Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – With his 2022 roster reunited at home plate on Friday afternoon at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park, Virginia Tech baseball head coach John Szefc proudly awarded championship rings to his accomplished squad during an honorary ceremony that celebrated the Hokies' first ACC and NCAA Regional titles.
Seated together on the infield, Tech's 2022 graduated and returned student-athletes were invited one by one to receive their championship rings from Szefc, the 2022 ACC Coach of the Year, in front of grandstand supporters. Headlining the Hokies in attendance was the program's complete class of 2022 MLB signees, featuring outfielder Gavin Cross, shortstop Tanner Schobel, utility player Nick Biddison, catcher Cade Hunter, pitcher Graham Firoved and pitcher Jordan Geber.
On their forward face, Virginia Tech's championship rings have the athletics logo displayed inside baseball stitching, framed within '2022 ACC Champions' lettering that signifies the program's ACC Coastal Division championship, as earned with the best ACC regular season record (19-9). The Hokies achieved a program record by winning nine ACC regular season series, including six series against opponents that were ranked in D1Baseball's top 25 poll.
Down the right side of the band, the lettering 'Blacksburg Regional Champions' is displayed, commemorating Tech's undefeated weekend at the NCAA Blacksburg Regional – the program's first regional title won during its history. Below, Tech's overall record '45-14' is depicted, celebrating the program's highest win total during its ACC history and its fourth highest win total all-time.
Along the left side of the band, the ring bearer's name is projected atop the lettering 'Blacksburg Super Regional Host' as well as the bearer's jersey number or team role.
On the base, 'Hokies' is stenciled between both sides of the band. Underneath the top face, the program's Build It In Blacksburg (BIIB) logo is revealed, symbolic of Szefc's commitment made in June 2017 to build a winning baseball program under his core principles: to be blue collar, to have integrity, to be invested and to embody brotherhood.
The 2022 Virginia Tech baseball team peaked as the nation's consensus No. 2-ranked program prior to drawing the No. 4 national seed in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship – its highest all-time. Led by All-Americans Gavin Cross, Drue Hackenberg, Jack Hurley and Tanner Schobel, the Hokies stormed through the NCAA Blacksburg Regional to advance to the program's first Super Regional, making such an appearance in its home ballpark.
Tech witnessed five players go on to earn selection during the 2022 MLB Draft, highlighted by Gavin Cross becoming the Hokies' highest all-time pick at No. 9 overall by the Kansas City Royals.
Friday's ceremony was emceed by Evan Hughes, friend of the program and the radio play-by-play voice of Tech baseball.
Gallery: (11-4-2022) BS: 2022 Championship Rings