Well, as I was writing my softball preview for this weekend's opener, I happened to check HokieSports to find that they had beat me to the punch with regards to the Hokies' side of things.

So rather than duplicate work, here's the highlights on the Hokie side of things:

Last season: 47-11 overall, 20-4 in the ACC, NCAA regional bid
Offensively: 97 home runs, .334 batting average (both school records)
Defensively: 1.98 team ERA; 359 strikeouts in 368 innings; 47 errors committed (school record)

RETURNING STARTERS (2019 stats)
C - Mackenzie Lawter (.278, 30 RBI, 11 HR)
1B – Jayme Bailey (.380, 16 RBI, 6 HR)
2B – Maddi Banks (.259, 12 RBI, 4 HR)
3B – Kelsey Bennett (.369, 45 RBI, 14 HR)
CF – Darby Trull (.406, 37 RBI, 7 HR)
RF – Al Velazquez (.335, 28 RBI, 4 HR)

TOP NON-STARTERS (2019 stats)
P – Keely Rochard (22-3, 1.81 ERA, 193 K)
2B – Olivia Lattin (.545, 2 RBI, 1 HR)

STARTERS LOST (2019 stats)
P – Carrie Eberle (25-8, 1.84 ERA, 164 K)
SS – Caitlyn Nolan (.299, 55 RBI, 19 HR)
LF – Emma Strouth (.404, 68 RBI, 13 HR)

TOP NEWCOMERDS
JMU Transfer Kelsey Brown - an outfielder with blazing speed - I'm guessing she will bat leadoff
Freshmen Ansley and Ashley Whitley - both could see early playing time, probably at infield and backup catcher
Freshman Kaylee Hewitt will get a shot in the circle and likely will end up being the #2 pitcher
Freshman Maddie Rountree may see time at designated player

The early games are a great chance for the coaches to experiment with positions and see the players in live action so it will be very interesting to see how things go. Everything I have heard indicates practices have been very good.

Personally, I can't wait for the season to start.

I'll post some thoughts on this weekend's opponents a little later this week.

Let's Go Hokies
[Post edited by VTChip at 02/04/2020 11:09PM]