about any situation. It would be nice to have 3 available options.

To Bree and Mazz, and rightly so. I previously commended her performance against the ‘mighty and powerful’ FSU team. Even though we didn't win, it was evident that Layton was building confidence and performing well on a major stage. This was a valuable experience for a freshman. I'm not as knowledgeable about women's softball as some, but I believed pitching was the biggest uncertainty at the season's start. Now, I feel more optimistic about our prospects with Layton and Bree emerging— our future looks much brighter. Next year could be even more exciting. Mazz, Bree, and Layton. (PS, I don't know much about the other pitchers or our recruiting pipeline.)

or something like that at the beginning of the season which didn't sound promising that is, we'll find out what we find out when we find out, VT will have a developmental year and basically hoping to develop an ace in Mazz. But Carrico happened, and the last week ago w/UNC and FSU Avery's been coming around like the calvary coming over the hill...Maybe the tournament just focused everyone's attention but everyone's been developing over the whole season and everyone's showing up right on time, no reason why that can't continue in the NCAAs. having two borderline elites and a solid third is a pretty good luxury in the NCAAS. ** Edited by `lag at 5/10/2026, 12:30:42 PM

Following on Stats, that was what I thought Pete did yesterday. Mazz wasn't pitching badly (slightly erratically, maybe), but Avery brought some advantage of unfamiliarity.

quick study on how to beat Mazz and Bree. No way they spent any time preparing for Avery. Great move catching them off guard, and great play by Avery for showing up with her A game.

yeah, I would absolutely have a different opinion now, still Pete said something liked drain the tank a few days ago which I took to mean leave Mazz in there long as possible and she ended up getting a complete game. There were points in the 6th and 7th inning where that was in the gambling zone of leaving her in or bringing someone in relief not named Carrico who you wanted to be fresh the next day. Carrico was left in until she started losing it a little bit (Duke wasted a lot of pitches in the 3rd, was worried about that) then she had some quick innings but one was like three flyouts so they were beginning to see the ball...) I'll stop. I would say FSU did the committee thing, I think mainly so the VT hitters wouldn't get grooved, so a comittee to keep batters off balanced with their two star pitchers. I would guess Pete didn't like what he saw, mainly her energy levels and yeah, went with a fresh pitcher.