Photo courtesy of VT Athletics
After its dominant start to the season was cut short due to COVID-19, Virginia Tech softball took home multiple awards Wednesday from the Virginia Sports Information Directors. Keely Rochard was named the state collegiate Pitcher of the Year Keely Rochard, Kaylee Hewitt was dubbed the Rookie of the Year and Pete D’Amour was honored as the Coach of the Year.
Along with the three awards, seven Hokies appear on the all-state team from the university division, including five on the first team. Tech’s 10 awards are the most of any school.
A junior, Rochard led the country in strikeouts (183), wins (15) and shutouts (7). She also threw two no-hitters in the shortened season and was named a Softball America first-team All-American. She is the first Hokie to win the VaSID Pitcher of the Year award since Jasmin Harrell in 2012.
Freshman Hewitt started nine games for the Hokies in 2020. She threw a no-hitter against North Carolina A&T. Against a ranked Northwestern team, she allowed only one run. She secured her first win against a ranked team by allowing only one run against 14/13 Minnesota. Hewitt went 6-1 for the season and is the second straight Hokie to win Rookie of the Year, following Kelsey Bennett earned the honor in 2019.
D’Amour won his second VaSID Coach of the Year award in as many seasons. He had the Hokies out to a 21-4 start, including 3-0 in the ACC, before the season’s cancellation.
Junior catcher Mackenzie Lawter, sophomore third baseman Kelsey Bennett, sophomore outfielder Jayme Bailey, sophomore designated/utility player Grace Chavez and Rochard each earned VaSID first-team all-state honors.
Radford University junior outfielder Sydney Fisher and junior pitcher Jessie Marvin were also named to the all-state first team.
VT sophomore shortstop Maddi Banks and sophomore outfielder Kelsey Brown were named to the all-state second team all-state.
Also named to the all-state second team were Radford University senior first baseman Hunter Mundy and junior third baseman Talia Douglas.