PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Vermont State University Castleton softball program saw four members of its 2024 team receive All-Little East Conference recognition per Tuesday announcement. Samera Rideout and Alexis Rogers landed on the first and second team, respectively, while Madison Gould claimed Rookie of the Year as an All-Rookie selection alongside Abby Hacker.
The first VTSU Castleton major award-winner since 2017, Gould enjoyed one of the best debut seasons in program history, being named LEC Rookie of the Week in the final three weeks en route to earning Rookie of the Year. She finished fifth in the conference with 104 strikeouts – 40 looking – while boasting a 13-8 record and a 3.05 ERA. Gould went 5-0 in her last five conference starts, tossing full games in each, with an eight-K gem to topple Rhode Island College.
The first-year Spartan's 13 wins matches program-best marks by Kayla Wood (2015) and Taylor Lively (2013) while her single-season strikeout and innings totals rank sixth and eighth all-time, respectively.
At the dish, Gould showcased her two-way abilities with a .283 average and 18 RBIs while swiping four bases. She led the squad with a trio of three-RBI games including a 4-for-4 game-two showing against Union (4/24) that kicked off a nine-game hitting streak.
Rideout landed on the All-LEC First Team for the second consecutive season after leading the Spartan offensive attack with a .375/.430/.464 slash line while adding eight doubles, a triple, and 24 RBIs. The sophomore infielder rose to another level down the stretch, batting .514 in the final 10 contests. Among Rideout's 13 multi-hit games was her performance in both ends of the UMass Dartmouth series (5/1) as she posted an impeccable 7-for-9 day with a pair of two-baggers.
The Chambersburg, Pa. native's 42 knocks goes into the record book as the eighth-best campaign in Spartan history. Combined with her outstanding rookie season, Rideout has climbed into the Top 15 career lists for doubles (16) and ribbies (50).
Following an All-Rookie debut in green and white, Rogers took her game to new heights at the plate and in the circle. Rogers boasted a .371 clip with 24 RBIs and a team-best .467 slugging percentage primarily from the cleanup slot. During a late seven-game run in which she tallied two or more hits, the sophomore drove in six runs and scored seven times to help Castleton qualify for the postseason.
In nine appearances and 19.2 innings pitched, the Queensbury, N.Y. product registered a 2.85 ERA and struck out 24. Rogers went the distance against SUNY Delhi (3/16), picking up a career-high nine punch-outs in her first career shutout.
Emerging as a consistent performer in the Castleton lineup, Hacker batted .304 to finish third on the team and chipped in 12 RBIs. Hacker starred in the Spartans' game-two extra-inning affair with UMass Dartmouth (5/1) as she compiled a career-high four hits. The Albany, N.Y. product laced the walk-off hit in Game 1 against league-leader Rhode Island College (5/4), helping lift the squad to a 2-0 day and LEC playoff berth. Hacker also finished with a .965 fielding percentage, the best of all Spartan outfielders.
