Quick Look at Longwood and Maryland Eastern Shore
Not a lot to say, but here's a couple of thoughts and the Tale of the Tape. Thought my time would be better served researching the weekend series at Alabama.
The #18/12 Virginia Tech Hokies (21-3-1) will have a busy midweek schedule this week, playing three non-conference games, two of them on the road. The contests begin on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Longwood at 4:00 followed by a home game against Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday at 5:00. The Longwood games are scheduled to be shown on ESPN+ while the Maryland Eastern Shore game is scheduled for ACCNX.
Longwood is 9-17 this season and are struggling both at the plate (.228 team average) and in the circle (5.60 ERA). That is a stark contrast from the Longwood teams that made five NCAA tournament appearances between 2013 and 2019.
When Pete D’Amour took over at Virginia Tech, Longwood and the Hokies were tied 12-12 in their all-time series. Since then, the Hokies have gone 8-0 against the Lancers and have outscored them 66-14, including run-ruling them in the last three meetings (13-0, 10-2, and 11-1).
Longwood’s best wins this year occurred during two games series when they were able to get splits with Villanova (6-5) and East Carolina (5-2). They have lost to ACC teams Virginia (4-1), Clemson (9-1), and twice to Georgia Tech (9-1 and 10-2).
Maryland Eastern Shore, which has a record of 6-15, is scheduled to play a doubleheader at Radford Tuesday night. They have a team batting average of .266 and a team ERA of 6.09.
Maryland Eastern Shore and the Hokies have only met once previously. The Hokies prevailed 9-1 in that 1996 showdown.
Here's the Tale of the Tape:
** Edited by VTChip at 3/18/2024, 6:02:30 PM
24 Replies
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VT_AD
2y
and they just don't have the pitching or enough hitters. They do have a couple who can show some pop, including one that originally committed to VT, but had her scholarship pulled when Pete came in.
Kathy Riley used to do more with less and the jury is still out on this coach. She doesn't seem to recruit as well as her predecessor.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2y
had run out of eligibility at this point.
(In response to this post by VT_AD)
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VT_AD
2y
remember they really recruited them young back then. I believe her and my daughter were in the last class where they could recruit them at any age.
(In response to this post by IV_Hokie12)
2y
She gives my granddaughter private lessons in the off season!
(In response to this post by VT_AD)
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VT_AD
2y
my daughter played travel ball with her too.
(In response to this post by Hokiedanville)
2y
They don't even have a field to play on at the college. They play all baseball and softball games 20 minutes away at a complex that we used to play travel ball on, complete with snow fences in the outfield. They are TERRIBLE. Longwood literally has 3 pitchers this year. Should be a good week to get some lesser used players some playing time.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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VTBoar
2y
to early 2000's. I worked on campus from 1990 until 1999 and visited campus again in January of this year. Fields are still there. Nothing spectacular but fields none-the-less.
UMES has a small but very nice and attractive campus. All of their sports programs have historically struggled in the MEAC. In fact, I watched their men's basketball team get routed by Salisbury State University, a DIII team at the time. Interestingly however, UMES added a women's bowling team several years ago and have won two national championships.
(In response to this post by rberry7676)
2y
They don't use them for games. All home games are played at the Henry Parker complex in Salisbury for both sports. Let that sink in, UMES has National Championships and VT has none.....sad.
(In response to this post by VTBoar)
2y
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2y
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2y
that's all it takes.
(In response to this post by Lakeridgehokie)
2y
FTFY
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
2y
(In response to this post by VTChip)
It’ll be somewhat disappointing if we play even one out beyond 15 innings!
But you never know.
(In response to this post by IV_Hokie12)
2y
A suddenly hot pitcher can change things quickly
(In response to this post by HolidayInnHokie)
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VT One
2y
paraphrased, went something like - softball is such a great game because the game doesn’t know who is supposed to win.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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RJHokie
2y
Have to respect each opponent. Like you reference, you never know. Strange things can happen.
(In response to this post by HolidayInnHokie)
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schubee
2y
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2y
(In response to this post by HokiesACC2004)
True. Although we have to admit that Charlotte is a pretty good team.
However, you all are correct. Don’t assume anything until the games actually play out. Longwood is generally pretty decent even if this year has been tough so far. And they’ll be up for playing VT.
Now, UMES, I don’t know man, I just don’t see us losing at home to a team with an ERA over 6 and just 4 home runs on the year.
Excited to have 5 games to watch between tomorrow and Saturday!
** Edited by HolidayInnHokie at 3/18/2024, 8:49:43 PM
(In response to this post by IV_Hokie12)