Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech softball team has added nine Hokies to its 2023 class. Tech will welcome the well-rounded class to Blacksburg next fall, building on the talent for the Hokies on the national stage.
"All nine of these young ladies can obviously play softball at a high level but what I like the most out of them so far is they all seem to possess an extreme competitive side. They're coming here to compete and continue to raise the bar for Virginia Tech softball," head coach Pete D'Amour said.
"I'd like to thank them all and their families for heading to Blacksburg, and Coach Mike Lewis for doing the legwork to put such a good class together."
Lyla Blackwell
Franklin, Ind. / Roncalli High School / Outfield
A four-year letterwinner out of Roncalli, Lyla Blackwell joins the Hokies after helping her team to back-to-back Indiana 4A State Championships and a 2022 High School National Championship. Racking up the awards as an outfielder, Blackwell earned a spot on the All-Marion County Team in 2021 and 2022. She was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, as well as a member of the All-USA Central Indiana Softball Super Team. In 2022, Blackwell was a First Team All-State honoree, an NFCA First Team All-Region member and a First Team Extra Innings High School All-American. Playing for the Beverly Bandits Premier, Blackwell was a Triple Crown Sport All-American in 2018 and 2019. She was also named a 2022 PGF All-American. As a junior, the outfielder was ranked the No. 13 outfielder in the class of 2023.
Blackwell chose the Hokies over Indiana, Purdue and Southern Illinois at Carbondale.
Michelle Chatfield
Lovettsville, Va. / Woodgrove High School / Infield
Holding a 1.163 slugging percentage at Woodgrove High School, Michelle Chatfield signs with the Hokies as a four-year letterwinner. During the 2022 season, Chatfield was a First Team All-State, All-Met, All-Region and All-District award winner. She also helped her team to a Regular Season Championship, as well as a District and Regional Championship. During her 2021 season, Chatfield was a First Team All-Region and All-District honoree and helped lead her team to a Regular Season and District Championship. She holds a .553 batting average, as well as 10 home runs, 44 RBI and 19 stolen bases. Chatfield is a member of Tri-State Gold, hitting .402 with a .755 slugging, adding six home runs, 41 RBI, 10 doubles and four triples. She was also named to the 2022 Alliance Fastpitch Nationals Tier II All-Tournament Team.
Chatfield chose the Hokies over Belmont and Bucknell.
Emily LeGette
Plantation, Fla. / American Heritage High School / Infield
Emily LeGette joins the Hokies as an infielder from Florida. LeGette has spent the past six seasons on the American Heritage softball team, earning a State Championship as a seventh grader. She has been a member of the First Team All-County Team since eighth grade and named the Miami Herald Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. As a senior, she was named First Team All-State and a team captain. Over the 2022 season, LeGette had a .471 batting average, .714 slugging percentage, with 33 hits, 27 RBI and 20 stolen bases. During the 2021 season, LeGette posted a .638 batting average, ranking 58th nationally by MaxPreps. Playing travel ball for the Miami Stingrays, the slugger once hit five home runs in a single tournament.
LeGette chose Virginia Tech over Florida State, Louisville, Florida Atlantic, South Alabama, Michigan and Columbia.
Maci Masters
Johnson City, Tenn. / Daniel Boone High School / Infield
A four-year letterwinner out of Daniel Boone High School, Maci Masters currently holds the single season home run record in the state of Tennessee with 25 in 2022. She was named All-State in 2022 after recording a .433 batting average, .533 on base percentage, with 74 RBI and her 25 home runs. During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Masters earned a spot on the All-Conference, All-Region and All-Tournament Teams. She was also named Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. As a member of Mojo Lunsford, Masters was ranked No. 30 in the 2023 class by Extra Innings. She also helped her team win the Alliance Fastpitch National Championship in 2022. This past summer, Masters had 12 home runs with a .359 batting average, .465 on base percentage, 1.148 OPS, adding 46 RBI and 44 runs.
Masters chose the Hokies over NC State, North Carolina, Liberty, College of Charleston, Lipscomb and Miami (OH).
Emma Mazzarone
Pleasant Garden, N.C. / Providence Grove High School / Pitcher / Utility
A pitcher from North Carolina, Emma Mazzarone signs with the Hokies. Mazzarone is a three-time All-Conference member, as well as an All-State honoree in 2021 and 2022. She was named the Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2021 and 2022, as well as the 2A West Pitcher of the Year in 2022. Mazzarone posted an opponent batting average of .097, giving up only seven earned runs and adding 348 strikeouts. In 552 batters faced, Mazzarone walked just seven. At the plate, she posted a .586 batting average with 41 hits, eight home runs, 34 RBI and a 1.171 slugging percentage. She did not strike out a single time in 88 plate appearances. Mazzarone also played travel ball for the Lady Lightning Gold Elite and the Carolina Cardinals.
Mazzarone chose Virginia Tech over East Carolina, College of Charleston, North Carolina and Florida International.
Haley McManus
Hays, N.C. / West Wilkes High School / Pitcher
Adding another pitcher from North Carolina, Haley McManus will join the Hokies after an impressive high school career. As a junior, she posted an ERA of 0.96 and an opponent batting average of .123. McManus was named to the 2022 Foothills 2A All-Tournament Team, as well as an All-Conference Honorable Mention. She helped lead her team to a 2022 Conference Championship. As a member of the Carolina Cardinals, McManus helped lead her team to a 12th place finish at PGF Nationals out of 150 teams in 2021.
Sara McNelly
South Plainfield, N.J. / South Plainfield High School / Outfield
The 2022 New Jersey home run and extra base hits leader, Sara McNelly joins the Hokies for the upcoming 2023 season. She was a Third Team All-State honoree, as well as the Golden Glove winner out of South Plainfield High School. The slugger was also named to the All-Conference team, as well as the Division All-Star Team and MVP. She has a .513 batting average with a 1.051 slugging percentage, including 20 home runs, three triples and 19 doubles. McNelly also has 72 RBI and 98 runs scored over the course of her career. Playing travel ball for the NJ Lady Dukes, McNelly carries a .357 average and a .571 slugging. She has seven stolen bases and an on base percentage of .419.
Annika Rohs
Lovettsville, Va. / Woodgrove High School / Infield
A four-year letterwinner from Woodgrove High School, Annika Rohs joins the Hokies as an infielder. As the shortstop for Woodgrove, Rohs was named First Team All-State, All-District and All-Region. She helped her team finish in the top four in the State 5A as well. During the 2022 season, Rohs recorded a .506 batting average and a .852 slugging percentage, with four home runs and 36 RBI. As a member of Lightning Gold, Rohs has 10 home runs, with 98 RBI. She also has a .517 slugging percentage and a .330 batting average.
Rohs chose the Hokies over Delaware and Robert Morris.
Zoe Yaeger
Neptune Beach, Fla. / Providence School of Jacksonville / Catcher
A catcher from Florida, Zoe Yaeger has spent the past five years on the Providence School varsity team. So far, she has a .400 batting average with 11 home runs and 22 doubles. She also hit two home runs in the District Championship for her team. Through her junior year, Yaeger's on base percentage is a .458. She has 96 hits with 70 RBI. The catcher also has a .635 slugging percentage and a 1.093 OPS. Defensively, she has only recorded six errors though her high school career with 294 putouts. Yaeger has played travel ball for the Lady Dukes and most recently plays for the Hotshots. She was ranked No. 38 in the 2023 class by Extra Innings Softball.
Yaeger chose Virginia Tech over Purdue, Ole Miss, UCF, Virginia and Villanova.