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VTChip VTChip OP
May 20, 2025 at 03:52 PM ET
Emily LeGette is also in the portal
Tough situation with Michelle Chatfield returning at first.

40 Replies

VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
Once the portal moves are all complete, do you plan to write an article
analyzing how you think the program faired from the portal this offseason (at least on paper)? I hate to think of it in terms of stock trading terms (i.e. gains and losses), but I think a good percentage of Hokie fans may be asking questions that way given the program could be projected to go into a slight rebuild next season given who the team is losing this year.
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VAHokie89
OF is wide open next year. The path to playing time in the IN
is kind of blocked for at least the next 2-3 years...with SS being a hard nut next year anyway.
hokiepro hokiepro
Abromavage is going to be a good one. She will be a starter IMO
King of Hokies King of Hokies
Her opportunities were limited, and in conference play she only hit 0.167.
It's anything but a sure thing she'll start next year. ** Edited by King of Hokies at 5/20/2025, 9:43:14 PM
hokiepro hokiepro
She has elite bat speed. She absolutely laced a liner at the LF for Belmont
The GS she hit vs Pitt a no doubter To me she looks like she has more bat speed as a FR than Aldridge did. She can runn& is athletic too
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VAHokie89
Elite? I hate that word. It is overused. She has batspeed that can play
at Oklahoma?
S
SHPHOKIE
Could a good hitting and fielding SS move Rohs to 2nd. She fields well but
but doesn't seen to have a real strong arm to first from SS.
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VAHokie89
Perhaps. I know everyone has to earn their spot, but I have a feeling
that D'Amour would lean toward the senior Castine not necessarily out of favoritism, but out of.... something like that :)... He stuck with her this entire season even when he BA plummeted into the .240s. So i think he is likely locked into Rohs and Castine out of just mentally attached to them at their positions.
King of Hokies King of Hokies
I disagree on 2B and SS. A very good hitter who can field well could
compete for either of those spots. In fact, we should hope for that very thing. ** Edited by King of Hokies at 5/20/2025, 6:47:31 PM
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VAHokie89
Oh, in a particular universe, yes. I am starting to feel
that D'Amour has emotional attachments to Rohs/Castine at their positions and - barring a superstar performance by a freshman or transfer, they are locked in. Could be completely wrong of course I mean, to your point, Mizelle is the no. 7 player in the country right? So, she could come in and just cause some dominos to fall. ** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/20/2025, 5:42:19 PM
King of Hokies King of Hokies
I don't believe you have a way to support your first sentence. D'Amour has
clearly shown a willingness to replace someone in the lineup. This year Martin for Blackwell. Last year Rohs for Thrunk. You can stick with your gut or you could look at the evidence. I think D'Amour wants to win. And he is clear with the players. They know the score. Produce or be replaced. ** Edited by King of Hokies at 5/20/2025, 5:59:15 PM
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VAHokie89
Yes and no. Neither Thrunk nor Blackwell were established players
I think replacing them with others was an easy call. Blackwell was already sharing the position. She was not an entrenched 2-year starter. Neither was Thrunk. If he didn't have a place to move Peck (to the OF), I don't think he would have replaced Peck there with Lynch this year. It just so happened that OF had room so the move was easily available. I don't think those two examples fit moving out 2-year starters, one of whom he has said he would keep in the lineup even if she never hits.... and the other coming back for her senior year? Again, I am not saying he will gift those spots, but replacing Thrunk and Blackwell is not the same as replacing 2-year starters as juniors and seniors. I did say that if Mizelle comes in as the #7 player and can light up with the bat and play SS or 2nd, then there is a discussion in his head. If a SS from some team is clearly better, than perhaps. So, I didn't say it was not out of the realm of possibility.
A
ancient alien 2018
Not a surprise. She knows PT would shrink her last 2 years. Smart move.
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VAHokie89
UNless she converted to OF. But if she wants to be an INF, she
thinks she has to transfer. Understandable
A
ancient alien 2018
Jones is the portal that hurts the most to me. Lots of potential. Maybe
gonna go play with sis? Or maybe meatchicken?
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VAHokie89
Maybe - but next year we have #7 Mizelle and Pallante
listed as INFs.... Mizelle was listed as the #7 player... so....
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hokietony
Well, it would stay about the same next year but increase her Sr year ....
most likely. Aldridge and Chatfield are back next year so she likely would have gotten similar playing time at DP and pinch hitting. Her senior year might have shown a major increase with Aldridge leaving after next year. Having said that, you will still have to fight off the players from a couple of recruiting and portal classes.
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schubee
That stinks. She hit well in Chatield's place.
I hoped they could have found a way for her to get a lot more ABs next season. ** Edited by schubee at 5/20/2025, 4:11:21 PM
PokieHokie PokieHokie
Well, sorry to see her go. How do we know if she can be a good 1st
baseman when she got almost no playing time in the field. The only way you get better, is actual playing time at the position. Why didn't she get a chance during the early games against the mid to lower level teams? This young lady can hit, and with work at 1st base, she will be a very good player on someone's team. Sorry to see her go! Chatfield is a very good 1st baseman, but toward the end of the season, she was having her own issues fielding some of the ground balls. Uncharacteristic of her for sure. Why couldn't she be placed at 3rd base, the position she was so good at in high school. We will probably end up playing against her in the ACC, probably another ACC team, or an SEC team, Florida is a possibility. Can Jordan Lynch play outfield? She showed some wheels this past weekend? We have more top recruits coming in this coming class, and they will give our current players a run for their money, once they get their feet set!
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VT954
That would have made to much sense.
Chatfield to 3rd & Legette on1st, positions they were recruited for....Lynch is a great player, that could play any position.
hokiepro hokiepro
Lynch is ELITE at 3B already a better defensive 3B than Bre
And that’s saying something because Bre was good It’d be hard for me to believe Chatfield would be better for us at 3B I’m sure Mizelle can play multiple positions ** Edited by hokiepro at 5/20/2025, 8:36:06 PM
PokieHokie PokieHokie
Much like a young Bre Peck, and she ended up playing outfield. The elite
players rise to the top for sure! Being versitle and willing to play other positions is very important for a team like VT which brings in so much talent each off season. Some of our recruits wouldn't have to leave if they were willing to try another position and see if it stuck.
PokieHokie PokieHokie
Emma Jackson from ECU is back in the portal!
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nkhooch
I agree about the potential move to 3rd for MC. But, Lynch sort of wowed
us with her 3rd base play and seemed to end those thoughts. And 3rd base gets an equal amount of chances as SS and 2b. I wish they would have tried MC a little longer in left field, which I felt was Pete trying to get LeGette in the lineup. MC got one game and the wind conditions were lousy.
VTChip VTChip OP
At some point, you have to trust the coaches to make the right decision
They see hours and hours of practice time that fans never see. Personally, I can't imagine moving Jordan from third base - she one of the best I've ever seen. Chatfield has a career batting average of .331 with 34 home runs so she's not going anywhere. I hate losing Emily but I absolutely understand her decision and wish her well. Ther one good thing about the portal is that it gives the player the opportunity to find the right spot. Just look at Teagan Thrunk, who went in the portal last year - she moved to NC State and started 43 games for them. Good for her.
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GobblerCE
Agreed on all points. I think unfortunately there is a ridiculously fine
line between players at times and if you are on the wrong side of that line with another player from the coaches point of view, then the portal is the greatest thing ever invented. I know we all don't like where College Sports are going, but none of these kids came to school to not play. I wish Emily all the best.
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dallasvt
Lynch needs to stay at third. It is a tough position, and she has all the
tools for it.
King of Hokies King of Hokies
Yep. 1st and 3rd are locked down. 2nd and SS aren't in my opinion
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VT954
Coaches aren’t always right.
VTChip VTChip OP
And message board posters are????
You're obviously have a connection to Emily and anyone that knows Emily, hates to see her go. She's made her decision and I personally am pulling for her to be successful. ** Edited by VTChip at 5/20/2025, 5:49:26 PM
PokieHokie PokieHokie
Yeah, I understand that for sure! But it's always tough to lose top
rated recruits like Thrunk, Legette, and Emma who left for ECU. Being a coach myself, I understand also about seeing them in practice each day, but in order to truly evaluate them, practice doesn't always show the level of play in a game. In order to get better, you have to have playing reps in actual games. Doubleheaders is a great place to do that, at any position. Catchers especially need a break behind the plate if it is extremely hot. I think two things were at play at Bama, Zoe was probably very hot behind the plate, they said the temps were a minimum of 100 degrees on the field, plus Kylie may have been needed if we had made it to the IF game. Always good to knock off the rust!
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RJHokie
This one was pretty much “written on the wall”.
Good luck to her.
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hokietony
This was almost expected.
atticus555 atticus555
Are there any others we anticipate?
Just a simple yes or no—no names needed.
VTChip VTChip OP
Not really
Unless it someone searching for more playing time. ** Edited by VTChip at 5/20/2025, 6:18:04 PM
A
ancient alien 2018
PT as well, Mr. Chip!! (:>)
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hokietony
I would expect a few others; mainly from the non-playing crowd.
** Edited by hokietony at 5/20/2025, 4:27:42 PM
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nkhooch
For sure. Just a tough situation here. I can't blame her. I think
she is good enough to start at 1B for a P4 team. Or be a starter at one of many other Florida teams, if she wants to be closer to home.
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Techdady
UCF USF FGCU she'd do well at all 3
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nkhooch
FSU also graduated a 1b and Bueno, the heir apparent
hit .325 with only 1 HR in 83 ABs. LeGette would be a better hitter.