Tweet

LYNCHBURG, Va. (vasidsports.com) – Four Virginia Tech softball players were named to the VaSID All-State Softball University Division Team, as announced Friday. James Madison’s standout freshman pitcher Jailyn Ford and head coach Mickey Dean took home three of four major awards, while Longwood’s Brooke Short was named the Commonwealth’s top overall player, as announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors earlier today.

Sophomores Lauren Gaskill (OF) and Kylie McGoldrick (2B) were both named to the first team while senior Courtney Liddle (U/DP) and freshman Kelly Heinz (P) were named to the second team. Gaskill was also named to the first team last year and was also the rookie of the year while McGoldrick was named to the second team last year. Liddle earned her third all-state honor, capping off an incredible career at Tech. The graduated senior is currently playing in the NPF for the NY/NJ Comets. Heinz earned her first honor on the all-state team.

With the honors, Virginia Tech head coach Scot Thomas has now had 31 different players named to the all-state team 62 different times in 17 seasons, including at least three on each of the last eight teams.

Ford was named VaSID Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, while Dean was tabbed the VaSID Coach of the Year. Short capped off an outstanding career at Longwood by being named the VaSID Player of the Year. Short earned NFCA third-team All-American honors as Longwood’s top offensive weapon at designated player. She also was named to the NFCA Southeast Region first team and was the Big South Player of the Year.

During her final season at Longwood, Short batted .421 from the plate and tallied 18 home runs, 69 RBIs, 15 doubles, 58 runs scored and an .824 slugging percentage. She leaves the program as the Lancers’ career leader in hits (248), RBIs (197), runs scored (172), home runs (55) and games played (218).

Ford finished her first year at James Madison earning CAA Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the NFCA Northeast Region first team listing. She was also an All-CAA first team honoree at both pitcher and first base. In the circle, the rookie posted a 24-6 record, to go along with a 1.61 ERA, 23 complete games, nine shutouts, 209 strikeouts and a save. Offensively, Ford finished second on her team with a .375 batting average, while adding 15 home runs, 11 doubles, 49 RBIs and 38 runs scored, helping her set 18 individual school records in 2013.

Dean picks up his third career VaSID Coach of the Year honor during his first season at the helm of James Madison’s program (also named VaSID Coach of the Year at Radford in 2009 and 2010).

Postseason play was a common overall thread for this year’s VaSID All-State Softball University Division team, with 18 of the 24 individuals selected to the first and second teams helping their programs advance to the NCAA Regionals.

A total of four Commonwealth programs sent teams to the NCAA Regionals (Hampton, James Madison, Longwood and Virginia Tech), with Virginia Tech spotlighting the group by advancing to the finals of the NCAA Lexington Regional.

Seven total programs had players earn all-state accolades, led by James Madison’s seven selections, followed by Longwood, who had five all-state team members and Virginia Tech’s four all-state selections. Norfolk State placed three players on the all-state teams, both Hampton and Virginia had a pair of all-state honorees, while Liberty grabbed the final all-state selection.

2013 VaSID All-State University Division Softball Team
First Team
C - Megan Baltzell, So., Longwood
1B - Sarah Mooney, So., James Madison
2B - Kylie McGoldrick, So., Virginia Tech
SS - Emily Murphy, Fr., Longwood
3B - Marcy Bowdren, Jr., Virginia
OF - Jasmine Butler, Sr., James Madison
OF - Lauren Gaskill, So., Virginia Tech
OF - Kori Nishitomi, So., Longwood
UT/DP - Brooke Short, Sr., Longwood
P - Jailyn Ford, Fr., James Madison
P - Heather Kiefer, So., James Madison
P - Melanie Mitchell, Sr., Virginia

Second Team
C - Erica Field, Fr., James Madison
1B - Taylor McCoy, Fr., Hampton
2B - Alina Moriarty, So., Norfolk St.
SS - Caitlin Sandy, Jr., James Madison
3B - Whitney Williams, Fr., Norfolk St.
OF - Morgan Heath, So., James Madison
OF - Katie Zavodny, Jr., Liberty
OF - Hakey Ward, So., Norfolk St.
UT/DP - Courtney Liddle, Sr., Virginia Tech
P - Kelly Heinz, Fr., Virginia Tech
P - Jailynn Jackson, So., Hampton
P - Libby Morris, So., Longwood

VaSID Player of the Year - Brooke Short, Sr., Longwood
VaSID Pitcher of the Year - Jailyn Ford, Fr., James Madison
VaSID Coach of the Year - Mickey Dean, James Madison
VaSID Rookie of the Year - Jailyn Ford, James Madison

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Softball).