BLACKSBURG – A new era begins this weekend for the Virginia Tech softball team, as first-year coach Pete D'Amour will lead the Hokies opening weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.
In the Palmetto State will be the Cougar Classic put on by the College of Charleston at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex, where Tech will play in a five-game tournament starting on Friday and concluding on Sunday.
Only the second coach in Tech softball history, D'Amour seeks to bring a winning culture to the squad after the team went 23-30 (7-16 ACC) last spring. He led Kennesaw State to a 79-37 (25-9 ASUN) record in two years at the helm.
POSITION BREAKDOWNS
Tech has 24 players on its roster, including nine newcomers. Of the 24 players, nine are upperclassmen made up of three juniors and six seniors. The 15 underclassmen consist of eight freshmen and seven sophomores.
INFIELD: One of the most experienced middle infields in the ACC, Tech returns two players – seniors Olivia Lattin and Caitlyn Nolan – who have combined for 215 hits, 122 RBIs and 635 assists. Spots will be fought for on the outside, as third and first base do not return starters at those positions.
New infielders include freshmen Kelsey Bennett and Meredith Slaw, while letter winners returning are juniors Dani Hugney and Hannah Jones.
CATCHER: Seniors Lauren Duff and Sierra Walton have the most reps behind the plate, with Duff starting 102 games and Walton owning 42. Duff was the 2016 ACC Freshman of the Year and Walton has the second-best batting average returning to Blacksburg. Sophomores Kayleigh Addington and Mackenzie Lawter return and freshman Grace Chavez enters her first year with the maroon and orange.
UTILITY: Tech boasts three utility players and all them are freshmen. Jayme Bailey, Maddi Banks and Stacy Kalt make up the trio. Banks is the lone batter who bats left, while the other two are righties. All throw right and roughly stand 5-foot-6.
OUTFIELD: The outfielders have one returning starter in senior Emma Strouth, who owns the team's highest returning batting average at .286. Sophomores Cana Davis and Darby Trull each played over 30 games in 2018..
Senior Kinsey Johnson and redshirt freshman Jada Crittendon come back, while the lone newcomer in the outfield is sophomore Al Velazquez, who transferred from Minnesota.
PITCHER: In the circle, Tech will be led by preseason All-American and All-ACC pick Carrie Eberle. The junior ranked third in opponent's batting average last season at an impressive .182 clip. Sophomore Keely Rochard returns as well after a solid first-year campaign, allowing a .219 batting average which ranked eighth best in the ACC.
Two new pitchers are now Hokies in sophomore Keara Napoli, who transferred from Georgia, and freshman Mara Strum. Napoli struck out three batters and only allowed two earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched in Athens, while Strum was a first-team all-state selection by the VHSL this past season.
SCHEDULE
The 56-game slate features marquee nonconference Power Five matchups, midweek tilts with regional opponents and four ACC home weekends at Tech Softball Park.
Tech will face six teams that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament, including Georgia, which made it to the Women's College World Series, 19 clubs that finished with a winning record and three squads that won 40 or games last season.