Shenandoah Headlines ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll

SU with Nine First Place Votes, BC Garners Remaining Two

FOREST, Va. --- Shenandoah University opens its third year of baseball in the ODAC with high expectations as the Hornets top the 2015 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll.  SU secured 98 total points and nine first place votes from the league's coaches on the way to its No. 1 ranking. Randolph-Macon College sits second with 85 points, while Bridgewater College rounds out the top three with 82 tallies and the remaining two first place nods.

For the second straight year, the ODAC Baseball Tournament saw a team win twice on the final day to hoist the league trophy.  Bridgewater was that squad in 2015 as the Eagles earned a 5-2 victory over Shenandoah in the early game and then scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to provide the difference in BC's 6-5 title game triumph in City Stadium.  The win earned the Eagles their 14th overall ODAC title and first since 2010.

Both schools participated in the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament, with Shenandoah earning an at-large selection. BC and SU won their first two games. The Eagles came away with a 1-0 win in 12 innings over Birmingham Southern College, while the Hornets topped Covenant, 11-3, in the opening regional games hosted by Piedmont College. SU went on to post a 5-4 victory in 11 innings to eliminate Birmingham Southern and setup a conference showdown with BC, which earned its second win over Emory University, 7-4.  Bridgewater got the best of Shenandoah, 5-3, leaving SU with one loss in the double-elimination format.  Emory came back to bite both SU and BC as EU defeated SU, 12-8, and then topped BC, 11-3, leaving a matchup of Eagles to determine the regional champion on Sunday. Bridgewater put up two runs in the second inning for an early lead, but Emory rattled off five unanswered runs to advance to the NCAA Division III National Championship Series, 5-2.

The 2015 season will see plenty of star power returning to ODAC diamonds.  Shenandoah and Bridgewater both open the season ranked in the preseason top-25 by D3baseball.com, holding down the 17th and 21st spots, respectively.  Randolph-Macon is receiving votes towards that listing.  Each ODAC team has a strong corps back in place, driven by the return of 23 all-conference selections from a season ago.

Seven of those athletes wear Shenandoah (33-11 overall, 17-3 in ODAC play in 2014) colors and play for reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Kevin Anderson.  The Hornets boast the return of three from the All-ODAC First Team, including ODAC Player of the Year, Michael Paul (.444 BA, 79 H, 21 2B, 9 HR, 62 RBI), and ODAC Pitcher of the Year, Darrell Thompson (10-2, 2.40 ERA, 86.1 IP, 75 K).  Paul, who slides over to first base this season, is a Second Team Preseason All-American by D3baseball.com. Paul and Thompson are joined on the shortstop Billy Arens (.404, 72 H, 32 RBI, 10 SB) from last year's first team. Catcher Daniel Freshley (.328, 10 2B, 3 HR, 33 RBI), designated hitter Nolan Overby (.349, 9 2B, 5 HR, 37 RBI) and outfielder Corbin Lucas (.347, 67 H, 18 2B, 30 RBI) were tabbed to the All-ODAC Second Team. SU also looks forward to the return of second baseman J.J. McDaniel (.296, 8 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI), who picked up an All-ODAC Third Team nod in 2014. Outfielder Lew Johnson (.346, 10 2B, 17 RBI) adds to the Hornets' lineup.  Lefties Michael Scimanico (4-0, 5.44, 1 SV, 43.0 IP, 43 K) and Matt Riegler (1-1, 3.20, 4 SV, 19.2 IP, 23 K) and righty Phillip Morse (3-5, 6.36, 46.2 IP, 34 K) were a combined 7-5 with five saves in 109.1 innings last season.

Randolph-Macon (24-15, 14-6) also returns a wealth of talent, including ODAC Rookie of the Year Nicholas Maiolo (.397, 13 2B, 7 HR, 47 RBI). Maiolo, a first team choice at DH in 2014, is also an honorable mention preseason All-American by D3baseball.com. Reliever Glenn McLaughlin (0-0, 1.35, 7 SV, 20.0 IP, 26 K) joined Maiolo on the first team after leading the ODAC in saves.  Catcher Mitchell Keeler (.331, 8 2B, 5 HR, 34 RBI) and infielder Travis Lodge (.261, 10 2B, 4 HR, 22 RBI) add bats with pop to R-MC's order, with outfielder Blake Saathoff (.254, 19 RBI, 13 SB) and infielder Nate Meiners (.423, 10 2B, 19 RBI) adding further depth.  The Yellow Jackets will look to southpaw James Walsh (3-4, 4.57, 1 SV, 45.1 IP, 40 K) as the lead returning starter, while Tanner Phillips (2-0, 4.03, 22.1 IP, 11 K) and JT Williamson (0-1, 2.19 ERA, 1 SV, 12.1 IP, 13 K) made a combined 31 appearances out of the pen last season.

Bridgewater (36-14, 13-7) must replace all three of its all-conference honorees following the graduation of a strong senior class.  Infielders Brendan Howell (.326, 14 2B, 4 HR, 32 RBI), Justin Petock (.292, 9 EB, 34 RBI) and Darren Yoder (.235, 2 3B, 20 RBI) will be charged with leading the BC batting order along with outfielders Derrik Walling (.266, 13 RBI) and Bay Liskey (.252, 8 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI).  Petock (2-0, 3.06, 3 SV, 17.2 IP, 19 K) will move into the starting rotation, as will lefty Ryan Leake (1-1, 4.35 ERA, 10.1 IP, 12 K).  Righty Steve Woerner (0-0, 2.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 8 K) will be looked to anchor the bullpen.

Hampden-Sydney College (27-15, 10-10) welcomes back four all-conference standouts, including outfielder Christian Hamlett (.357, 60 H, 10 2B, 3 3B, 23 RBI, 16 SB) and second baseman Lee Carneal (.377, 10 2B, 2 3B, 22 RBI) from the first team.  First baseman Jeff Gray (.333, 13 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI) earned a second team spot, while outfielder Spencer Wiles (.399, 65 H, 22 2B, 32 RBI, 10 SB) was tabbed to the third team.  Middle infielders Jackson Rogers (.314, 8 2B, 19 RBI) and John Lloyd (.312, 17 RBI) add to the Tigers offense.  Teddy West (2-0, 4.03, 51.1 IP, 38 K) leads H-SC's pitching staff, which also gets a shot in the arm thanks to the return of former first teamer Zach Whitaker, who missed all of 2014 due to injury.  Reggie Johnson (4-1, 2.01, 40.1 IP, 21 K), Billy Nixon (2-2, 6.98, 1 SV, 40.0 IP, 30 K) and Matt Hinson (4-3, 3.79, 38.0 IP, 25 K) look to build on solid seasons.

Lynchburg College (24-13, 10-10) is already batting 1.000 when it comes to returning all-conference performers as all three are back in 2015. Righty starter Brandon Miller (9-4, 2.70, 2 SV, 4 CG, 93.1 IP, 62 K) and catcher Rob Tomasulo (.393, 2 3B, 23 RBI) were first team selections last season.  They're joined by outfielder Lincoln Evans (.367, 14 2B, 2 3B, 30 RBI, 11 SB), who picked up a second team nod.  Outfielder Joe Rogers (.331, 5 3B, 33 RBI, 11 SB) fits right in between Evans and Tomasulo in the top three in LC's order, while infielders Joe Tomasulo (.319, 2 3B, 23 RBI) and Wil Parsons (.361, 10 2B, 26 RBI) and outfielder Jay Kenyon (.339, 8 2B, 3 HR, 28 RBI) add further depth to the offense.  Matt Henderlite (3-0, 8.07, 32.1 IP, 28 K) joins Miller in forming a strong 1-2 starting pitching tandem. Pat Harris (3-1, 6.30, 1 SV, 20.0 IP, 8 K) looks to increase his role, while Colton Steber (0-2, 3.44, 5 SV, 18.1 IP, 20 K) led the club in saves and relief appearances (12).

Roanoke College (16-18, 7-13) also welcomes back each of its three all-league standouts.  Right-handed starter Cameron Holshouser (3-3, 3.26, 3 CG, 58.0 IP, 51 K) was a second team pick last year.  He's joined by a pair from the third team in battery-mate Will Black (.355, 18 RBI) and designated hitter Will Decker (.304, 11 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI). Black and Decker headlined a banner 2014 freshman class that also includes outfielders Devin Cassity (.311, 8 2B, 11 RBI, 19 SB) and Kevin Oakey (.319, 10 2B, 22 RBI) and infielder Lucas Nowlin (.278, 12 RBI). Austin Gregory (4-2, 3.43, 2 SV, 39.1 IP, 28 K) led the Maroons with 17 appearances out of the bullpen.  Starters John Ruhlman (1-2, 4.95, 36.1 IP, 35 K) and Harrison Richards (2-3, 7.76, 26.2 IP, 24 K) look to build upon solid first and second seasons, respectively.

Washington and Lee University (18-13, 11-9) features pair of second team selections from a season ago.  Reliever Cory Smith (1-2, 1.89, 5 SV, 38.0 IP, 24 K) anchors the bullpen as the Generals' closer, while shortstop Taylor Rowe (.348, 11 2B, 13 RBI) is solid up the middle. Second baseman Nick Biumi (.245, 12 RBI) paired nicely with Rowe in the center of W&L's infield, while Drew Weprinskey (.229, 20 RBI) and Luke Myer (.301, 22 RBI) give the Generals two returning pieces to their outfield. Third baseman Ryan Weston (.273, 3 HR, 18 RBI) and catcher Riley Stout (.311, 16 RBI) add pop to the batting order.  Smith and top returning starter Tom Concklin (3-2, 2.02, 49.0 IP, 24 K) were second and third in the ODAC in earned run average in 2014.  Kyle Tipping (4-3, 4.00, 36.0 IP, 16 K) and Andrew Lamb (0-2, 4.03, 1 SV, 22.1 IP, 9 K) also had solid campaigns.

Virginia Wesleyan College (14-22, 8-12) welcomes a familiar name back to campus as its new leader.  Former VWC pitching coach Chris Francis takes hold of the Marlins' head coaching reins.  His first squad returns plenty of talent including second team outfielder Zach Bach (.378, 9 2B, 24 RBI, 11 SB).  A trio of second year players, including outfielder Taylor Erby (.336, 25 RBI) and catchers Austin Gammon (.283, 15 RBI) and C.J. Lindsay (.261, 13 RBI), look to build upon solid first seasons.  Lefty hurler Alex Tucci (5-3, 4.03, 1 SV, 2 CG, 73.2 IP, 55 K) is back to spearhead the Marlins' pitching staff. Fellow southpaw Sean Greiser (0-4, 5.28, 1 SV, 30.2 IP, 30 K) and righty Dylan Stoskus (2-3, 3.83, 1 SV, 49.1 IP, 48 K) also return.

Guilford College (19-20, 9-11) fell just short of making the ODAC Tournament field last season.  The Quakers must replace a pair of key offensive stalwarts, but they enjoy the return of several players ready to do just that.  Outfielders Herc Ingels (.333, 7 2B, 16 RBI), Tyler Petersen (.289, 6 RBI) and Jacob Roberts (.250, 7 RBI), along with catcher Nathan Fulbright (.312, 7 2B, 20 RBI), look forward to strong campaigns. Drew Crawford (3-4, 5.51, 49.0 IP, 41 K) and Justin Morrison (3-1, 5.73, 3 SV, 33.0 IP, 24 K) lead the pitching staff, which also features Lou Trosch (1-2, 7.92, 30.2 IP, 13 K) and John Todd (2-1, 2.70, 30.0 IP, 11 K).

Eastern Mennonite University (20-19, 6-14) was one of seven ODAC squads with a better than .500 record in 2014.  Outfielder Kyle Armstrong (.351, 2 3B, 21 RBI) is back to help make that happen again for the Royals after earning a third team selection last season.  Infielder Justin Rodriguez (.262, 7 2B, 15 RBI) and outfielders Kyle Mathews (.372, 24 RBI) and Ryan Hedrick (.331, 11 2B, 33 RBI) add punch, as does infielder Brandon Carroll (.379, 12 2B, 2 3B, 17 RBI).  Aaron Hooven (3-2, 3.05, 1 SV, 44.1 IP, 28 K) led the team in pitching appearances (15), while Armstrong (3-1, 5.65, 1 SV, 28.2 IP, 15 K) may see his workload increase.  Ryan Henschel (1-3, 7.53, 28.2 IP, 13 K) and Jacob Brown (2-3, 6.75, 25.1 IP, 10 K) each started six games.

Emory & Henry College (9-27, 5-15) looks to make the climb up the ODAC ladder.  First baseman Bransen Christopher (.329, 9 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 26 RBI) is back to man his spot.  He's joined by shortstop Jordan Woullard (.245, 8 2B, 19 RBI, 14 SB) and centerfielder Matthew Whisnant (.286, 2 3B, 9 RBI).  Third baseman Chase Kirk (.314, 7 RBI) also returns.  Righties Ty Hill (3-5, 6.07, 4 CG, 59.1 IP, 16 K) and Matthew McInaw (3-6, 6.80, 41.0 IP, 19 K) led the Wasps in wins, while lefty Aaron Sparks (2-5, 5.59, 4 CG, 56.1 IP, 25 K) joins them to form a trio that started a combined 24 games last season.

Listed below is the full 2015 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC baseball, visit any of the participating school's websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter @odacathletics.

2015 ODAC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes