BLACKSBURG – Expectations will be high in Blacksburg after an ACC regular-season title and NCAA Regional final a year ago, as the Virginia Tech softball team enters Year 2 of the Pete D'Amour era.
The new era of Hokie softball kicked off with a bang in 2019, setting over 20 school records, including 20 ACC wins, 97 home runs, batting average (.334) and fewest errors committed (47), just to name a few.
But the Hokies lose the ACC Pitcher of the Year, an All-American outfielder and the school's home-run record holder at shortstop. However, they return six starters, with four of those being NFCA All-Region selections last spring, and have high hopes for another stellar season on tap.
Of those four all-region picks, sophomore Kelsey Bennett leads the charge offensively after winning ACC Freshman of the Year and being named to Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 list thanks to setting the freshman home-run record (14). While in the circle, first-team All-ACC selection Keely Rochard looks to be the team's ace, following her impressive 22-3 record and three no-hitters (one perfect game) last year.
But with the three holes in the starting lineup entering February, really, there's just a couple of spots that have a question mark. With Rochard, who had a team-best 1.81 ERA in 2019, and Olivia Lattin, who was the starting second baseman before going down with a season-ending injury opening weekend, taking the reins at pitcher and second and essentially being two returning starters in their own right, Tech will have one spot open in its outfield and at shortstop up for grabs.
D'Amour, the reigning ACC Coach of the Year, and his staff, the 2019 NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year made up of Doug Gillis and Kirin Kumar, welcome in a highly-touted freshman class that oozes with athleticism and a blue-collar mentality that should fit the culture in Blacksburg. Be on the lookout for twins and utility players Ansley and Ashley Whitley to contribute right away, as well as designated player Maddie Rountree, while JMU transfer Kelsey Brown, a speedy lefty that's a slapper, will push for a starting role in the outfield after a stellar fall.
Tech will once again face another tough schedule in the nonconference portion, playing all four weekends on the road before ACC play heats up. And will face three teams in its conference that finished in the top 40 RPI last year in Florida State (No. 6), North Carolina (26), Notre Dame (39). But the Hokies have exceeded expectations before and look to continue to build themselves into a contender in the ACC and nationally.
RETURNING STARTERS (2019 stats)
C - Mackenzie Lawter (.278, 30 RBI, 11 HR)
1B – Jayme Bailey (.380, 16 RBI, 6 HR)
2B – Maddi Banks (.259, 12 RBI, 4 HR)
3B – Kelsey Bennett (.369, 45 RBI, 14 HR)
CF – Darby Trull (.406, 37 RBI, 7 HR)
RF – Al Velazquez (.335, 28 RBI, 4 HR)
STARTERS LOST (2019 stats)
P – Carrie Eberle (25-8, 1.84 ERA, 164 K)
SS – Caitlyn Nolan (.299, 55 RBI, 19 HR)
LF – Emma Strouth (.404, 68 RBI, 13 HR)
TOP NON-STARTERS (2019 stats)
P – Keely Rochard (22-3, 1.81 ERA, 193 K)
2B – Olivia Lattin (.545, 2 RBI, 1 HR)
Keep up with Virginia Tech softball on Twitter by following @HokiesSoftball.