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Gaskins Named ACC Player of the Year as Seven Earn All-ACC Honors

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore first baseman Karina Gaskins was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Player of the Year for her performance during the 2022 softball season. Gaskins has led the University of Notre Dame to a 39-9 overall record, 16-5 in ACC play. It’s the most wins in a single season for Notre Dame since winning 43 during the 2016 campaign. Along with being named the ACC Player of the Year, Gaskins is a First Team All-ACC honoree.

Gaskins becomes the third Fighting Irish player to earn ACC Player of the Year, joining Cait Brooks (2019) and Emilee Koerner (2015). This year, Gaskins leads the league with a .433 batting average and 57 RBI. She’s hit 11 doubles and 12 home runs to earn a .803 slugging percentage, good for top five in the ACC and 29th nationally. She’s on pace to break the program’s on-base percentage (.562) set by teammate Abby Sweet in 2021 (.537). Along with her offensive prowess, Gaskins has been a formidable defender. She’s earned a .985 fielding percentage, collecting a team-best 265 putouts.

Emma Clark, Leea Hanks, Jane Kronenberger, Abby Sweet and Payton Tidd each earned Second Team All-ACC honors, with freshman Shannon Becker earning Third Team All-ACC accolades. Becker and Kronenberger were also named to the All-Freshman Team.

This is the third All-ACC honor for Sweet and Tidd. Sweet was a first team honoree in 2021, and a Second Team selection in 2018. Tidd earned first team honors in 2019 and was third team a season ago. In 2022, Sweet is hitting for a .383 average and scored a team-best 52 runs. Her 1.08 runs per game average ranks 16th in the nation and second in the league. She leads the team with 19 stolen bases, and has hit 11 doubles, two triples and six home runs. Tidd leads the team with 15 wins in the circle, throwing 126.1 innings and owns a 2.44 ERA. The senior has thrown nine complete games in her 18 starts, holding opponents to a .209 average against to go with 96 strikeouts.

2022 marks the third-straight season that Clark has earned Second Team All-ACC honors. She’s hitting for a .368 average with eight doubles, two triples and 21 RBI. She’s scored 45 runs and swiped 12 bases on the year.

It’s the first All-ACC honors for Hanks, Kronenberger and Becker. Hanks, a junior outfielder, is hitting for a .366 average with a team-best 13 doubles and five triples. She’s driven in 30 runs and scored 48 of her own to go with five home runs. She’s added 12 stolen bases and has been one of the top defensive players in the country this season.

Kronenberger split time as the designated player and at second base during the 2022 campaign. She’s totaled a .407 average in 36 games this season, hitting 10 doubles, three home runs and driven in 28. Becker owns the lowest ERA of the Irish pitching staff at 1.64. She’s earned 10 wins, posted a team-best four saves and struck out 69 opposing hitters in 81.1 innings of work.

2022 ACC Softball Awards
Player of the Year: Karina Gaskins, Notre Dame, So., 1B
Pitcher of the Year: Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech, Sr., P
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Sherrill, Florida State, Gr., 3B

Freshman of the Year: Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, P
Coach of the Year: Pete D’Amour, Virginia Tech

First Team
C – Emma Kauf, Georgia Tech, Jr., C
INF – Jameson Kavel, Duke, Gr., SS

INF – Sydney Sherrill, Florida State, Gr., 3B
INF – Tricia Awald, Georgia Tech, Gr., 1B

INF – Karina Gaskins, Notre Dame, So., 1B

OF – Kaley Mudge, Florida State, Jr., OF

OF – Carmyn Greenwood, Louisville, Gr., OF

OF – Emma Ritter, Virginia Tech, So., OF

P – Peyton St. George, Duke, Gr., P

P – Kathryn Sandercock, Florida State, Sr., P

P – Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech, Sr., P

At-Large – Valerie Cagle, Clemson, R-So., P/UTL

At-Large – Mack Leonard, Florida State, Sr., 1B

At-Large – Meredith Slaw, Virginia Tech, Jr., DP

At-Large – Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, Fr., P

Second Team
McKenzie Clark, Clemson, So., OF

Kristina Foreman, Duke, Sr., 2B

Michaela Edenfield, Florida State, R-Fr., C

Devyn Flaherty, Florida State, Jr., 2B

Kalei Harding, Florida State, So., OF

Logan Morris, NC State, R-Sr., 3B

Emma Clark, Notre Dame, Sr., OF

Leea Hanks, Notre Dame, Jr., OF

Jane Kronenberger, Notre Dame, Fr., DP

Abby Sweet, Notre Dame, Gr., OF

Payton Tidd, Notre Dame, Sr., P

Cameron Fagan, Virginia Tech, So., 2B

Mackenzie Lawter, Virginia Tech, Sr., C

Morgan Overaitis, Virginia Tech, Jr., OF

Bre Peck, Virginia Tech, Fr., 3B

Third Team
Susannah Anderson, Boston College, Sr., P

Ellie Mataya, Boston College, Sr., OF

Alia Logoleo, Clemson, R-So., SS

Millie Thompson, Clemson, So., P

Rachel Crabtree, Duke, Gr., 1B

Ana Gold, Duke, Fr., 3B

Kamryn Jackson, Duke, Jr., OF

Danielle Watson, Florida State, Gr., P

Taylor Roby, Louisville, R-Sr., P

Sara Jubas, North Carolina, Gr., DP

Shannon Becker, Notre Dame, Fr., P

Yvonne Whaley, Pitt, Sr., SS

Kelsey Bennett, Virginia Tech, Jr., SS

Kelsey Brown, Virginia Tech, Jr., OF

Darby Trull, Virginia Tech, Sr., OF

All-Freshman Team
Hannah Slike, Boston College, C

Aby Vieira, Clemson, C

Ana Gold, Duke, 3B

Auburn Dupree, Georgia Tech, OF

Korbe Otis, Louisville, OF

Jane Kronenberger, Notre Dame, DP

Shannon Becker, Notre Dame, P

Sarah Coon, Virginia, 3B

Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, P

Bre Peck, Virginia Tech, 3B

Up Next

The Irish take on the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the ACC Tournament Thursday afternoon at 1:30 on the ACC Network at Vartabedian Field, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.