Collegiate Times

Coming off a 25-33 season, statistics seem to show that the Virginia Tech softball team is going to need to find a new game plan in order to prepare for a more successful 2011 campaign. However, this might not be the case.

“We had at times five starters out — it was just ridiculous,” said Scot Thomas, head coach. “It’s a matter of staying healthy. That’s our biggest thing as of right now.”

Last year, from what Thomas described as “freak accidents,” many of his players were unable to compete because of injuries. He believes this is why his team did not finish the season with record higher than .500— something it has done for 11 of the past 15 seasons that he has been the head coach.

This year the team is coming back strong, with many returning players who bring experience that Tech lacked the previous season.

There is more depth in case of any more “freak accidents” that wiped the team’s hopes of an Atlantic Coast Conference title, which it continues to shoot for this season.

“Last year we struggled with making sure the small things were taken care of,” said Kenzie Roark, senior pitcher. “This year we are a veteran squad, so I think the little things we let get away from us last year will not be a factor.”

With freshman pitcher Katie Banks coming to Tech and the injuries from last spring seemingly healed, the pitching mound is looking much better than it did last year.

Injuries forced senior Ashton Ward from the mound to the outfield, where she played most of the season, leaving Roark and then-freshman Jasmin Harrell to pitch virtually every game. With their schedule packed with double headers, the pitchers had virtually no rest time.

With four pitchers to rotate into games this season, the Hokies are looking much better than before, and they have the attitude to match.

“I think mentality will be a big difference,” said Roark. “We now have a seasoned staff and it will definitely show this year.”

Tech is also coming off of a promising fall season. Dani Anderson, a freshman from California, hit a home run on the first pitch of her first at bat this past fall.

And Banks proved not only her strength as an upcoming pitcher, but also showed good speed on the bases. Players believe the team chemistry has improved, and many players have made large strides through their fall conditioning and training.

“We don’t have that one player. We are very balanced up and down the lineup, and the new kids fill the gaps really nicely for us,” said Thomas.

The Hokies face a tough ACC slate. Georgia Tech, ranked No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, is predicted to win the ACC title. The Yellow Jackets return all but one starter — first team All-American Jen Yee who graduated after last season. Florida State is also looking very competitive. It returns seven position starters and four pitchers, including senior pitcher Sarah Hamilton, who finished last season with a 1.50 ERA.

Finally, North Carolina is ranked 25th and is returning 14 players to its squad, which made its way into the NCAA tournament last year.

“We hope to finish in the top of the ACC and then make it to regionals and go all the way back to the college world series,” said sophomore pitcher Jasmin Harrell. “We have the talent and competitiveness to do it.”

Tech kicks off the regular season on Feb. 12 at the 49er Round Robin in Charlotte, N.C.

A version of this article appeared in the Feb 11 issue of the Collegiate Times.