UTC's Goold Named SoCon Pitcher Of The Year

Chattanooga sophomore right hand pitcher Peja Goold was named the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday. Three Mocs were named to the All-Conference First Team and four earned a spot on the Second Team.

Goold was named to the league’s first team along with outfielder Camryn Cernuto and designated player Kendall Forsythe. Alyssa Lavdis, Kaili Phillips, Baileigh Pitts and Kailey Snell all earned a spot on the SoCon All-Conference Second Team.

Goold is the 11th Chattanooga player to earn Pitcher of the Year honors and the first since Celie Hudson in 2019.

She went 8-3 in 26 appearances and 11 starts, threw three complete games and earned three saves. She struck out 86 batters in 85 innings of work.

The Stockton, Calif., sophomore was named the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Month for April.

Camryn Cernuto played all 51 games for Chattanooga in center field. She had a 1.000 fielding percentage. She is second in the NCAA for sacrifice bunts per game, leading the SoCon with 20. Cernuto led Chattanooga with a .378 batting average, third in the conference standings. She is second in the SoCon for triples with four, has three doubles, 15 RBI and fourth for steals with 18 in 22 attempts.

Kendall Forsythe was second on the team with a .338 batting average as the designated player as well as first base. She made 45 starts in 46 games played. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., senior drove in 38 runs, second most for the Mocs, on five home runs, 11 doubles and two triples. She slugged .554, drew six walks and was hit by the pitch five times. 

Pitcher Alyssa Lavdis posted a 2.94 ERA in 31 appearances. She made 15 starts, threw six complete games with two shutouts and combined for four more and earned two saves. She struck out 84 batters in 102.1 innings of work and had a .215 opponent batting average.

Kaili Phillips earned back-to-back all-conference honors. She led the Mocs and was third in the SoCon for home runs with 14. She hit .331, slugged .772 with a .476 on base percentage and recorded 12 doubles and one triple with 36 runs batted in while drawing 21 walks. The Ooltewah, Tenn., grad student was hit 15 times by the pitch this season and is second on the NCAA active career leaders list. She holds the Mocs all-time record with 48 and season record with 18 in 2022.

Kailey Snell was third on the list for Chattanooga with a .337 batting average. She played in all 51 games and made 50 starts at shortstop. The redshirt junior drove in 12 runs on 55 hits with seven doubles and an inside-the-park home run at Samford. She was 11-for-11 in stolen bases and second on the team with 10 sacrifice hits.

Baileigh Pitts hit .306 as an outfielder, designated player and catcher. She made 45 starts for the Mocs in 48 games played with 41 hits. She drove in 37 runs, second-most on the team, on seven doubles, two triples and five home runs. She slugged .500, had a .382 on base percentage and was 4-for-4 on stolen bases. 

The Mocs claimed their 15th Southern Conference regular season title, finishing three games up on 2023 champion UNCG. UTC was 38-13 overall and finished the SoCon season at 16-5.

Seven led the way among selections this season. That is tied for the third most all-conference selections in program history. UTC had seven combined in 2007 and 2011. The most is nine in 2012 and eight in 2019 is second. Michelle Fuzzard was named the SoCon Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and Hudson was the pick for 2019 Pitcher of the Year while Emily Coltharp was the Freshman of the Year. Frank Reed was named the 2011 and Brooke Loudermilk was the 2007 SoCon Freshman of the Year.

Player of the Year
Brooklynn Maxwell, Sr., INF, UNCG

Pitcher of the Year
Peja Goold, So., RHP, Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year
Olivia Shaw, DP, Samford
Lily Bell, 2B, Western Carolina

Coach of the Year
Chelsea Butler, Wofford

First Team
P – Peja Goold, So., Chattanooga
P – Margaret Axelson, So., Wofford
C – Logan Champion, Jr., Samford
INF – Cameron Young, Jr., ETSU
INF – Tori Hedgecock, Jr., Mercer
INF – Brooklynn Maxwell, Sr., UNCG
INF – Lily Bell, Fr., Western Carolina
OF – Brylee Mesusan, So., ETSU
OF – Ashlee Lykins, Jr., Furman
OF – McKayla Cothran, Jr., Samford
OF – Camryn Cernuto, Jr., Chattanooga
DP or UT/Non-P – Kendall Forsythe, Sr., Chattanooga
UT/P – Tessa Juett, Jr., Western Carolina

Second Team
P – Grace Taylor, So., Mercer
P – McKenzie Newcomb, Jr., Samford
P – Alyssa Lavdis, Jr., Chattanooga
C – Betsy Eatmon, Fr., UNCG
INF – Emma Dorval, Jr., Mercer
INF – Sarah Squillace, Jr., Samford
INF – Kaili Phillips, Gr., Chattanooga
INF – Kailey Snell, R-Jr., Chattanooga
OF – Alyssa Woods, Sr., Mercer
OF – Grace Loftin, Jr., UNCG
OF – Baileigh Pitts, So., Chattanooga
DP or UT/Non-P – Caitlin Goldwait, Jr., Furman
DP or UT/Non-P – Olivia Shaw, Fr., Samford
UT/P – Sara Muir, Jr., ETSU

All-Freshman
Ansley Chiang, 2B, Furman
Betsy Eatmon, C, UNCG
Katie Campbell, 1B, Samford
Olivia Shaw, DP, Samford
Lily Bell, 2B, Western Carolina
Sydney Dirks, SS, Western Carolina
Maya McPherson, 3B, Western Carolina
Abby Greenwood, P, Wofford
Kaytlin Greenwood, SS, Wofford
Megan Towery, OF, Wofford