March 2008 Archives

The seats are in, the new sound system is installed and two new press boxes will go up Monday … it’s almost done. Tech Softball Park has been undergoing a major transformation since January and the finishing touches are being wrapped up this week. A couple of handicap ramps need to be installed and there’s some landscaping to do, but everything should be complete by this weekend when the Hokies finally return home to host the University of Virginia in a three-game set.

Over 800 permanent seats have been added, bringing the capacity of TSP up to 1,024 and the new press boxes will give the Hokies a great shot at hosting Regionals if their attendance figures are high enough.

So come out and support the Hokies this weekend against the Cavs. On Saturday, the first 350 fans will receive a commemorative ACC Softball Championship glass and that doubleheader starts at noon. On Sunday, the first 500 fans will receive a free Angela Tincher trading card and that single game starts at 1 p.m.

The Hokies' baseball game with the No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday will be televised by Regional Sports Networks. Channels included with 'RSN' are Comcast SportsNet, FOX Sports Net South, FOX Sports Florida & New England Sports Network. Game time is 1 p.m., so check your local listings and tune in!

With Wednesday night's unlikely 1-0 victory over the U.S. National Team, the Virginia Tech softball team has been thrust into the middle of a media frenzy. Outlets from as far away as Detroit and Orlando, as well as most of the local media outlets have all been in contact for pictures, interviews and highlights. Unfortunately, since the game will not be broadcast until May 6 on ESPN2, the network can not release highlights.

Here are several stories from around the country on last night's historic upset. Also, be sure to check out the great photo gallery on hokiesports.com from the trip as the Hokies visited the ASA Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma City Memorial.

From ESPN.com on Angela Tincher's incredible night
The Associated Press story on the upset
The Oklahoman's article on Tech's trip to the OKC Memorial
The Oklahoman's article on the game

Also, The Roanoke Times and Collegiate Times are planning big articles for Friday's paper.

Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver will be contributing a daily diary on Masters.org, the official website for the Masters. Practice rounds for the Masters begin on Monday, April 7, while first round play will begin on Thursday, April 10. His first entry was posted earlier this week.

Weaver will become the first Virginia Tech golfer to compete in the event. He earned a spot in the 2008 field with his victory in the 2007 British Amateur Championship last June at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in Lancashire, England.

TheACC.com is currently polling ACC basketball fans to vote on the best play of the season , and Tech's Deron Washington's jam against Wake Forest is up for the title. Click here to vote for Deron!

James Madison will be providing a free video webcast of Tuesday's 3 p.m. baseball game with the Hokies.

Click here to check it out.

Tech teams have a slew of home athletic events this week, and many of them feature free giveaway items to fans who come out to support the Hokies. Here’s a list:

Tuesday – Softball vs. Houston, 7 pm: VT Gloves and team posters
Wednesday – Men’s Tennis vs. Virginia, 3pm: Tennis mini-balls
Wednesday – Softball vs. Marist, 5 pm: Angela Tincher trading cards
Thursday – Baseball vs. Boston College, 3 pm: VT Hats
Friday – Lacrosse vs. Louisville, 4 pm: VT Hokies T-shirts
Friday – Baseball vs. Florida State, 5:30 pm: Team pictures
Saturday – Women’s Tennis vs. Florida State, 11 am: Hokie pom-poms
Sunday – Women’s Tennis vs. Miami, Noon: Tennis t-shirts
Sunday – Lacrosse vs. Delaware, Noon: Student Appreciation Day
Sunday – Baseball vs. Florida State, 1 pm: Easter Eggs

Visit www.hokiesports.com/promotions

The College Swim Coaches Association of America released its final dual meet rankings for the 2007-2008 season earlier this week. The Virginia Tech women's swimming and diving team conclude the year at No. 25, while the men finish at No. 29.

Both teams are not finished with the season though as six divers will represent Tech at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships (March 14-16) in Auburn, Ala., for the opportunity to advance to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Jessica Botzum, Jordan McHorney, Megan Newell, Sara Smith and Kaan Tayla have all automatically qualified for the NCAAs. Those on the squad who met the NCAA 'B' standard in their respective events are still waiting to find out if their times are ranked high enough to advance.       

The undefeated men's tennis team moved up nine spots to No. 24 in this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association national poll. Albert Larregola (Sr., Lleida, Spain) moves up 32 spots to No. 54 nationally in singles after helping the Hokies defeat then-No. 44 SMU, 5-2, last Friday with a victory over Robin Fahgen, then ranked 50th nationally, in the No. 1 singles contest.

Tech (10-0, 2-0) does not play this week and will take to the road next week to play at No. 41 Louisville and No. 14 Tennessee.

The Tech women's team (10-3, 0-1) also took big steps up the rankings, moving up 17 spots to No. 43 after upsetting then-No. 25 VCU (4-3), sweeping Longwood (7-0) and defeating Richmond (5-2). The Hokies will be tested this week as they visit No. 63 East Carolina on Thursday (1 p.m.), No. 52 NC State on Saturday (12 p.m.) and No. 37 Wake Forest on Sunday (12 p.m.)  

ACCSelect.com will be offering every post-game press conference of this week’s ACC men’s basketball tournament for free live and on-demand.

Visit www.theacc.com/charlotte08 for specific links and all other tournament information.

Virginia Tech radio announcer Bill Roth was one of six ISP Sports play-by-play personalities to be honored as their state’s top sportscaster in 2007 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA). The organization will present both its state and national awards on May 5th in Salisbury, N.C.

Roth, now in his 20th year as the “Voice of the Hokies,” is a repeat honoree from 2006 for Virginia’s top broadcaster award and is an eight-time winner overall.

“We are very proud to have these talented individuals on our ISP team,” ISP Chairman and CEO Ben Sutton said of the winners. “This achievement is a result of the hard work they bring to each and every broadcast and publication. These honors are also a reflection of the dedicated team we have working behind the scenes in our network studios and at our university partners. Everyone should be congratulated.”

ISP, America’s Home for College Sports, was founded in 1992 and is based in Winston-Salem, N.C. The company manages multi-media rights for more than 50 collegiate athletic partners. ISP delivers quality broadcasts to more than 800 radio affiliates and 100-plus television outlets across America. In addition, ISP provides professional direction for numerous partner publications and websites. More information can be found at ISPSports.com.