Richelle Ashton Mcgarva ward Kenzie roark A first-class university with a picturesque campus and terrific athletic facilities puts Virginia Tech in a great position to rise to the next level on the national softball scene. VIRGINIA TECH 2011 SOFTBALL TABLE OF CONTENTS Quick Facts/Credits .............................................................................................. 1 2011 Outlook .....................................................................................................2, 3 2011 Rosters/Pronunciation Guide ................................................................ 3 Richelle McGarva Head Coach Scot Thomas ..............................................................................4, 5 Assistant Coaches .............................................................................................6, 7 Player Profiles ...................................................................................................8-24 Support Staff ........................................................................................................25 Tech Softball Park ...............................................................................................25 VIRGINIA TECH QUICK FACTS 2010 Season in Review, 2010 Statistics ......................................................26 All-Time Individual and Team Records ........................................................27 Location: Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg (pop. 39,000) Single-Season Individual Records ..........................................................28-29 in scenic southwest Virginia on a plain between the Blue Ridge No-Hitters and Perfect Games .......................................................................29 and Allegheny Mountains, 2,120 feet above sea level. Career Individual Records .........................................................................30-31 History: Founded in 1872 as the land-grant university of the state Year-by-Year Results ....................................................................................32-37 Enrollment: 30,000 Media Information .............................................................................................38 Colors: Chicago maroon & burnt orange Nickname: Hokies The 2011 Virginia Tech softball media guide is a publication of the Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC) Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Office, written to assist the President: Charles W. Steger working media and designed to aid all media members in their coverage Director of Athletics: Jim Weaver of Virginia Tech softball. Senior Woman Administrator: Sharon McCloskey The 2011 softball media guide was written and designed by 2011 VIRGINIA TECH SOFTBALL Head Softball Coach: Scot Thomas (East Tennessee State, ‘91) Associate Director of Athletics Communications Bryan Johnston. The Record at Tech: 536-368 (16th year) (career record same) cover was designed by Clark Ruhland and most of the photographs were Associate Head Coach: Al Brauns (Penn State, ‘73); 13th year at Tech contributed by David Knachel of the Athletics Communications Office. Assistant Coach: Barb Sherwood (Troy, ‘99); third year at Tech This book was printed by PPI Sports, Minneapolis, MN. A special thanks to Softball Office: (540) 231-3671 the Tech softball staff for its assistance. Home Field: Tech Softball Park (1,024) Dimensions: Lines 200’; center 220’ Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or Press Box Phone: (540) 231-6061 applicants on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, 2010 Record: 25-33 2010 ACC Record: 8-13 age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. 2010 ACC Finish: 7th regular season/lost in ACC semifinals Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 5/3 Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office at (540) 231-7500. Pitchers Returning/Lost: 3/1 Newcomers: 5 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/4 Virginia Tech has a multi-year contract On the Web: www.hokiesports.com with Nike for team apparel and equipment. On Twitter: twitter.com/VT_Softball 1 OUTFIELD The Hokies will return several players who saw significant action in the outfield last year, including second-team All-ACC selection Richelle McGarva in centerfield. The senior was hampered by a shoulder injury for much of the season, but still managed to hit .279 with five home runs and 14 stolen bases. When 2011 healthy, she is a lock-down player manning the centerfield position. Freshman Laura Wolff, an all-state selection as a senior last year, could also PREVIEW challenge for playing time here. Sophomore Sarah Ashby is a speedy Hungry Hokies player who is the top choice as a pinch runner and provides depth in centerfield as well. The Virginia product stole 15 bases last year in 17 Aiming for a Return Marra Hvozdovic attempts and scored 12 runs. If she continues to Postseason to improve her slap hitting, she could also challenge for time at the plate. After winning two consecutive ACC Leading the way in left field is senior Ashton Championships and earning a berth in the 2008 Ward and freshman Kat Banks. Both Ward Women’s College World Series, hopes were and Banks will be counted on for innings in high for the future of the Virginia Tech softball the circle, but are versatile enough to be able program. But over the past two years, the Hokies to play here as well. Sophomore Stephanie have felt the sting of injuries, graduation and routine. She will be backed up by freshman Kujawa could also challenge for playing time attrition and have failed to make the postseason walk-on Nina Compton, who could also be used here, as well. She saw limited action last season both times. on the base paths. and must improve at the plate after hitting But this year, head coach Scot Thomas has At third base will be senior Kristina Cruz just .179 as a freshman. She is athletic and has a talented group of upperclassmen and a fresh who is in her second year after transferring great speed and could be an asset for Tech this group of ballplayers ready to step in and make from Santa Fe (Fla.) College. It took her a while season. a run at the ACC title and make a triumphant to get accustomed to the Division I level last Junior Marra Hvozdovic is a solid player in return to the postseason. year, but she is a smooth fielder who improved the outfield who will be vying for the vacated With most of the lineup back, including tremendously as the season progressed. She hit right field spot. She brings a little pop at the three pitchers, the Hokies have a veteran group just .174 last year with 16 errors, but after a great plate and can play any of the outfield spots. ready for a run back at the NCAA Tournament. fall, the coaching staff is excited to see what the Kristen Froehlich is also a candidate to play talented Floridian does in her last season. here, but is working mainly at first base. INFIELD Alicia Field returns as well at third base. She “We’ve got a lot of speed in this group Two of the four starters return from an has been a solid role player the past three years and we’re going to run down a lot of fly balls,” infield that was playing pretty well defensively and will continue to help with the pitchers in the associate head coach Al Brauns said. “We’ve as the season came to an end. Granted, the bull pen as well. got a lot of different options and we’ll go with Hokies lose shortstop Misty Hall and her 11 Tech will have to replace starters at first base who’s hitting the best and who gives us the best home runs, but the two starters returning and at shortstop. Freshman Dani Anderson will chance to win.” started a combined 108 games last year. be the starter at shortstop after winning the Bkaye Smith is a dangerous player at the job in the fall. She is an athletic player who is a THE BATTERY plate who started all 58 games last year, 57 at standout in the field while Kat Banks is another The top three pitchers in terms of innings second base. The lefty slapper struggled down freshman who could be used here. She has a return to the 2011 team, but the group as the stretch last year and finished with a .260 great speed and is a good bat to have in the a whole has to do a better job in terms of average, but stole 24 bases and had a .971 lineup. Banks is also going to be counted on for consistency and production. fielding percentage. She is a talented player innings in the circle and in the outfield. Senior Kenzie Roark is back in the circle for in the field who makes the tough plays look First base is a little bit of a question mark for her final year and has to take control of the staff. the Hokies. Junior Kristen Froehlich is making She was sensational down the stretch last year, the move from the outfield to first base and earning a spot on the ACC’s All-Tournament is the leader heading into the preseason. She Team, but at other times she struggled and came around at the plate last year and is looking needs to gain positive consistency. She went 10- to carry that momentum over to this season. 20 last year with a 3.06 ERA but had moments Kelsey Hensel, who could also see playing of brilliance and the coaches are imploring time at first base, was having a solid season her to build on the strong finish to last year. until suffering a broken hand midway through Her success in the circle will go a long way in the season. She has also worked at third base, determining how the Hokies fare this year. Kristina Cruz catcher and in the outfield and provides the Sophomore Jasmin Harrell won a team- staff with a good bat and versatility in the field. high 11 games last year, but posted a 3.22 ERA Sophomore Courtney Liddle will be looked at with 93 strikeouts in 141.1 innings. She too had here as well. moments of excellence, but gave up 13 home “This infield doesn’t have any holes and will runs and needs to continue to improve. probably be one of the best defensive groups Ashton Ward was an all-region pitcher her we’ve had in a while,” Thomas said. “We have freshman year at Tennessee, but didn’t get a experience coming back at second and third chance to pitch a lot last year due to injuries.