Hole in one at Auburn
Molly Kovala hit a hole-in-one at the Auburn Hills Golf Club on August 6 on hole number 3. She has only been playing golf for less than a year and was traveling through the New River Valley from Northern Wisconsin.
Yank set single-game record
The Pulaski Yankees welcomed 3,592 fans to Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park for Sunday night’s victory over the Danville Braves, setting a new single-game attendance record for the Yankees’ franchise. The mark tops the Yankees’ previous record of 3,572 set on June 30, 2017.
Since the Shelor Automotive Group purchased Calfee Park prior to the 2015 season, over 260,000 fans have attended Pulaski Yankees’ games at the historic ballpark. The organization is on pace to set another single-season attendance record in 2018 with a year-to-date attendance of 67,679 with nine home games remaining; the current single-season record is 77,880 set in 2017.
Olympian joins Hokie staff
Virginia Tech head coach Sergio Lopez Miro announces the addition of four-time Olympian, Albert Subirats as an assistant coach, rounding out the swimming and diving staff for his inaugural season with the Hokies.
Subirats is a four-time Olympic qualifier for Venezuela, having made the cut in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. In 2007 he claimed Venezuela’s first (and only to date) long-course medal, winning bronze in the 100-fly at the World Championships and in 2010 he was the World Champion in the 50m fly.
He holds the Venezuelan long course records individually in the 100m free, 50m fly, 100m fly (also the South America record) and 100m backstroke. Along with his relay teammates, Subirats holds records in the 4x100m free relay and 4x100m medley relay.
He is a three-time winner of Venezuela’s Sportsman Athlete of the Year, taking the title in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and is the most decorated swimmer in the history of the South American and Central American Games.
Collegiately, Subirats swam for the University of Arizona 2004-07.
VT softball hires pitching coach
Making the second hire of his staff, Virginia Tech head softball coach Pete D’Amour announced on Friday the hiring of Doug Gillis as an assistant coach.
“Doug has and continues to play at the highest level of men’s fastpitch and had a lengthy career on the USA Men’s National Team. He’s always finding ways to evolve and get better. What he is teaching now isn’t what he was teaching 10-15 years ago. What’s most important to me is the fact that the pitchers that work with Doug are almost always better at the end of their careers than at the beginning,” said D’Amour.
Gillis will serve as the pitching coach for the Hokies after working at Kennesaw State with the same position for two years with D’Amour.
VT hosts walk-on baseball tryouts Aug. 30
The Virginia Tech baseball staff has announced that Thursday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. at English Field at Union Park is the opportunity for interested students to try out for a couple walk-on spots on the 2019 Hokies’ roster.
Any players looking to participate in the tryout must first be cleared medically by Tech’s baseball athletic trainer Kyle Staggers before taking part.
Students are asked to email Kyle (kyleas8@vt.edu) to set up an appointment for anything related to the medical clearance.
Participants who have been cleared should expect a full baseball workout and bring all necessary equipment—including but not limited to cleats, glove, bat, helmet – and should be dressed in baseball pants and a hat.
Johnson named assistant coach
Virginia Tech head men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams has announced that Devin Johnson has been promoted to assistant coach for the Hokies.
Johnson spent the last four years as the Director of Player Personnel for men’s basketball. He came to Blacksburg after two seasons at Marquette.
In his role with Virginia Tech, Johnson oversaw all of the program’s video needs, exchange procedures, players’ scheduling and time management. He also helped coordinate staff scouting efforts, community initiatives and summer camps.
At Marquette, Johnson supervised all of the program’s video needs, including staff scouting efforts and exchange procedures.
He also played a vital role in community initiatives and summer camps.
Even before Marquette and Virginia Tech, Johnson has had a long-standing relationship with Williams. The Zachary, Louisiana native was a part of Williams’ staff as an undergraduate assistant at the University of New Orleans during the 2006-07 campaign.
Jackson to visit Calfee
The Pulaski Yankees will welcome Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson to Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park Aug. 17 and 18. The 21-year MLB veteran currently serves as a consultant for the New York Yankees and will be in town to work with the organization’s prospects.
Jackson will be in town to work with the Yankees players and player development staff. There will not be a meet and greet or autograph session during his visit to Pulaski.
Jackson is a five-time World Series Champion and two-time World Series MVP, nicknamed “Mr. October” for his clutch hitting in the postseason. He helped New York win back-to-back world championships in 1977 and 1978, in addition to four American League East division titles and three American League pennants during his five seasons in the Bronx.
The 14-time All-Star has his number 44 retired by the New York Yankees and his number 9 retired by the Oakland Athletics. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.