Hokies land former AZ catcher Emma Kavanagh from the portal
In high school, she was the NFCA Catcher of the year and Extra Innings ranked her as the #7 recruit in the country. She was a 4-time All-American in high school.
At Arizona, she was behind All-American Catcher Sydney Stewart.
Emma played in a total of 68 games at Arizona and made 31 starts. This past season, she played in 40 games, hitting .292 and slugging .585 with five home runs.
Welcome to the Hokie family, Emma!
** Edited by VTChip at 6/23/2026, 3:14:25 PM
** Edited by VTChip at 6/23/2026, 3:45:21 PM
39 Replies
1mo
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
Zoe, the closer!
(In response to this post by RoanokeHokie1872)
1mo
And Blacksburg in the summer isn't a hard sell at all! It's gorgeous there this time of year!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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nkhooch
1mo
Zoe struggled offensively in ACC play. Don’t know if it’s because she got tired from catching so much. Would like to see if another catcher can block the wild pitches more consistently.
** Edited by nkhooch at 6/24/2026, 6:18:58 PM
(In response to this post by hokietony)
1mo
She got it all - and as a pinch hitter!
Link:
Let's do that at TSP
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
Something as simple as that stained, painted maroon or something you would think could work at our softball park after a bit of a design? Couldn't be expensive. Bad idea? Thinking outside the box here.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
Might could even get some free stuff from vendors if a little advertising was allowed.
YellaWood
Fastenmaster
Simpson Strong-Tie
GRK-ITW
Paslode
(In response to this post by HOKIE MAGIC)
1mo
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1mo
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1mo
but I have my VT chair, my VT shirt/hat on, a separate TV for my VT game on satellite and all my coolers are Orange (works nice with the Auburn colors) or Maroon. The rest is all my wife and her friends Auburn gear, tents, tablecloths, chairs, fans, etc, etc, etc, The irony in it all, if you look at since I met my future wife in December, 2002, the Auburn and VT programs have pretty much been lock in step of when the programs were dominant and when they have been down. Hoping Franklin and Golesh are the 2 keys to making that happen again.
** Edited by HOKIE MAGIC at 6/25/2026, 8:14:31 AM
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1mo
Sorry Wildcats, she's a Hokie now!!!!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
.... starter graduated? She must have issues with her coach, maybe?
She's coming to a team with a returning catcher.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
retirement after Arizona was knocked out of the 2021 WCWS. In fact, my wife and I were there. It was quite and honor just to be there and watch him coach his last time for the Wildcats! The Wildcats are my second favorite team behind the Hokies of course! Last year, Arizona lost a ton of good players to other softball contenders. Coach Kaitlyn Lowe played for Candrea and was an All-American. I have been watching her teams since she took over for Mike. There is something not right in camp at Arizona, and it may be that Coach Lowe may be having issues keeping the players happy at AZ. I really feel, that her days are numbered at AZ, if she is not able to turn them around this coming season. When a coach loses too many players season after season, that is a huge tell that something is not right within the program. Coach Candrea is still with the university in a higher up capacity. If things go south, he will get it right fast!
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
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RJHokie
1mo
can be rough, along with water issues.
It’s good we got her since we don’t have much experienced catcher depth.
I bet Pete and his group improve her hitting.
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
1mo
. . . do so.
(In response to this post by hokietony)
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RJHokie
1mo
Maybe 50-50 or thereabouts.
(In response to this post by hokietony)
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RJHokie
1mo
Kylie would have played the catcher position much more often if she had not been injured.
Barring someone like Jordan Bishop or the two other catchers rising to starter level, Zoe is probably going to play a lot at the catcher position.
(In response to this post by texashokie1)
1mo
Just have a feeling that she will see more time at C.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
1mo
Coach went after a catcher on purpose. I don’t think she left starting at Arizona to sit at VT
(In response to this post by hokietony)
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RJHokie
1mo
(In response to this post by hokietony)
R
RJHokie
1mo
So, she and Addy Foster have that in common.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
As a high school freshman, she hit .491 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs and 52 runs.
Sounds like a bit of a natural leader.
I linked the story below, but you may have to put in your e-mail to read it.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
1mo
the photo of her blocking a pitch really has me fired up!!! It's the little things that matter most! Thanks for posting this, Chip!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
First, “I’m been calling Hokie Softball” and then
“HomerunU”
I already like this young lady!!!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
But everything I have been reading says that she is very enthusiastic young lady.
She was an impact player as a freshman in high school (she hit .491 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs and 52 runs) and a story in the Chicago Tribune quotes her as saying “I love to talk,” she said. “I love to yell and cheer, and I love to get up in people’s faces and get them to cheer with me. I never like to be the lone one doing it, but sometimes it starts out that way, and I have to be able to rub off on somebody.
“If they’re not having the great day that I am, I have to get them going and feeling it. I’ve loved to do that since I was little.”
Sounds like she will be a fun player to have around.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
1mo
they meet for the first time.
(In response to this post by VTChip)