Virginia Softball Opens Blue-Orange Series Friday

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team kicks off its Blue-Orange Series on Friday (Nov. 4) with the first game of a best-of-five series  at 3:30 p.m. at Palmer Park.

The series will continue with game two on Monday (Nov. 7) at 3:30 p.m. and game three on Thursday (Nov. 10) at 3:30 p.m. Games four and five will be played if necessary at 4 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 5) and Saturday (Nov. 12) at 9 a.m.

Admission to all Blue-Orange Series games is free and open to the public.

The Orange team had the first pick in the draft with senior shortstop Katie Goldberg taken as the first player off the board, while the Blue team opted to be the home team for the series.

Orange team captains are pitcher Jenny Bressler and Jade Hylton, while Blue team captains are outfielder Lauren VanAssche and pitcher Eden Bigham.

“Our strategy was to pick energy and I think we did that through our first few picks with Gabby Baylog and Leah Bogs,” VanAssche said. “Sarah Coon is going to be crazy for us in the dugout. Turn me up Sarah! We really focused on energy. I think our energy will really separate us.”

“We wanted to go strong up the middle – pitcher, catcher, short and center – we wanted to go with that,” Bressler said. “Our strategy was to take the best pitchers and hitters we could get with our picks. I think we did that and we’re looking forward to seeing what happens.”

BLUE-ORANGE SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 4             3:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 7          3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 10      3:30 p.m
Friday, Nov. 11            4 p.m. (if necessary)
Saturday, Nov. 12       9 a.m. (if necessary)

BLUE TEAM                           ORANGE TEAM
Kelley Ayer                                 Shelby Barbee
Gabby Baylog                             Jenny Bressler*
Eden Bigham*                           M.C. Eaton
Leah Boggs                                 Mikaila Fox
Sarah Coon                                 Katie Goldberg
Tori Gilbert                                 Madi Harris
Molly Grube                               Sydney Hartgrove
Kelsey Hackett                          Mikayla Houge
Savanah Henley                        Kassidy Hudson
Reece Holbrook                        Jade Hylton*
Lauren VanAssche*                 Kailyn Jones
Mackenzie Wooten                  Courtney Layne
Abby Weaver