New Kent, Va., picks up her first ODAC weekly honor of the season after going the distance in three outings with two shutouts last week, leading nationally 10th-ranked Randolph-Macon to a trio of victories. Ellis opened with a three-hit shutout in a 5-0 win over Southern Virginia in game one of a sweep (6-1) of the Knights. She did not walk a batter and fanned seven over 7.0 frames. She would have retired the last 10 batters she faced if not for an error on a swinging strikeout for the would-be final out. She induced a ground out on the next batter to end the contest. Ellis tossed a second seven-inning outing in a 4-1 ODAC triumph over Shenandoah in game one of a sweep (10-3). She kept the Hornets off the board for six-plus innings before allowing a run in the seventh. She surrendered three hits and did not walk a batter while registering a season-best 12 strikeouts, her fourth game of 10 or more punchouts this season. She struck out the side in the third inning. Ellis capped her week with an 8-0 shutout in six innings over Gettysburg, the first of two games in a third sweep (8-2) for R-MC on the week. Ellis gave up four hits and walked a batter to go with six strikeouts. For the season, Ellis is 6-2 in eight appearances including six starts covering 49.1 innings of work. She has allowed just 30 hits and fanned an ODAC-best 70 batters. She owns a 1.99 ERA with opponents hitting an ODAC second-low .171 against her.
  • Sarah Watts, Lynchburg, Fy., 2nd Base
    March 20, 2023
    Watts, a first-year from South Boston, Va., picks up her second ODAC weekly award of the season in helping Lynchburg to a 3-1 week against strong competition. Watts slashed .571/.600/.929 in going 8-for-14 for the week. That began with a 3-for-4 showing in a 4-1 win over TCNJ. She tripled and scored twice against the Lions. Then came a showdown with nationally top-ranked Salisbury University. Following a 1-0 loss in game one, Watts twice game Lynchburg the lead in game two as part of a second 3-for-4 effort on the week. She plated a run with a RBI single in the fifth for a 2-1 lead, and then smacked the would-be game-winning solo shot to left-center in the seventh for a 3-2 victory. Watts capped her week with a 2-for-3 day in a 4-3 win over Swarthmore College. She drove in two more runs and scored once while stealing a base. For the season, Watts leads the ODAC in slugging (.775) and is third in batting (.425). She had accounted for 31 total bases (2nd in the ODAC) and hit three homers to go with 12 RBI and a .468 on-base percentage.
  • Emily Seale, Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., Pitcher
    March 20, 2023
    Seale, a junior from Madison, Va., made four appearances with three starts and one relief outing in going 2-1 with a save to help the nationally sixth-ranked Marlins to a 3-1 showing. Virginia Wesleyan went 5-1 overall last week. Seale had second-ranked Christopher Newport on the ropes until a last-gasp effort resulted in a 6-5 Captains' win. Seale gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts. VWU's righty followed that with a pair of scoreless starts to earn two wins. In a 5-0 decision over Stockton University, Seale allowed just two hits and walked a pair of over 5.0 innings. She fanned five batters. The next day, she tossed a four-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory over Husson. She fanned one batter and rolled up 12 ground ball outs in game one against the Eagles. In game two, she entered the game in the seventh and registered her first save with a strikeout of the final batter in an 8-5 VWU triumph. For the season, Seale is 6-2 with a save in 11 appearances including nine starts. She has struck out 33 batters and owns a 1.20 ERA in 52.1 innings. Opponents are hitting .215 against her.
  • Rilee Baughan, Randolph-Macon, Sr., First Base/Pitcher
    March 13, 2023
    Baughan, a senior from Warsaw, Va., picks up her second weekly award in as many weeks after starring both at the dish and in the circle during Randolph-Macon's 2-2 week. In a clash of top-10 teams, #10 R-MC dropped a pair of contests to #5 Berry College, 5-2 and 1-0. Baughan went 2-for-7 with a double and a run scored at the dish against the Vikings. In the circle, she took a hard-luck loss in game two after going the distance. She allowed one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Randolph-Macon recovered a few days later to sweep Muhlenberg College with a pair of 6-0 results. Baughan went 4-for-7 with a bat in her hands, cracking a three-run homer in game one and smacking a pair of doubles in game two. She earned a complete game shutout with her right arm in game two, allowing just two hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. For the season, Baughan is slashing .320/.346/.560 at the dish and is 3-1 with an ODAC third-best 0.51 earned run average over 27.1 innings of work. Opponents are hitting .133 against her.
  • Jada Karnes, Roanoke, Sr., Pitcher
    March 13, 2023
    Karnes, a senior from Roanoke, Va., twirled a trio of four-hit extended efforts over four strong performances to help Roanoke open the season with a 3-1 showing in contests in which she featured in the circle. Karnes tossed a total of 23.0 innings over three starts and one relief outing. She went 2-0, allowing 12 hits and two runs (one unearned) with three walks and 24 punchouts. Karnes opened with a complete game effort in a 4-1 triumph over Concordia Chicago. She surrendered one run on four this with a walk and 11 strikeouts. She came on later that day in a one-inning relief outing in an 8-3 triumph over Simmons, fanning a pair. Two days later, Karnes crafted a second four-hit complete game gem, this time shutting out Wentworth, 2-0. She did not walk a batter and struck out six batters. The following day, Karnes worked the first 8.0 innings in a no-decision effort as the Maroons dropped a 2-1 decision to Marietta College (Ohio) in nine innings. Karnes held the Pioneers scoreless for seven innings before they plated the tiebreaker runner for an unearned run in the eighth. Karnes allowed four hits and walked a pair while strikeout out five batters. For the season, Karnes is 2-0 with an ODAC second-best 0.30 earned run average. Opponents are hitting .158 against her.
  • Kayla Davis, Randolph-Macon, So., Catcher
    March 06, 2023
    Davis, a sophomore from Powhatan, Va., helped Randolph-Macon start its season with a 3-1 showing at the Grand Slam Triangle Classic hosted William Peace University in Raleigh, N.C. Davis went 7-for-12 and slashed .583/.615/1.083 over the four contests as she hit safely and drove in at least one run in each outing. She opened scoring in a 4-1 win over Pfeiffer with a first inning RBI single. She doubled in a run in the first inning to start the Yellow Jackets offense in a 3-2 win over DePauw in the second game of day one. On day two, Davis went 3-for-3 with a RBI double and solo blast in a 9-1 win over Marymount (Va.). She capped her tournament with another RBI double in an 8-4 setback to N.C. Wesleyan.
  • Rilee Baughan, Randolph-Macon, Sr., Pitcher
    March 06, 2023
    Baughan, a senior from Warsaw, Va., earned two wins in her first two starts of the season to help Randolph-Macon to a 3-1 showing at the Grand Slam Triangle Classic hosted by William Peace University in Raleigh, N.C. Baughan went the distance in her first appearance, giving up one run on four hits. She worked around five walks and punched out a pair of batters to earn a 4-1 victory over Pfeiffer University. Baughan started the first game of day two and worked six innings to earn a 9-1 victory over Marymount University (Va.). She surrendered one unearned run on two hits. She cut down the walks to a pair and fanned six batters.
  • Sarah Watts, Lynchburg, Fy., Second Base
    February 27, 2023
    Watts, a first-year from South Boston, Va., helped the Hornets improved to 5-1 on the season with a 3-1 week that included a sweep of Mary Baldwin (9-1, 14-6) and a split at Methodist (4-5, 3-0). Watts went 5-for-9 with a pair of walks. She doubled once and homered twice while scoring three runs and driving in seven. She had at least one RBI in each contest and collected one stolen base. She blasted both homers -- solo shots -- in game one against MBU. She drove in three runs in game two and then tallied an RBI each in the contests at Methodist. She doubled in game one.
  • Emma Adams, Virginia Wesleyan, Fy., Pitcher
    February 27, 2023
    Adams, a first-year from Winterville, N.C., kicked off her collegiate career in almost the best way possible as she registered a no-hitter in a complete game shutout of Meredith in game two of a sweep (8-0, 3-0) of the Avenging Angels. Adams allowed three runners to reach base -- a walk, a hit batter, and an error -- with none advancing beyond second base. Adams struck out the first two collegiate batters she faced and sent the game's last batter packing on a swinging K to finish with eight punchouts. She retired the first four batters she faced and furthered that streak with 10 successive outs to close the contest. Adams also helped her own cause at the dish by walking and doubling in game two following a 1-for-3 effort with a RBI in game one.
  • Gracie Dooley, Lynchburg, Sr., Outfielder
    February 20, 2023
    Dooley, a senior from Bedford, Va., was an unsuccessful stolen base attempt away from a perfect weekend in helping Lynchburg to a season opening sweep (10-3, 12-1) at William Peace University. Dooley reached base in all eight of her plate appearances on the way to posting a 1.000/1.000/2.000 slash line. In game one, the Hornets leftfielder went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. She also scored two runs. In game two, Dooley went 2-for-2 with another double and a two-run homer in the third inning. She scored three more runs, walked twice, and stole a base.
  • Taylor Sullivan, Averett, Jr., Pitcher
    February 20, 2023
    Sullivan, a junior from Timberlake, N.C., began her season with a dominating start from the circle in Averett's 11-3 triumph over Salem College in game one of a two game sweep of the Spirits. Sullivan worked the first four innings and did not allow a run in picking up the victory in the six-inning contest. She gave up three hits and did not walk about a batter. Of the 12 outs she record, 10 came via strikeout as Sullivan fanned the side in the first and fourth innings.