I don't get paid a dime for writing for TSL - I do it simply as a way to promote VT softball. Candidly, it's a very expensive hobby when you consider travel expenses, but I do it as a labor of love. I am a fan first, and somehow, I suppose, I've become a fundraiser second. I basically now write articles only when Sam isn't available or there's a particular story I want to cover. Sam is working toward a writing career and does a great job. I simply fill in as needed. However, over the five years+ that I have written for TSL, I believe I have earned the trust of the players, the coaching staff, and even the parents. I will never compromise that trust and I will only report things that become public though other channels, OR when the subjects involved know I am writing a story. I will, however, adamantly defend any player that is unfairly criticized. Had Jayden simply transferred and said she wanted to play with her sister, I never would have said a word. But when she took her shot at the coaching staff not caring about her as a person and "wanting to be surrounded by girls with high standards and goals," that was crossing the line, IMHO. No one has higher standards and goals than girls who play for VT softball. Thus, I decided to share what I believe to be "the rest of the story." There was absolutely no reason to share anything earlier. Candidly I was hoping everything would get back on track and Jayden would spend four years in Blacksburg. But based on some other posts, it sounds like she made up her mind to transfer earlier in the year, but I didn't know that. Personally, I don't think the reporter for the Petoskey News-Review twisted her words. He has covered her and her sister for years. He was looking for a "feel good" story about hometown sisters reuniting at OK State. Just read the first five paragraphs of his story: "Around a year ago, Gaylord softball stars and sisters Jayden and Aubrey Jones sat down with us at the Gaylord Herald Times for an interview. "The conversation centered about their relationship and their journey as teammates; a journey that was, at the time, coming to a close, as the two nationally-ranked prospects were playing their last high school softball season together before planning to go their separate ways, Jayden taking her talents to Blacksburg, Va. to join the Virginia Tech program while Aubrey planned to join the Oklahoma State team at the conclusion of the 2025 season. "Just talking about the topic, splitting up the dynamic duo they had formed over years and years of training and playing softball together, brought the both of them to tears. While both were confident in their decisions to go down their own paths, they also dreaded the moment they would inevitably stop being teammates. "So, when Jayden announced her plans to leave Va Tech and enter her name in the NCAA transfer portal after her freshman season, it felt like a reunion in Stillwater, Okla. was almost inevitable. Less than a week later, sure enough, Stillwater is making room for another Jones sister on the roster. "Four days after her initial portal announcement, Jones took to social media again on May 24 to announce her plans were finalized, committing to join her sister on the OSU softball team next season." That's a GREAT intro to the story the reporter was seeking. All Jayden had to say at this point was that she wanted to join her sister at OK State. Every reader then says "ahh" and that's the end of it. But instead she elected to take the shot at VT. Totally unnecessary.