3 p.m., Tech Softball Park, Virginia Tech

Last April 16, Theresa Walsh had a bullet whiz past her ear in Norris Hall.

The 2007 Tech graduate and former Hokie softball player returned to campus to watch her ex-teammates play Liberty University in a doubleheader.

"It's tough coming back, but it feels good at the same time to have people support you," said Walsh, a Blacksburg resident. "There's certain things as a person, to finish the grieving process, that you have to do. This is one of the things I have to do. I have to come back and be able to watch the team and know that we're moving forward.

"This morning, I was a train wreck. This afternoon, I'm a little bit better."

Tech right fielder Whitney Davis wiped her eyes as the victims were remembered with a pregame moment of silence. Liberty's players gave their counterparts flowers during the ceremony.

Tech student Lisa Sherman, whose sister Leslie was killed in the shootings, threw out the first pitch. She had received a hug from Tech coach Scot Thomas before the ceremony, and high-fived the Hokies when they were introduced.

For the doubleheader, the ribbon logo was painted in center field and 4-16-07 was painted behind the pitcher's circle.

Walsh was a senior on the 2006 team, and remained at Tech last year to finish work on her degree. She was attending class in Norris when she went into the hallway to investigate what the class presumed was construction noise.

Instead, she saw Seung-Hui Cho, who aimed at her. A bullet went past her ear as she pushed the teacher's assistant back into their classroom and bolted back inside.

"He shot and missed my head by a centimeter," she said. "I felt the bullet graze past my head."

Walsh, who still has diminished hearing in her right ear, was part of a sizable crowd at Tech Softball Park for the doubleheader.

"Many people in this crowd don't even know who I am, and it's good because you can walk by them and smile like you're just a normal Hokie," Walsh said.

Walsh roomed last year with several members of the team, two of whom are still on the squad. They comforted her that week, holding slumber parties in their living room.

"I probably didn't sleep for two weeks, three weeks, but ... they were there for me," said Walsh, who plans to light a candle at the vigil tonight.

Submitted by Mark Berman | The Roanoke Times