Hokies officially announce Emma Kavanagh signing
HokieSports Press Release:
"BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech softball head coach Pete D’Amour has announced the signing of Emma Kavanagh to the 2027 roster.
"An integral part of Arizona the past two seasons, Kavanagh transfers to Virginia Tech with two seasons of eligibility remaining. As a Wildcat, she has appeared in 72 games with 32 starts as the catcher and designated player. She has a career .271 batting average with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.
In 2026, Kavanagh was crucial for Arizona as she hit .288 with a .603 slugging percentage over 20 starts. The Barrington, Ill., native ranked third for the Wildcats with six home runs and tallied five multi-hit games.
As a freshman, Kavanagh appeared in 28 games with 12 starts. She hit .235 with one home run and eight RBIs.
Kavanagh was also named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2025. Prior to her freshman campaign, she was tabbed to the D1 Softball Preseason D100 Freshman Watch List.
Welcome, Emma!
19 Replies
T
Techdady
3w
initial conversation went like this 'So you want to be trained to be an All American'. You came to the right place. Huge get for Hokie softball.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
S
schubee
3w
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3w
With the five for five now in place, players like Michelle Chatfield, Emma Mazzarone, Zoe Yaeger, Annika Rohs, and others might decide to play a fifth year.
There are five current commits in the Class of 2027 so there could be an issue with numbers
since the NCAA is keeping the current roster limit of 25.
We shall see how this plays out.
(In response to this post by schubee)
3w
Tell a four year player goodbye or tell a recruit that you selected for your program goodbye. Don’t envy coaches in this situation….
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3w
It’s tough conversations for sure.
(In response to this post by Slider!22)
3w
I know programs already do that for roster space. I think the portal will do record business next year. Already saw where some football players across the country have been de-committed from their chosen university.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
R
RJHokie
3w
particularly if they have degrees in high demand/pay curriculums. Michelle Chatfield could be one of those players assuming she graduates in 2027. Not sure if Aerospace Engineering is a 4 or 5 year undergraduate program.
(In response to this post by Slider!22)
Addy Foster also (hopefully).
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3w
Lyla Blackwell is in that group as well.
It still equates to a potential numbers problem.
** Edited by VTChip at 7/6/2026, 11:01:10 PM
(In response to this post by HolidayInnHokie)
3w
grades, graduation, injury, making a team in general and moving on from college life to the real world.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3w
even if there was not the 5-for-5. The fact that Fisher transferred after 1 season, while not surprising, is based on expected usage over time...logjam.
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
3w
Six were scheduled to graduate, five were signed in the coming class.
There would normally be room for a transfer or two.
The five for five potentially changed everything.
Just scan Twitter and see the 3027 players that are now available “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
3w
in addition to softball. Not only will 5 for 5 reduce the need for HS recruits during the next few years, but it also will increase the number athletes getting cut after a season or two. The roster limits also reduce Title 9 roster flexibility. For example, large rosters on women's track and swimming teams have been used for years as Title 9 balancers by many athletic programs to offset the large number of male football players. That can't be done anymore. The top athletes will get more scholarship money and years to play. The good, but not great ones will have fewer opportunities to be a student-athlete, which is a shame.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3w
There are going to be players who might not play much barring a future platoon or positional flexibility. For some who are not playing, they may focus on simply being a college student and oart of the team experience. Others may transfer, even if it is a smattering. Thus is natural regardless of the 5-for 5. I was thinking beyond roster numbers and mire about actual playing time.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3w
that VT would love to have back but we shall see who wants to come back first, how this year's class performs next year, and who also portals out to determine how many can come back.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
3w
Emma R - Emma L - Emma M Expect this young lady will be fine!
(In response to this post by VTChip)