FOREST, Va. --- 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 University second baseman Laci Campbell received ODAC Rookie of the Year plaudits.

A good mix of new award winners and repeat honorees from the 2022 season dots this year's all-conference lists. Sixteen players feature for at least a second straight season with half of those appearing on the 2023 All-ODAC First Team. Baughan and Ellis were both first team choices last season. The same can be said of Bridgewater College catcher Sarah Wimer, Randolph College shortstop Delaney Nuckols, and Roanoke righty Jada Karnes.

Randolph-Macon outfielder Amanda Lanyon is the lone player from the 2022 All-ODAC Second Team to move up to this year's first team. University of Lynchburg outfielder Gracie Dooley and Virginia Wesleyan righthander Lauren Bible both made the leap to this season's first team from last campaign's All-ODAC Third Team.

RELATED: 2022 All-ODAC Softball Teams | All-Time All-ODAC Softball Teams

Baughan, a senior from Warsaw, Va., has shined across the field for Randolph-Macon splitting time as a starting pitcher and first baseman. At the dish in ODAC games during the regular season, Baughan led the ODAC in hits (29), doubles (9), and total bases (44). She finished second in RBI (21), fourth in batting (.433) and SLG (.657), and was seventh in homers (2) and OBP (.446). Overall, Baughan enters the NCAA Tournament as the ODAC leader in doubles (14) and total bases (89). She is second in RBI (48), third in hits (54) and homeruns (7), and sixth in SLG.

In the circle, Baughan went 8-1 in 10 appearances (all starts) in ODAC play. She struck out 34 batters in 59.0 innings with a 2.02 ERA and a .264 opponents batting average. Overall, Baughan is 16-3 in 21 appearances, all starts. She has tossed 132.1 innings with 13 complete games and three shutouts. She has fanned 90 batters and owns a 1.53 ERA with a .241 opponents batting average.

Ellis, a sophomore from New Kent, Va., is quickly filling her awards showcase in less than two seasons in Ashland. She is now a two-time All-ODAC First Team honoree and pairs her two special awards this season with ODAC top pitcher and rookie recognition in 2022. In the classroom, Ellis maintains a 3.70 grade point average as a nursing major. She is soon to be a two-time member of the ODAC All-Academic Team as well as a four-time Randolph-Macon Dean's List honoree. She is involved in R-MC's Student Nursing Association and the Serve Program.

In the circle, Ellis leads the ODAC in most pitching statistical categories for both overall and in-conference numbers. During the regular season in ODAC play, Ellis went 9-2 with two saves in 13 appearances including 10 starts. The nine wins and two saves tied for most in the league. She struck out a league-high 96 batters at 8.77 per seven innings over 76.2 innings over work. She was second in ERA (0.55) and opponents batting average (.142). Overall, Ellis is 21-4 with two saves in 27 appearances including 23 starts entering the NCAA Tournament. She has registered 22 complete games (10 in conference) with nine shutouts (4 in conference). In 165.0 innings, she has fanned 205 batters with a 1.19 ERA and .156 opponents batting average. Ellis posted 10 or more strikeouts in nine games a season-high 12 punchouts twice.

Mitchell is in his 15th season guiding the Maroons softball program. This is his second ODAC top coaching honor, joining the recognition he shared with Virginia Wesleyan's Brandon Elliott in 2012. Roanoke earned the top seed in the ODAC Tournament after posting a 17-3 record in conference play. The Maroons, currently receiving votes towards the NFCA's top-25 poll, are 27-12 as they prepare to compete in the NCAA Tournament field for a 10th time (23-21 program record) overall and second straight season after earning an at-large selection on Monday. Mitchell currently owns a 352-220 (.615) overall record.

Campbell, a first-year from Washington, N.C., has starred in her first season in Virginia Beach. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Campbell is second in the ODAC in batting (.413) and OBP (.496). She is the leader in triples (5), ranks fourth in stolen bases (24), and fifth in RBI (29). Her .541 SLG is ninth in the league. In conference play during the regular season, Campbell led all players in batting (.511), OBP (.579), and SLG (.745). She was first in triples (4), third in RBI (18), fourth in hits (24), fifth in runs (16), and sixth in steals (11).

Listed below is the full slate of 2022 All-ODAC Softball Awards. For more information, visit the websites 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 the @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

2023 ALL-ODAC SOFTBALL AWARDS
ODAC Player of the Year: Rilee Baughan, 1B/P, Randolph-Macon
ODAC Pitcher of the Year: Gracie Ellis, So., Randolph-Macon
ODAC Coach of the Year: Mike Mitchell, Roanoke
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Laci Campbell, Fy., 2B, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete: Gracie Ellis, So., P, Randolph-Macon