Chemistry proves useful for Hokie softball

Chemistry between college athletes takes time to develop. However, the Virginia Tech softball teams second baseman Kylie McGoldrick and shortstop Lauren Gaskill began their rapport long before their days as Hokies.

It was the fall of 2008 when McGoldrick and Gaskill began playing the middle infield together for their travel softball team. They continued to do so until they came to Blacksburg together in 2011.

After a two-year hiatus of Gaskill catching pop ups and fly balls in center field and McGoldrick fielding ground balls at second, the two were put in charge of defending the middle infield together once again for their junior season.

I would say it took a practice, McGoldrick said. One practice to get the feel back, start turning double plays and everything just clicked.

The duo began playing together back when Gaskills travel ball team stopped competing at a level she wanted to compete at and when McGoldricks dad Kevin saw that McGoldricks travel ball team, The Rock, lacked a strong leadoff hitter.

I played with a different travel ball team that started to stop competing and just going through the motions, Gaskill said. I still wanted to compete for a title at that 18U level so I left and found The Rock, which is where (McGoldrick) was already located.

After winter practices playing next to each other, Gaskill and McGoldrick realized that not only was Gaskill a perfect fit for The Rock, but also as McGoldricks partner in crime up the middle.

We turned a lot sick double plays in the middle infield, Gaskill said.

The two followed each other at the top of the batting order for The Rock, and when they came to Tech it remained that way.

Its been routine back then to now, Gaskill said. Last year Ky got moved down to the 3,4 spot, and that was kind of weird not having her behind me.

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Chemistry proves useful for Hokie softball