BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech baseball team opened up its 22^nd year of play at English Field on Friday afternoon with a win over Long Island, and in fitting fashion, finished the day by welcoming back the player who pitched in the very first game at English Field back in 1989.

Former Hokie and two-time Major League all-star Mike Williams, who pitched in Blacksburg from 1988-90, visited the Virginia Tech campus as the keynote speaker of the third annual Baseball Night in Blacksburg, an event that served both as a way to raise money for the Virginia Tech baseball program and as a way to celebrate the start of the Hokies’ 2010 home schedule.

Williams spoke to a crowd of approximately 150 people in the west side stadium club of Lane Stadium, sharing memories from his freshman season at Tech to his years in the minor leagues to his days as a Major League all-star. When asked what his favorite moment from his time as a Hokie was, he listed many but settled on being the first starting pitcher at the Hokies’ current home field.

Williams ranks fifth on the Tech’s all-time list in both wins (26) and innings pitched (298.1). He also holds the Tech record for most complete games in a season (12) and a career (22).

Williams then moved on to a 12-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1992 to 2003. He was a two-time National League all-star while a member of the Pirates, getting elected to the team in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, he finished third in the National League with 46 saves. For his career, he posted a record of 32-54 with 144 saves and a 4.45 earned run average.

The evening also included a dinner that was fully catered by Bull and Bones Brewhaus and Grill, as well as an auction of signed sports memorabilia and an autograph session with the Hokie baseball team.