Nice Regional preview from Mark Berman
He interviews ESPN Analyst Brittany McKinney, and gets her thoughts. She thinks VT can win the Regional, but believes they will have to play “their best ball.”
She mentioned the well and passed ball leading to the two FSU runs that beat VT and says “You're going to have to play perfect against LSU. But I've seen what Virginia Tech can do. That Duke game was incredible. I definitely think they can come out of here (as the regional champ)."
She loves the Hokie pitching staff: "Having to prepare for Mazzarone, who throws 70 (mph) and down and then has an off-speed rise, and then also Bree Carrico, who is spinny and up but has a changeup down, they couldn't be more different. … That's really, really challenging for hitters. And then Avery Layton, who came in in the championship game, really surprised me. … She was throwing 70 down in the knees. She looked really good, too.“
Hers hoping she is right!
** Edited by VTChip at 5/14/2026, 3:56:33 PM
Link:
Nice Preview from Berman
16 Replies
2mo
to catch up. We cannot let tourney teams mess with our heads. Play the plan, regardless the sway.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
in the regional but they will definitely need their A game.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
never makes a mistake.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
2mo
LSU beat NCSU twice 11-3 & 7-5 so they’re obviously superior 🤷🏻♂️🙄
** Edited by hokiepro at 5/15/2026, 5:14:59 AM
(In response to this post by vatechcowpatty)
2mo
Minimize walks. Challenge their best hitters with empty bases. They have hit 54 HR; not a ton…go get them
Same with USA. Their pitcher may be the best opposing pitcher…close between her and Heavener
** Edited by hokiepro at 5/14/2026, 9:35:20 PM
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
2mo
BB, HBP and E can be killers since on-base runners.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
2mo
takes several things happening in bunches (hits, walks, HBP, wild pitches, passed balls) to score a run or more. So you're correct - when hits, walks, HBP etc are isolated, then things most times are fine. You want bunches for yourself, isolation for your opponent.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
2mo
She admitted Mazz can be a bit wild, i.e., "don't always know where it's going."
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
ball over the plate and away. Every pitch is not going to be perfect, but in Emma's defense on the passed ball, Zoe turned her glove the wrong way causing the ball to get away as it did. As long as our pitchers can stay ahead in the count, and throw their best junk, they will strike a lot of their batters out. With our solid defense, and timely hitting, the ladies can make some real noise in "Red Stick". Go Hokies!
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
J
jokeenan
2mo
That same movement takes a catcher from their normal backhand setup to a forehand setup the farther it runs laterally. The catchers are trying to frame the pitch and therefore not rotate the glove. For a lefty pitcher like Max with so much velocity and spin and right handed catcher like Zoe, that lateral run, combined with desire to frame can cause those issues. If Maz was a right pitcher that same movement would likely not be as much of an issue IMO because the catcher would simply reach farther to their backhand side to make the catch.
(In response to this post by PokieHokie)
2mo
. . . pitchers 'move' the ball to the location called. See Cat Osterman.
(In response to this post by PokieHokie)
2mo
And turn her mitt like an infielder
** Edited by TomTurkey at 5/14/2026, 7:45:00 PM
(In response to this post by PokieHokie)
2mo
That is an adjustment you’d like to see made as soon as it crops up (which was very evident in game 1 of the GT series). But it’s still an issue in the post-season, as we saw vs. FSU in the ACCCG.
It makes perfect sense that Zoe’s hand is a bit sore at this point after catching a lot of Mazz’s heaters and even some from Avery. But that doesn’t have anything to do with trying to backhand, stab, or spear an errant pitch; you’re not catching it in your palm anyway. It’s just a matter of technique that has to become second nature. 99% of catchers know that they are going to need to use their body at times to block a wild pitch and they practice it. I just hope this isn’t an issue for us in Baton Rouge.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
2mo
. . . coached to drop and block. Watch other catchers. Many set up lower than Zoe and use their legs almost like a hockey goalie. They 'surround' low or wide pitches rather than try to 'pick' them. The best catchers are very 'quiet' behind the plate not stabbing to catch the ball. That can really help the pitcher get close pitches called. Zoe's right that Mazz (and therefore Zoe) doesn't always know where the ball is going. Bottom line is that battery is certainly susceptible to the ball going to the backstop and will likely remain so.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 5/15/2026, 7:29:20 AM
** Edited by MidloHokie at 5/15/2026, 11:44:41 AM
(In response to this post by HolidayInnHokie)
2mo
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)