I root for VT softball for a number of reasons such as the girls all seem to play well and act as a team, they care about each other, they're talented, they're highly competitive but not jerks about it, by all accounts they're great people off the field too and, probably most of all, they're "our team". I've really enjoyed rooting for Kylie, Rachel, Anni, Michelle and others through the years because they're "VT's team". I'm hoping to root for Gaby and Avery for another 3 years. I go out of my way to follow and support them. Can't say the same about football, men's basketball and, to a lessor extent, women's basketball. In the era of NIL, those teams seem to be largely mercenaries. The same reason I stopped rooting for my beloved Orioles back in the '70's (yes, I'm old) when the whole team became mercenaries when free agency came about is the same reason I don't have the same passion I used to for football and basketball. Seeing Dell Curry, Bobby Beecher, and running into Bruce Smith (literally) at Top of the Stairs in the 1980s had that "they're our guys" feel about it. It really touched me when Kylie said, through her tears, how special VT is to her. I'm hoping softball can avoid the "mercenary model" as long as possible. I know NIL has already infiltrated college softball to a certain extent, but at least VT softball doesn't seem to have been really impacted...yet. I love the addition of Addy and she doesn't seem to be a "let's go buy a great player" type of get and seems to really love being here. I'm hoping, maybe against hope, that the girls here want to be here because, as Kylie said, VT is a special place. If the NIL model eventually takes over and there is wholesale roster turnover each year, I fear there isn't another VT sport I'll find myself able to be passionate about. I love this team and want to continue to love them into the future.

and yes it's hard to accept how different things are now. But as the saying goes "you can't put the toothpaste back into the tube!" NIL............and the money that comes with it............is now a part of the process. Yes, they may still love the school/team like they use to in our day, but not so much anymore without the money to go along with it. Might as well get use to it!

At least threre’s still VT football tailgating

that once they got to the series and the other time a game away. You need studs on the mound so when the bats get silenced you can withstand the struggle

Problem was Bree was not healthy and Mazz was just struggling, maybe because she was trying to do too much with Bree not 100%. Thankfully Layton had come on super strong by the end of the year and looked great this past weekend. This staff had silenced UVA, Duke, and FSU the prior weekend, with Duke being some of the best bats in the country.

we faced studs? The one today transferred from Oklahoma I believe. They are likely very good, but you can advance to the regionals with those pitchers (compared to superstar pitchers like Pickens, Canady, etc). I agree with you, so don't get me wrong. But it just feels like we get beaten by pitchers who might not be elite. We sign good players, who we love, who are also ranked, and can produce at the top level, but then we question how good they are? We have recruited many ranked players: Jordan Lynch was ranked 10th by Extra Innings Jayden Jones was ranked 6th Nora Abromavage was ranked 37th Bree Carrico was ranked 48th by Extra Ininngs Reagan Troy was ranked 31st Jordan Bishop - All-State in Georgia Avery Layton - Team USA HPP Top Performer Gaby Mizelle - Ranked as high as 7th Abbie Sars - ranked 87th Lyla Blackwell - ranked no. 13 outfielder in her class MIchelle Chatfield - 2022 Alliance Fastpitch Nationals all-tournament.... Emily Legette - ranked 58th by MaxPreps Maci Masters - ranked 30 by Extra Innings Zoe Yaeger - Ranked 38 When evaluating the talent in the program, are there two questions? - What other schools were recruiting the players, to see the level of competition, i.e. we signed someone with offers from Belmont, East Carolina vs. someone with offers from Auburn, LSU, Florida? - If other top 15 programs have quality, ranked depth, how do we keep some of the players that we recruited who were ranked but left? I know this is not a neat and clean thing, but we would look different if we still had some players. ** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/19/2026, 11:08:20 PM

Three solid pitchers? Next year will have a big senior class?

expiration of eligibility. Kleiman and Grizzard graduate as well. Bre Warren, who the NCAA “whacked,” will not be back due to eligibility. Otherwise, unless there are some portal transfers out, the team will be relatively intact from this season. It will be difficult to replace Aldridge and Casteen, but I guess it’s possible that another transfer like Addy Foster could be on the team. Plus some of the other players and/or freshmen recruits could possibly be starters as well. ** Edited by RJHokie at 5/17/2026, 9:35:14 PM

Next year's seniors... Chatfield Foster Mazz Rohs Yaeger Blackwell Lugenbill McNelly Next year's roster by class... Seniors: 8 Juniors: 4 Soph: 8* Freshmen: 6 * includes Sars, who probably gets a redshirt for this year. That's 26 total, so they need to lose at least 1 (more if they want to add) via the portal. Roster limit is 25. ** Edited by schubee at 5/17/2026, 9:33:08 PM