College Corner: Briar Woods Grad Karagiorgis Named ODAC Softball Pitcher of the Year, Co-Rookie of the Year; Stone Bridge Grad Gardner 1st Team Shortstop

College Corner with Dan Sousa 

Kristina Karagiorgis

(May 10, 2012) - Briar Woods High grad Kristina Karagiorgis has been named the ODAC Pitcher of the Year. The Virginia Wesleyan College freshman was also named Co-Rookie of the Year along with Roanoke College pitcher Kelly Higbie. Also making All-ODAC First Team was Stone Bridge grad Ashley Gardner.

Karagiorgis, a freshman from Ashburn, stood out both on the rubber and at the dish. She took to the pitcher's circle 26 times (20 starts) and went 16-4 with four saves. She posted a 1.28 earned run average, second-best in the ODAC, in 118.1 innings pitched. She went 9-1 in 10 starts against ODAC competition, picking up a save in her remaining league outing. She struck out 124 batters overall and 68 in conference play, both tops in the conference. She also recorded four shutouts with two coming in ODAC games. At the plate, Karagiorgis posted a .382 batting average with five doubles, five triples, seven homers and a league best 48 RBI. Against ODAC foes, she hit .448 with 25 runs batted in, which topped the league charts.

Ashley Gardner

Gardner, a junior at Randolph College, was named first team shortstop after hitting .434 and leading the team in hits (53) and doubles (8). She finished the season on a 9-game hitting streak.

Listed below are the complete 2012 All-ODAC Softball Teams. For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.



2012 ALL-ODAC SOFTBALL TEAMS ODAC
Player of the Year: Tori Higginbotham, So., OF, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Pitcher of the Year: Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Co-Coach of the Year: Brandon Elliott, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC Co-Coach of the Year: Mike Mitchell, Roanoke
ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year: Kelly Higbie, Fr., P, Roanoke
ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year: Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., P, Virginia Wesleyan
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Alea Bier, Jr., 1st Base, Roanoke

ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Kelly Higbie, Fr., Roanoke
Pitcher: Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., Virginia Wesleyan
Catcher: Felice Lowery, Sr., Roanoke
First Base: Alea Bier, Jr., Roanoke
Second Base: Kelly Keys, So., Virginia Wesleyan
Third Base: Brianna Bertovich, Sr., Virginia Wesleyan
Shortstop: Ashley Gardner, Jr., Randolph
Outfield: Tori Higginbotham, So., Virginia Wesleyan
Outfield: Leona Rainey, Jr., Roanoke
Outfield: Hollee Warlitner, Jr., Roanoke
Designated Player: Sarah Heretick, Sr., Bridgewater
Utility: Jaclyn Quinn, Sr., Virginia Wesleyan

ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: MacKenzie Creech, So., Virginia Wesleyan
Pitcher: Heather Lewis, Jr., Randolph-Macon
Catcher: Laura Bauer, Sr., Randolph-Macon
First Base: Sarah Cutright, Jr., Guilford
Second Base: Cynthia Hayes, So., Guilford
Third Base: Melanie Lamb, Jr., Bridgewater
Shortstop: Taylor Walker, Sr., Lynchburg
Outfield: Jessi Hall, Fr., Lynchburg
Outfield: Lauren Stevenson, Jr., Randolph
Outfield: Melanie Tenney, So., Lynchburg
Designated Player: Gina Pagano, Sr., Randolph
Utility: Lisa Lee, Sr., Eastern Mennonite

ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Heather Jenkins, Jr., Bridgewater
Pitcher: Hope Johnson, Fr., Lynchburg
Catcher: Rasheeda Crews, Sr., Eastern Mennonite
First Base: Sara Jenkins, Jr., Eastern Mennonite
Second Base: Courtney Allman, Jr., Eastern Mennonite
Third Base: Katherine Kouri, Sr., Roanoke
Shortstop: Brooke Hensley, So., Eastern Mennonite
Outfield: Rhea Schleicher, Fr., Roanoke
Outfield: Amanda Sopko, Fr., Randolph-Macon
Outfield: Morgan Williams, Jr., Bridgewater
Designated Player: Carolyn Gilbertson, So., Randolph-Macon
Utility: Aven Thomas, Jr., Bridgewater