D1 Softball recently published their Fall Ball Report on Virginia Tech. In order to respect their subscriber material, I will just share bits and pieces, but I will supplement this post with some information from my own research and observations as well as the Podcast that Coach D’Amour did with the D1Softball Staff in late November. I will start with quoting their tweet about the article because it really sums up the VT program: “Virginia Tech has become a perennial contender, both in the ACC and nationally, and the Hokies are prepared to vie for a top spot again in 2026.” That set the tone of the story. As expected, any preview of VT will mention the graduation of Emma Lemley, Cori McMillan, and Bre Peck, but I LOVE Coach Pete’s comment about that issue: “The mantra in our program is ‘next person up’,” D’Amour noted. “Just like that group were the next ones up after Keely Rochard and after Emma Ritter… there’s no ‘oh, we’re not going to be good anymore’; the way our program operates, you stick with it and it’s your time to shine when it’s your time to shine. “I’ve been really pleased with the leadership of the returners, the improvement… it’s just what we do here. You stick with it and you work hard and you get better and it’s your time to shine.” Every D1 Softball Fall Ball Report divides their story into newcomers, pitching, offense, and defense. Newcomers On newcomers, the story had quotes from Coach Pete on transfers Haley Luginbill(UMBC) and Addison Foster (Stetson) and mentioned freshmen pitchers Avery Layton and Addyson Fisher along with hitters Gaby Mizzelle and Jordan Bishop. Luginbill, who Coach D’Amour described as “a tough kid and a good teammate” batted .296 at UMBC with 53 hits, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and a .514 slugging percentage. “She really progressed in the latter part of the fall,” D’Amour said. “Worked hard. She always works hard. There were some things that she needed to iron out in her swing and she has done that and has looked a lot better. She’s got really fast hands.” Foster primarily batted leadoff at Stetson (and also during the Fall games at VT) and compiled a .466 on-base percentage by hitting .368 over her two years with 117 hits, 59 RBIs, and 39 stolen bases. However, she has apparently found a power stroke in Blacksburg. “She’s hitting balls over the scoreboard,” D’Amour said. “She’s getting out of the mode of ‘I just have to get on base’ and now she’s driving balls with that same high-contact percentage.” Mizelle comes VT with a bevy of accolades: A two-time North Carolina Coaches Association 4A East Player of the Year, a member of the Puerto Rico National Team that won the 2024 Pan American Games, a 2023 PGF All-American, and the number 7 ranked recruit in the class of 2025 by Extra Inning Softball. During a podcast, Coach D’Amour mentioned that Gaby’s bat speed was up 7 miles per hour since arriving in Blacksburg and noted that “she’s killing balls.” Bishop was a 4A First Team All-State player from Cartersville, GA who had a career batting average of .472 with 31 home runs and 114 RBIs. ‘Bishop is a true utility player who could see action a multiple positions” according to the article. Layton has been named “A Freshman to Watch” by Softball America and “came into her own during the fall.” Coach D’Amour mentioned on the Podcast that she was hitting 71 with up and down movement and said “she has looked as good as anyone he can remember.” Fisher is a left-hander from Tennessee who was the District 2 AA Player and Pitcher of the Year after a senior season that saw her with an ERA of 0.29. She “will add to the Hokies’ bullpen options.” Pitching The article noted that the Hokies have six pitchers and that D’Amour “will use a full staff approach.” D’Amour mentioned that Emma Mazzarone has some “fairly elevated goals” this season and repeated what he said on the podcast: “she hit 75 on the radar gun, she throws bullets and has a focus that’s way different from last year….she is as talented as any pitcher in the country.” Sophia Kleiman (12-2, 2.45 ERA, 1 HR allowed in 71 innings) and Cassie Grizzard (2-0, 3.15 ERA) “will see significant time in the circle along with redshirt Bree Carrico, who “had a stellar fall and was one of the bet arms in the circle in fall games.” Offense “When you think of Virginia Tech’s offense, you probably think power, power, power, and a lot of home runs,” the article mentioned. “As the saying goes, some things never change.” “I do think the power is going to be there,” D’Amour said. “By the end of the fall, we’re hitting 120 home runs at the end of practice… and if the power’s not there, we have speed and we’re smart on the bases. But for the most part, we’re gonna swing.” Jordan Lynch (.381 average, 10 HRs, 43 RBIs) “had a sensational breakout season as a freshman in 2025 and she’ll be a key piece of the offense in her second year as a Hokie.” D’Amour said “Jordan hit .600 this fall, just murdering balls.” “Michelle Chatfield (.386, 15 HRs, 51 RBIs) is a powerful presence in the middle of the Hokie batting order…(and) Kylie Aldridge hit .368 a year ago with nine doubles and seven bombs.” Coach D’Amour repeated what he said on the Podcast – “Emma Mazzarone is going to hit this year - she is swinging as good as any hitter we have.” She will usually be in the lineup when not pitching. Defense The athletic ability of this year’s players gives the coaches a number of options defensively. Lynch has probably locked down third base, but Chatfield, Aldridge, and Foster can all play multiple positions. Coach D'Amour had previously mentioned that he has a number of options in the outfield. Expectations Coach D’Amour did not shy aware from the fact that their goal is to get to Oklahoma City and the College World Series. “We are infinitely better right now than we were in August. And success is ‘are you better today than you were yesterday’,” D’Amour added. “If you’re getting better, you’re going to win games.”