The ODAC has announced its postseason softball awards and four Randolph-Macon student-athletes are taking home honors with three first team selections and one second team selection. Gracie Ellis (Fr., New Kent, Va. / New Kent) highlights the list as she took two of the major honors after being named Pitcher and Rookie of the Year.
As if that weren't enough she was also an All-ODAC First Team selection. Joining her on that list are Naomi Sadler (Fr., Emporia, Va. / Brunswick) and Rilee Baughan (Jr., Warsaw, Va. / Rappahannock). Amanda Lanyon (Fr., Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian) was also selected as an All-ODAC Second Team pick.
Ellis was immediately impressive as she struck out 10 during a two-hit shutout during her collegiate debut against Mary Washington. It was a sign of things to come as she was named ODAC Pitcher of the Week, the first of five such selections. She followed up with a no-hitter and 12 strikeouts against Marymount and later threw a perfect game against Guilford.
Ellis isn't just the top pitcher in the ODAC, but she's one of the best in the nation as well. In terms of national numbers she is currently No. 3 with 212 strikeouts, No. 5 with 19 wins, No. 7 with seven shutouts, No. 8 with an 11.19 strikeout-to-walk ratio, No. 9 with three saves, and No. 12 with a 0.74 WHIP.
Sadler was also a welcome addition to the team as one of three freshmen named for the Yellow Jackets. Always a threat to steal while on base, the speedy Sadler swiped 21 bases so far this season, tied for third in the ODAC. She had a perfect fielding percentage in ODAC contests. From the plate she was third on the team with a .364 batting average and fourth with a .465 slugging percentage. So far she has scored 32 runs and batted in 14 more.
Baughan had a breakout year at first base and was the team's second pitcher. She is the team's top hitter with a .425 batting average with 50 hits and is tied for fourth in the nation with 50 RBIs. She's second in the ODAC and No. 17 nationally with 10 home runs. As a pitcher she joined Ellis in double digits with 12 wins, fifth in the ODAC. Two of those wins were shutouts.
Lanyon is the third freshman on the list and an All-ODAC Second Team selection at outfield. She served as the team's leadoff hitter and proved effective as she scored 39 runs, second-most in the ODAC. Her 53 hits are third, and she led the conference with 29 stolen bases which also ranks No. 28 in the nation. Lanyon also wasn't afraid to take one for the team as she was hit by a pitch six times to lead the ODAC.
All-Tournament Team
With the conclusion of the ODAC Tournament yesterday, three of the aforementioned also were named to the All-Tournament Team. Ellis was named at the pitcher position while Sadler and Lanyon both earned spots for the outfield.
Ellis picked up a couple of wins and struck out 29 batters in 25.1 innings of work. She struck out 10 against eventual tournament champion Virginia Wesleyan and added 10 more against Lynchburg.
Lanyon had an incredible tournament where she hit .470 and went 8-for-17 from the plate with six runs scored. She added a home run, four RBIs, and three stolen bases to her total as well.
Sadler had similar numbers as she hit .533 and went 8-for-15 with four runs scored and one RBI. Sadler added two stolen bases in the four games.
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