Megan Baltzell ’15
Fresh off of a record-setting season and claiming Longwood’s first Big South Conference Championship, expectations were sky-high for Kathy Riley’s Lancers.
For the second consecutive year, Longwood won 40 games, marking the 10th time in Coach Riley’s 17 seasons that the Lancers won 30 or more games. The 2014 Lancers softball team finished 40-16 overall, 17-6 in the Big South, earning the No. 2 seed in the Big South Softball Championships. Longwood also compiled an impressive 17-2 mark against in-state opponents, including victories over James Madison, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Megan Baltzell ’15, of Stafford, (.448, 10 HR, 45 RBI) led the way offensively, finishing 12th nationally in batting average. Baltzell was named Big South Player of the Year and received First Team All-Big South honors. In addition, Baltzell became the first two-time Division I All-Region selection in Longwood history, earning NFCA All-Southeast Second Team recognition.
In the circle, Libby Morris ’15, of Dillwyn, (17-10, 2.95 ERA) and Elizabeth McCarthy ’17, of Dunnsville, (20-6, 1.79 ERA) shouldered the load for the Blue and White. Both Morris and McCarthy earned All-Big South Second Team honors, and McCarthy was also named to the Freshman Team. Four other Lancers were named to All-Big South teams, including Emily Murphy ’16, of Virginia Beach (First Team), Casey Lifsey ’15, of Portsmouth (Honorable Mention), Justina Augustine ’17, of Warrenton (Second Team), and Amy Putnam ’14, of Poquoson (All-Academic).