FOREST, Va. – Three members of the Guilford softball team were on the receiving end of Old Dominion Athletic Conference ODAC accolades on Tuesday, May 11th when the awards were announced by the league. Casey Bunting and Ally Morales were named Second Team All-ODAC while Kylie Richardson earned Third Team All-ODAC honors.
Morales led the Quakers in batting average (.438), finishing 28-of-64 from the plate with 15 runs and nine RBI. She connected on seven doubles and finished with a .547 slugging percentage and a .493 on-base percentage. Morales tallied 10 multi-hit performances over the course of the slate, including a pair of three-hit outings against Ferrum (April 6) and Randolph (May 1).
Bunting capped off her season with a .361 batting average, finishing with a .420 on-base percentage and a .754 slugging percentage, after posting 22 hits in 61 at bats. The 22 hits tied her for third-most on the team, six of which resulted in doubles and six more in home runs. Bunting was the lone Quaker hitter with double-digit RBI, closing with 18. She had seven multi-hit games, including a pair of three-hit performances against Eastern Mennonite (April 10) and Lynchburg (April 21).
Richardson closed out her Quaker career with 16 hits in 47 at bats, finishing with a .340 batting average, .392 on-base percentage and .362 slugging percentage. Her 16 hits resulted in 10 runs scored, four RBI and one double for the senior catcher. She came through with five two-hit games on the season, the last coming at Randolph on April 23.
Five-time defending champion Virginia Wesleyan University collected 10 all-conference honors plus four special individual plaudits to headline the 2021 All-ODAC Softball Awards.
Marlins catcher Jessica Goldyn earned ODAC Player of the Year laurels, while VWU lefty Hanna Hull garnered ODAC Pitcher of the Year recognition for the fourth time in as many chances. Marlins mentor Brandon Elliott picked up ODAC Coach of the Year honors from his peers, and VWU righty Emily Seale received ODAC Rookie of the Year distinction. University of Lynchburg shortstop Kayla Hugate was tabbed the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete by the league’s athletic communications personnel.
While it has been two years since softball recognized its all-conference standouts, several stars that appeared on the 2019 lists have earned honors this season. That includes seven members of the 2021 All-ODAC First Team. Goldyn and Hull along with teammates Katelyn Biando (2B), Julia Sinnett (SS), and Madison Glaubke (OF) — the 2018 ODAC Player of the Year who just set the NCAA career record for games played at 211 this weekend — repeat as first teamers. Bridgewater College third baseman Katrina Martin was an All-ODAC Second Team pick, while Emory & Henry College pitcher and outfielder Alex Braun made the jump from the All-ODAC Third Team.
Lynchburg’s Hugate and Eastern Mennonite University designated player Sierra Lantz earned 2021 second team spots after picking up the same recognition in 2019.
2021 ALL-ODAC SOFTBALL AWARDS
ODAC Player of the Year: Jessica Goldyn, Sr., C, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Pitcher of the Year: Hanna Hull, Gr., Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Coach of the Year: Brandon Elliott, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Emily Seale, Fy., P, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete: Kayla Hugate, Gr., SS, Lynchburg
ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM
Jada Karnes So. P Roanoke College
Hanna Hull* Gr. P Virginia Wesleyan University
Jessica Goldyn* Sr. C Virginia Wesleyan University
Karlee Fretz Jr. 1B Virginia Wesleyan University
Katelyn Biando* Sr. 2B Virginia Wesleyan University
Katrina Martin^ Sr. 3B Bridgewater College
Julia Sinnett* Sr. SS Virginia Wesleyan University
Nicole Cox Jr. OF Emory & Henry College
Julie Fassl Sr. OF Virginia Wesleyan University
Madison Glaubke* Sr. OF Virginia Wesleyan University
Alex Braun Sr. DP Emory & Henry College
Danielle Stewart Sr. UT Virginia Wesleyan University
Alex Braun+ Sr. At-Large (P) Emory & Henry College
Ariana Rolle Jr. At-Large (OF) Virginia Wesleyan University
ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM
Brantley Swift So. P Bridgewater College
Emily Seale Fy. P Virginia Wesleyan University
Rachel Sirbaugh So. C Roanoke College
Samantha Hensley Fy. 1B Bridgewater College
Torie Shifflett Jr. 2B Bridgewater College
Ally Morales So. 3B Guilford College
Kayla Hugate^ Gr. SS University of Lynchburg
Lexi Powell Fy. OF University of Lynchburg
Shelby Hill Sr. OF Randolph-Macon College
Rebecca Hensley Jr. OF Roanoke College
Sierra Lantz^ Jr. DP Eastern Mennonite University
Chloe Persinger Fy. UT Randolph College
Casey Bunting Jr. At-Large (DP) Guilford College
Makayla Austin So. At-Large (3B) Roanoke College
ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM
Sarah Wimer Jr. At-Large (C) Bridgewater College
Dacey Jenkins So. At-Large (C) Emory & Henry College
Arielle Eure Jr. At-Large (OF) Ferrum College
Keri Hamlett Sr. At-Large (SS) Ferrum College
Tori Scott Sr. At-Large (C) Ferrum College
Kylie Richardson Sr. At-Large (C) Guilford College
Karle Cundiff So. At-Large (3B) University of Lynchburg
Olivia Herman Jr. At-Large (C) University of Lynchburg
Sophie Tully So. At-Large (1B) University of Lynchburg
Madie Rhoads Sr. At-Large (P) Randolph-Macon College
Allie Schey Sr. At-Large (1B) Shenandoah University
Nikki Stone Jr. At-Large (OF) Shenandoah University
* 2019 All-ODAC First Team
^ 2019 All-ODAC Second Team
+ 2019 All-ODAC Third Team