Roark Named Pitching Coach for Upstate Softball
7/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Spartanburg, S.C. – USC Upstate head softball coach Chris Hawkins announces the hiring of former Virginia Tech standout pitcher Kenzie Roark as the pitching coach for the Spartans.
Roark was the ace of the staff for three of her four years at Virginia Tech and was an ACC All-Tournament and Player of the Week selection during her career. As a freshman, she was the No. 2 pitcher behind All-American Angela Tincher and helped lead the Hokies win the ACC Championship and earn an appearance in the 2008 College World Series.
"I am extremely excited to have Kenzie join our staff," said Hawkins. "She is young, talented, energetic and very knowledgeable. I am confident that she will step in and build upon the foundation laid by our former pitching coach, Rick Pauly. I know Kenzie will be a great addition to our staff, have a terrific rapport with our players, and I look forward to working with her as we strive to remain one of the top teams in the nation and a leader in the A-Sun."
Roark began her coaching career as a student assistant at Virginia Tech from 2011-12 after completing a standout career with the Hokies. She was part of a coaching staff that was named the 2012 NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year and helped guide the Hokies to a 2.52 team ERA. After graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Roark was named the assistant coach at East Tennessee State where she assisted in all phases of the program, including heading up the pitching staff. She helped lead the 2014 Lady Bucs to the most wins in the program since 2010.
Roark ended her collegiate playing career as one of the all-time great pitchers in Virginia Tech history. In addition to her team's accomplishments, Roark ranks second all-time with 155 career appearances, fourth with 510 strikeouts and 661.1 innings pitched, and sixth with 51 wins and a .254 opponent batting average.
Roark was born in Nashville, Tenn., and grew up in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. She graduated from Mt. Juliet High School and helped lead her team to two state runner-up finishes. She had a tremendous senior season and garnered several honors. She was named the MVP of District 9 AAA and in the district tournament as a senior. She earned TSWA Class AAA All-State honors and first team all-midstate honors after going 29-7 with a 0.14 ERA and 342 strikeouts in 227 innings. She threw two perfect games, nine no-hitters and 15 shutouts. She was also named the MVP of the Tennessee-Kentucky all-star series after striking out 13 batters in a no-hit outing. She was a second team all-state selection as a junior in 2006. Also a standout in the classroom, she earned Gold Club induction for academic excellence.
"I would like to thank Chris Hawkins and the USC Upstate athletic department for giving me this wonderful opportunity," said Roark. "I am so excited to join this staff and team. The Spartan program already has a sterling reputation, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of winning."
Upstate is coming off the best season in the history of the program in 2014. The Spartans won a Division I era school record 46 games (46-9), one shy of the all-time program record of 47 set in 2007 in the school's final season playing on the Division II level. They won the A-Sun regular season championship by five games with a school record 22 conference wins. They became the first team in the history of the A-Sun to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Regional, tying Lipscomb for that mark as the Lady Bisons also earned an at-large berth. Upstate made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and Tuscaloosa Regional after winning the A-Sun Tournament in 2013. Alabama was the defending national champions in 2013 and was runner-up for the national championship in 2014.
Upstate's pitching staff was one of the top units in the nation in 2014. The Spartans led the nation in team ERA for two-straight weeks at the end of the season and finished the year ranked fifth with a 1.55 ERA. All three of the Spartans' pitchers were ranked in the Top 50 in ERA led by Anna Miller, who was 13th with a 1.41 ERA and was named the A-Sun Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-ASun, First Team Academic All-America and was drafted by the Pennsylvania Rebellion of the National Pro Fastpitch league.
Upstate returns just one pitcher from last year's team, Lexi Shubert. However, Shubert was named the A-Sun Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-ASun selection. She ranked in the Top 60 in the nation in three different categories and ranked in the Top 3 in the A-Sun in ERA and opponent batting average, while ranking fourth in wins and strikeouts. In addition to Shubert, Roark will have newcomers Madison Ogle and Amanda Storch, as well as pitcher/players Karla Beasley, Kinsley Jennings and Kaitlyn Paschall to work with.
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