FOREST, Va. --- ODAC champion Virginia Wesleyan University and fellow Division III tournament qualifier Randolph-Macon College saw a league-best seven athletes earn all-conference recognition to highlight the 2024 All-ODAC Softball Awards.
RMC first baseman and pitcher
Rilee Baughan was named the ODAC Player of the Year for a second straight season. VWU righty
Emma Adams was tabbed the ODAC Pitcher of the Year, while Marlins mentor
Brandon Elliott garnered ODAC Coach of the Year plaudits from his peers. Bridgewater College first-year
Delaney Lail was tabbed the ODAC Rookie of the Year, and Guilford College outfielder
Grace Calus received ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year distinction.
ODAC softball honors 40 all-conference standouts selected prior to the end of the conference tournament. Just 14 of this season's All-ODAC stars appeared on last year's lists. That group includes six members of the All-ODAC First Team.
RMC's Baughan and teammates
Gracie Ellis and
Amanda Lanyon are first team selections for at least the second year running. EMU first baseman
Samantha Hensley is also a repeat first teamer. VWU's Adams moves up from last year's All-ODAC Second Team, while Randolph College outfielder
Dominique Irving returns to the first team after earning All-ODAC Third Team laurels in 2023 and a first team nod in 2022.
Baughan, a fifth-year from Warsaw, Va., continues to be a premier two-way player as a standout pitcher and first baseman for 11th-ranked Randolph-Macon. In the batter's box, Baughan is batting .376 with a 1.186 OPS in all games played. She is 41-of-109 with 10 homers and 39 RBI. She has also walked 24 times. In ODAC play, Baughan hit .397 with a 1.211 OPS. She went deep five times and drove in 21 runs. She walked 15 times, helping her to a .513 OBP.
In the circle, Baughan is 13-4 in 19 appearances, all starts. She owns a 2.20 ERA and a .232 opponents batting average, having struck out 91 batters in 121.0 innings in all games. Against ODAC foes, Baughan went 9-2 in 11 appearances, all starts. In 70.0 innings of work, she fanned 49 batters and gave up 18 runs, helping her to a 1.80 ERA and a .235 opponents batting average.
Adams, a sophomore from Winterville, N.C., starred for the Marlins in helping to the ODAC title. Adams has thrown 107.2 innings in 24 appearances including 19 starts. She owns a 19-2 record with a 1.63 ERA in all games played, fanning 81 batters while posting a .202 opponents batting average. She has worked only 10 batters. In ODAC play, Adams was 13-0 in 15 appearances including 12 starts. She posted four complete games and one shutout. Adams allowed just eight earned runs and 39 hits in 60.1 innings of work, helping her to a 0.93 ERA and a .179 opponents batting average.
Elliott is in his 18th season guiding the Marlins softball program. This is the ninth time he has been honored as the ODAC's top softball coach, joining recognition he received in 2011-12, 2014-15, 2017-19, and 2021. Elliott's Marlins, currently
ranked eighth in Division III by the NFCA, will be making their 14th appearance in the Division III tournament after claiming the program's conference-record 15th ODAC trophy over the weekend. Elliott enters the national field with a 617-150-1 career record. His .804 winning percentage is top-four among active coaches in Division III.
Lail, a first-year from Warrenton, Va., was effective both in the circle and at the dish in her first season at Bridgewater. With a bat in her hands, Lail hit .363 with five homers and 19 RBI. She was 45-of-124 overall with seven doubles. In league play, Lail hit a lofty .403 with 4 homers, 11 RBI, and a 1.154 OPS. She slugged at a .687 clip. In the circle, Lail went 5-8 with a 2.95 ERA in 85.1 innings over 21 appearances. She struck out 53 batters and registered a .255 opponents batting average. In ODAC play, Lail was 4-4 in 10 appearances (7 starts) with five complete games and two shutouts. She posted a 2.27 ERA with 41 strikeouts and a .221 opponents batting average in 52.1 innings of work.
Calus, a graduate student from Creedmoor, N.C, shined both on and off the field for Guilford. In the classroom, Calus maintained a 3.97 grade point average as a criminal justice major as an undergraduate and boasts a 4.00 GPA as she works towards a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Soon to be a three-time ODAC All-Academic selection, Calus is a Presidential Fellow and admissions counselor for Guilford. She served as an athletic games manager and as an assistant with the justice and policy department. She also completed internships with Student Action with Farmworkers and as a legal intern with Collins Law Firm, LLC.
On the field, Calus is a Quakers' team captain. She was an All-ODAC First Team choice and NFCA All-Region First Team selection in 2023, pairing those honors with a Rawlings Gold Glove from the NFCA that season. This year, Calus hit .319 with a .751 OPS. She was 46-of-144 with 10 doubles, 3 triples, and 16 RBI. She scored 31 runs and stole 20 bases in 23 attempts. Calus closes her career with a .329 batting average and .769 OPS. She registered 142 hits with 23 doubles, nine triples, and 43 RBI. She scored 74 runs and stole 41 bases.
Listed below is the allotment of All-ODAC Softball Award winners.
ODAC Player of the Year: Rilee Baughan, 5th, UT, Randolph-Macon
ODAC Pitcher of the Year: Emma Adams, So., P, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Coach of the Year: Brandon Elliott, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Delaney Lail, Fy., DP, Bridgewater
ODAC/VAFB Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Grace Calus, Sr., OF, Guilford
| ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM |
| Gracie Ellis * |
Jr. |
P |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Emma Adams ^ |
So. |
P |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Carly Hudnall |
Jr. |
C |
Lynchburg, University of |
| Jazmyne Smith |
Sr. |
1B |
Bridgewater College |
| Sarah Watts |
So. |
2B |
Lynchburg, University of |
| Mackenzie Myers |
Jr. |
3B |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Karley Beltran |
So. |
SS |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Dominique Irving + |
Sr. |
OF |
Randolph College |
| Amanda Lanyon * |
Jr. |
OF |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Naomi Sadler |
Jr. |
OF |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Delaney Lail |
Fy. |
DP |
Bridgewater College |
| Rilee Baughan * |
5th |
UT |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Kailey Dorcsis |
Jr. |
ATL-P |
Lynchburg, University of |
| Samantha Hensley * |
Sr. |
ATL-1B |
Eastern Mennonite University |
| |
|
|
|
| ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM |
| Taylor Sullivan |
Sr. |
P |
Averett University |
| Maggie McCray |
Jr. |
P |
Roanoke College |
| Olivia Knight |
So. |
C |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Madison Barnes |
So. |
1B |
Lynchburg, University of |
| Olivia Owens + |
Sr. |
2B |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Lilly Burns ^ |
Sr. |
3B |
Roanoke College |
| Jordan Brown |
So. |
SS |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Jenna McDermott |
Sr. |
OF |
Randolph College |
| Allison McQueeney |
Fy. |
OF |
Shenandoah University |
| Laci Campbell * |
So. |
OF |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Molly Epperson |
Jr. |
DP |
Roanoke College |
| Kate Houle ^ |
Sr. |
UT |
Roanoke College |
| Emily Charlton ^ |
Sr. |
ATL-P |
Lynchburg, University of |
| Brenna Westwood |
Fy. |
ATL-2B |
Shenandoah University |
| |
|
|
|
| ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM |
| Shiloh Gray |
Jr. |
ATL-P |
Guilford College |
| Lindsay Gedro + |
Jr. |
ATL-P |
Roanoke College |
| Lexi Hawkins |
Sr. |
ATL-C |
Randolph College |
| Kayla Davis + |
Jr. |
ATL-C |
Randolph-Macon College |
| Riley Young |
Fy. |
ATL-1B |
Ferrum College |
| Breanna Weaver |
Sr. |
ATL-2B |
Ferrum College |
| Abby Byrum |
So. |
ATL-OF |
Bridgewater College |
| Heather McQueeney |
Fy. |
ATL-OF |
Roanoke College |
| Lauren Jamerson |
So. |
ATL-OF |
Sweet Briar College |
| Julia Piotrowski ^ |
Sr. |
ATL-OF |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Joslyn Woodard |
Jr. |
ATL-OF |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
| Jordan Wise |
So. |
ATL-UT |
Bridgewater College |
* 2023 All-ODAC 1st Team
^ 2023 All-ODAC 2nd Team
+ 2023 All-ODAC 3rd Team