Let's try to focus on some real positives for the club.

Darby Trull's turnaround at the plate has been nothing short of incredible. She had a stretch at the plate last year going 7-52 (.135) and started this year 2-16 (.125). She was constantly in the 9-hole and often getting pinch-hit for after just one AB; she was an offensive liability. She now has 17 hits in her last 41 AB (.415) and is hitting for some power (3 doubles and a homer in that stretch), and has drawn 9 walks in her last 14 games -- she's been an on-base machine. She's lengthening the lineup and allows VT to use Kelsey Brown in that second leadoff spot while she works through some things (5 for her last 28). Darby's defense has remained excellent -- great range, and we saw the arm yesterday throwing out a runner at home.

In the DP musical chairs shuffle, Meredith Slaw has seized her opportunity. She's now on a 6-game hitting streak, going 10-17 (.588) with a homer and 3 doubles along the way. Obviously that pace is not sustainable and she isn't going to beat anything out on the infield, but for a lineup that lacks a major home run threat outside of Bre Peck (Kelsey Bennett was last year but seems to be more doubles power this year) and possibly Emma Ritter, she's been huge. Every fall she's mentioned as the highlight -- hitting balls the hardest, etc. -- so it's been great to watch that translate to the spring.

Speaking of Bre Peck, she's the team's leading hitter during ACC play at .432 (19-44 with 6 doubles and 3 homers) and a 1.273 OPS, and went 6-13 in the UCF series. When you've scored more runs (16) and driven in more runs (16) than games played (14), you know you're on a tear. She's walked more (5) than she's struck out (3), and I love this recent move to the 2-hole in the lineup. Her throws from third have been a little shaky lately so that needs to be cleaned up, but she's a wrecking ball at the plate.

Kelsey Bennett has hits in 16 out of her last 19 games, including 4 multi-hit games in her last 8. I mentioned above needing more home run threats in the lineup and last year Kelsey was that more so than this year, but she has homered twice recently and seems to be locked in right now. She's a terrific defensive shortstop as well -- limited range but makes all the plays and has the best infield arm I think I've ever seen -- and that's taken some pressure off Peck and allowed her to play third all season.

Outside of Lemley, obviously, there are some things we'd all love to see. More from Jayme Bailey -- it seems clear by her body language after AB's that she's fighting it at the plate right now and I do think this team needs her in the long run. Kelsey Brown is slumping and when she's right, she's on 2nd or 3rd with no outs at the top of the lineup. But players around them have stepped it up in a major way and that's been huge for this team's success. Long may it continue!


[Post edited by hokiehigh2000 at 04/11/2022 10:57AM]