Softball is no different than other sports from a recruiting perspective. Unless you are a perennial national power with a national profile and big budget, long term recruiting success begins much closer to home. The former pipeline you refer to owes to some fortunate timing, good evaluation and unique circumstances rather than a viable long term strategy. Focusing closer to home has become a much more viable alternative as local talent is much better now relative to the national hotbeds and the conference affiliation helps VT regionally.