Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 4 | March 2020

34 Inside Hokie Sports He went on to dominate his final two seasons of high school baseball, and his prep career concluded in storybook fashion. With his team leading by a run in the bottom of the eighth inning and runners at second and third with one out, Seymour struck out the next two batters, giving St. John’s the state championship. “It was sweet,” Seymour said, with aMount Rushmore smile on his face. Unfortunately, things weren’t going so well for the Hokies under Mason, who was let go in 2017. That infamous day coincided with Seymour’s graduation day. During a party at his parents’ home—one complete with Italian food and laughter—Seymour received a text from Rosen informing him of the news, and what should have been one of the most memorable days of his life turned into one that left him feeling unsure of his future. “I didn’t really know what to do. I was just going to wait until they hired somebody,” Seymour said. “I wasn’t going to flee the scene without knowing who they hired, without knowing that the people they hired actually wanted me there. I was going to come to Summer Academy II. I didn’t know if I was going to still do that, but they announced everything, and it all worked out perfectly. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation, but for a while there, I wondered, ‘What is really going to happen?’” Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock named John Szefc as the Tech head baseball coach roughly three weeks later, and Szefc called Seymour, assuring him that he was a big part of the Hokies’ future. Szefc brought Ryan Fecteau to Blacksburg from his staff at Maryland to serve as the pitching coach, which reassured Seymour. Fecteau had spent a season with Szefc at Maryland, but before that, worked for six seasons at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Fecteau knew all about Seymour and his prep accomplishments. He, too, called Seymour to make sure Seymour stuck with the Hokies. “Fecteau said, ‘I’ve known you since you were a freshman in high school. I’ve followed you since then. We want you here,’” Seymour recalled. “I said, ‘I’m all in.’” Seymour’s debut at Tech left a lot to be desired. In the 2018 season opener against Coastal Carolina, he pitched in relief and gave up three runs on a hit in just a third of an inning. Undeterred, though, he bounced back when he made the first start of his career a few days later, allowing just a hit and an earned run in 5.2 innings against Kansas State, and he struck out eight. That marked the start of a season in which he became the Hokies’ ace—something he’s been ever since. He led the team in starts (13) and ERA (4.17), and he struck out 70 in 69 innings on his way to a 3-3 season. He became the first Tech freshman in 20 years to strike out at least 10 batters in a game (10 vs. Pittsburgh). By most accounts, he enjoyed a solid debut. But he lamented a poor performance in an April 14 game against Louisville—the evening in which Virginia Tech Athletics officially celebrated the finishing of the English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park renovations. Seymour gave up six runs and did not get out of the second inning. “They were having a massive fireworks show after the game,” Seymour said. “Tyrod Taylor [former Tech star quarterback] threw out the first pitch—and I gave up three runs in the first inning and hit three people. I gave up another run in the second inning and got pulled, and we got blown out by like 100 [16-1]. It was a glimpse of what this place is going to be when everything comes together. It was special to see how many people were craving for a team that was going to compete and was entertaining to watch—I just ruined that for everybody. PITCHING WITH A PURPOSE GETTING TO KNOW … IAN SEYMOUR Q: What is your dream vacation? IS: My senior year of high school, we went to Yosemite, and that’s the pretty place I’ve ever been to. I want to go somewhere secluded. I haven’t been to Yellowstone yet, so probably Yellowstone. Q: If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why? IS: Tom Brady. I think it’d be really cool to go out and play in a Super Bowl. They didn’t make it this year, but they’ll be back. I’m not really a diehard fan of the Patriots or Celtics or Red Sox, but I like watching greatness, and Tom Brady is the epitome of that. Q: Who is your dream crush? IS: Vanessa Hudgens [American actress and singer]. I guess it dates back to when I was young, and she was in High School Musical. I’ve kind of like kept it going [choosing her as a celebrity crush]. I didn’t want to go with someone too mainstream. I wanted a sleeper pick. I guess she counts. Q: What’s on the walls of your room in your house/apartment? IS: I don’t decorate. It took me 35 seconds to move in. My roommate, Nolan Wilson, loves to decorate. He’s got a lion painting on his wall. He’s got a longhorn bull in our family room. But I have a couple of pictures. I have a picture of my brother and sister, me with them, and I have a picture of my baseball team in high school when we won the state championship my senior year. Those are the only three things I have in my room. It’s kind of sad. It looks like a prison cell. Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Virginia Tech athlete? IS: I don’t know how it is at other schools, but the community of student- athletes is unbelievable. I feel like I can talk to anyone on any team. Hang out with them at any time. We do a lot of stuff together. The community, it’s crazy how tight-knit everyone is, and it’s really fun to be a part of that. Everyone supports everyone. It’s cool. Continued from page 33 , C.E.C. www.Pro f es s i m See our vintage ! See our vintage Ad!