May 8, 2013
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech junior Ashley Thomas was named the ACC Player of the Year as voted on by the league’s eight head coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday. It marks the fourth-straight year a Yellow Jacket has earned ACC player of the year honors (Jen Yee, 2010 and Kelsi Weseman, 2011 and 2012).
Thomas also earned All-ACC first team honors and leads the league in batting average (.420), on-base percentage (.521), runs (56), hits (74) and stolen bases (37). A native of McKinney, Texas, Thomas is hitting .471 in conference play and her ACC average never fell below .460.
Thomas started all 54 games at shortstop and was the leadoff batter in all but two contests. Her 37 stolen bases this season are the fourth-most in a single season at Tech and her 95 career stolen bases are tied for the third most all-time at Tech.
Joining Thomas on the All-ACC first team is junior third baseman Alysha Rudnik, while senior Hope Rush earned All-ACC second team honors.
Rudnik earned her second All-ACC first team honor. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native is second in the league with a .397 batting average and leads the team with 14 doubles. She holds the second-best ACC batting average (.429) in conference games. Rudnik is tied for No. 1 in the nation with seven sacrifice flies and is slugging .671 on the season.
The second team honor marks the third All-ACC award of Rush’s career as she was named to the first team in 2010 and 2012. The product of Stockbridge, Ga., is batting .307 and leads the team with 52 RBI, 36 walks and 17 home runs. She is one home run away from tying the all-time career record at Georgia Tech (61) set by Whitney Haller (2006-09). In the circle, Rush owns a 13-14 record and a 3.94 ERA.
Seven schools were represented on the 2013 All-ACC Team, led by regular season champion Florida State with five players honored. North Carolina and NC State had four players apiece.
ACC Player of the Year: Ashley Thomas, Georgia Tech
ACC Pitcher of the Year: Emily Weiman, NC State
ACC Freshman of the Year: Lindsey Schmeiser, Maryland
ACC Coach of the Year: Lonni Alameda, Florida State
2013 All-ACC Softball First Team
Courtney Senas, Florida State, Jr., 3B
Lacey Waldrop, Florida State, So., P
Monica Perry, Florida State, Sr., P
Victoria East, Florida State, Fr., 1B
Alysha Rudnik, Georgia Tech, Jr., 3B
Ashley Thomas, Georgia Tech, Jr., SS
Lindsey Schmeiser, Maryland, Fr., SS
Emily Weiman, NC State, So., P
Renada Davis, NC State, So., SS
Kylie McGoldrick, Virginia Tech, So., 2B
2013 All-ACC Softball Second Team
Tory Speer, Boston College, Jr., C
Morgan Bullock, Florida State, Sr., OF
Hope Rush, Georgia Tech, Sr., P
Caitlin Dent, NC State, Sr., OF
Kirsty Grant, NC State, Jr., C
Amber Parrish, North Carolina, So., C
Constance Orr, North Carolina, Sr., 3B
Kristen Brown, North Carolina, Fr., SS
Lori Spingola, North Carolina, Jr., SP
Courtney Liddle, Virginia Tech, Sr., C
