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The loss marks the end of one of the most successful softball seasons in Virginia Tech history. The team finished with a record of 49-16 and their first ever ACC title. On Friday the No. 13 ranked Hokies defeated Canisius 5-0 in their first game of the regional tournament, but then lost to Ohio State 1-2 the next day. While the loss to Cal State sends the team home earlier than expected, it does not take away from their numerous accomplishments from this exceptional season.
Nine of the Hokies’ wins this season came against nationally ranked opponents, and their 49 total wins is second all time for a Virginia Tech team.
Though disappointed by the team’s early exit from the tournament, head coach Scot Thomas is very proud of what his team has done all year long.
“I am real proud of everything we accomplished,” Thomas said. “To win our first conference title, I think we have been to the final five times, so it’s great to get that win behind us. I think that we went into the NCAA regional tournament with a different attitude than we have had in past seasons.
“Our expectations were higher, so we are more disappointed than we might have been in the past. We always had expectations of winning conference titles, but this year we felt like were in a better position to advance within the region.”
One of the biggest reasons for the team’s success this year has been the contributions from Tech’s first All-American pitcher, Angela Tincher. Tincher’s phenomenal .55 ERA this season helped her amass a school record 38 wins, 23 of them shutouts. Named ACC tournament MVP, Tincher threw three shutouts in the four game ACC tournament, including a shut-out of No. 17 Georgia Tech to earn the Hokies the ACC title.
Tincher is one of only two pitchers in the United States to record over 500 strike-outs this season. She has 617.
Thomas knows the importance of a player like Tincher for a team trying to compete with some of the best programs in the country.
“Every team is only as good as their number one, and our number one happens to be one of the best, if not the best,” Thomas said. “She’s been awesome, she’s the foundation for what we have been doing. You can only go as far as your pitcher, and she has just been awesome.”
As a junior, Tincher already holds the Tech and ACC records for career strikeouts. She was also a finalist for National Player of the Year. Her return to the roster next year, along with all but 3 of her teammates, gives Thomas good reason to be optimistic.
“Our focus is to win back to back ACC titles at this point,” Thomas said. “Right now we need to sit back and take some time to look at what we have done, what we accomplished. But next year we are going to go after another ACC title, and hopefully make our way to Oklahoma.”
Tincher echoed Thomas’ sentiments about the team’s accomplishments and bright future.
“I think we did really well this season. Our goals were to win the ACC regular season and tournament and we accomplished that,” Tincher said.
“We only lost one starter, and we are going to miss her, but we have the rest of the team back. We were so close this year, I see us winning the regional next year as long as we put ourselves in good position and good seeding like we did this year. We were the No. 1 seed in the region this year, which helps a lot.”
Tincher hesitated to comment on personal achievements and goals for the future, reiterating the importance of team success.
“I think my goals are more like team goals,” Tincher said. “I just want us to go farther in the Regional tournament and make it to Super Regionals and hopefully the World Series.”
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