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BLACKSBURG - In an interview today with The Clubhouse's Danny Nokes (SuperSports 101.7 FM), Virginia Tech head baseball coach Patrick Mason answered a myriad of questions regarding the status of the Hokies program moving forward that included his thoughts on the 2016 season, the surprise players from the year and the strength of the ACC and the players in the upcoming MLB draft.
The interview also touched upon Hokies plans for the summer - some rehabbing, others playing in leagues across the country - and the recent departure of pitching coach Robert Woodard and what Mason plans on doing with that opening.
“In terms of replacing him (Woodard), we are going through some different options,” Mason said. “We have a really good talented assistant coach in Robby Price who works with our infielders and I’d like to try and keep him in our program.
“But in order to do that, I might have to work with the pitchers myself, which I’m fine with because I was the pitching coach here for three years before taking the head-coaching job.
“Or do I look outside the program and there are a couple of candidates out there that are on the radar. So, we have some very good options, I’m just trying to sort it through what is the best for our program.”
Either way - if Mason takes over the pitchers full time or in the interim - he was very successful in Blacksburg as pitching coach. In his three years as pitching coach, the Tech staff registered three straight seasons with an ERA lower than the previous year and posted an ERA no higher than 4.57, which hadn't been accomplished at the school since an 18-season streak that ended in 1980.
Also, the last time a Tech squad posted back-to-back seasons with an ERA of 4.20 or lower was the 1976 and 1977 teams, something the 2012 and 2013 teams accomplished, the final two years Mason served as pitching coach. Also, since he's been with the program, Tech pitchers have been selected 10 times in the Major League Baseball draft.
For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Baseball
