SU, R-MC, VWC Earn First Place Consideration
FOREST, Va. --- Reigning ODAC champion Shenandoah University was picked as the conference favorite heading into the 2016 campaign as the Hornets received five first place and 94 total points to lead the ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll. Randolph-Macon College picked up four top nods and 90 overall tallies to rank second, while Virginia Wesleyan College kept the top-three tightly packed with 88 points and the remaining two first place votes from the league's head coaches.
The 2015 ODAC Tournament was effected by weather, but that didn't stop Shenandoah from winning its first three games to put itself in the driver's seat in the ODAC's double-elimination format. Virginia Wesleyan recovered by a second-day loss to Randolph-Macon to defeat Roanoke College and R-MC on the third day for a right to square off with SU. The Marlins handed the Hornets their first loss, 9-8, to force the if-game. Shenandoah came out on top in that contest, 4-2, to claim their first ODAC baseball crown. It also marked the first conference title for any sport at SU since joining the ODAC in 2012.
Shenandoah continued its season in the NCAA Division III Tournament with a trip to the regionals at Ross Memorial Park in Washington, Pa. The Hornets took down Adrian College (Mich) in the first round, 5-1, before being shutout by Heidelberg University (Ohio), 5-0, in their second game. SU was eliminated by Frostburg State University (Md.) in its next contest via a 7-2 scoreline.
ODAC teams will not be short on talent in 2016, as 20-of-39 All-ODAC honorees return. However, just five are from the first team, with a pair wearing Randolph-Macon lemon and black. Reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year Rick Spiers is back after leading the ODAC with a 1.52 earned run average. He's joined by first team starter James Walsh, who tied with Spiers for the most wins in the ODAC (7) and led the league outright in innings pitched (75.0) and strikeouts (85). Virginia Wesleyan's Sean Greiser earned the ODAC Pitcher of the Year award last season, and he's back to lead the Marlins staff after going 6-1 with a 2.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 50.0 innings of work. He was 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA versus ODAC foes.
Eastern Mennonite University and Roanoke feature the remaining two returning first team standouts. Outfielder Joe Hall led the ODAC with a .423 batting average for ODAC Coach of the Year Ben Spott's Royals. Maroons' catcher Will Black hit .376 with a conference-best 14 doubles.
The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on the weekend of Friday, February 5, with several teams in action. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Saturday, March 5. If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistical links.
Listed below is the complete 2016 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC baseball programs. For more information on ODAC baseball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, 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 and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.
2016 ODAC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL | |
(#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
1. Shenandoah University (5) | 94 pts. |
2. Randolph-Macon College (4) | 90 pts. |
3. Virginia Wesleyan College (2) | 88 pts. |
4. Bridgewater College | 72 pts. |
5. Roanoke College | 61 pts. |
6. Hampden-Sydney College | 55 pts. |
7. Lynchburg College | 48 pts. |
8. Eastern Mennonite University | 33 pts. |
9. Washington and Lee University | 26 pts. |
10. Guilford College | 25 pts. |
11. Emory & Henry College | 13 pts. |
2016 Poll Position: 4th |
2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-10/13-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/2-2, eliminated on day three Head Coach: Ray Hedrick Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: James Walsh (SP), Rick Spiers (ROY-UT) Second Team: Mitchell Keeler (C), Stuart Brown (3B) Third Team: Nick Maiolo (DH) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .389 (4) -- Mitchell Keeler Hits: 42 -- Mitchell Keeler/Nick Maiolo Runs: 28 -- Mitchell Keeler 2B: 9 -- Stuart Brown HR: 5 (3) -- Nick Maiolo RBI: 31 (4) -- Nick Maiolo SB: 6 (10) -- Blake Saathoff Wins: 7 (1) -- Rick Spiers/James Walsh Saves: 1 -- Christian Cok/Nic Phelps ERA: 1.52 (1) -- Rick Spiers IP: 75.0 (1) -- James Walsh K: 85 (1) -- James Walsh |
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2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-18/10-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/0-2, eliminated on day two Head Coach: Ben Spotts Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Joe Hall (OF) Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .423 (1) -- Joe Hall Hits: 47 -- Joe Hall Runs: 26 -- Joe Hall 2B: 7 -- Patrick Love HR: 1 -- Patrick Love RBI: 24 -- Kyle Armstrong SB: 9 (6) -- Joe Hall Wins: 4 (9) -- Kyle Armstrong Saves: 2 (8) -- Joe Hall ERA: 4.36 -- Kyle Armstrong IP: 47.0 -- Aaron Hooven K: 31 -- Aaron Hooven |
2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-15/11-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/1-2, eliminated on day three Head Coach: Matt McGuire Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Will Black (C) Second Team: Will Decker (OF) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .376 (7) -- Will Black Hits: 41 -- Will Black Runs: 31 (8) -- Will Black 2B: 14 (1) -- Will Black HR: 2 -- Will Decker RBI: 25 -- Will Decker SB: 13 (3) -- Devin Cassity Wins: 3 -- John Ruhlman Saves: 1 -- Harrison Richards ERA: 4.42 -- John Ruhlman IP: 36.2 -- John Ruhlman K: 43 (8) -- Johnson Ruhlman |
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2016 Poll Position: 11th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-27/3-17 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Trey McCall Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .356 -- Brandon Lineberry Hits: 42 -- Brandon Lineberry Runs: 26 -- Brandon Lineberry 2B: 11 (8) -- Brandon Lineberry HR: 9 (1) -- Brandon Lineberry RBI: 37 (1) -- Brandon Lineberry SB: 2 -- Ben Barnett/Chase Kirk Wins: 2 -- Garrett Butler/Aaron Sparks Saves: 3 (5) -- Chase Kirk ERA: 5.71 -- Aaron Sparks IP: 58.1 (5) -- Aaron Sparks K: 33 -- Aaron Sparks |
2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 28-10-1/16-4 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/4-1, ODAC Champion Head Coach: Kevin Anderson Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Michael Scimanico (SP), Darrell Thompson (SP), Ryan Mossman (UT) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .370 (9) -- Ryan Mossman Hits: 42 -- John Wilt Runs: 31 (8) -- John Wilt 2B: 11 (8) -- Ryan Mossman HR: 4 (6) -- John Wilt RBI: 32 (2) -- John Wilt SB: 4 -- Joe Coleman/John Wilt Wins: 7 (1) -- Darrell Thompson Saves: 4 (2) -- Ryan Mossman ERA: 2.25 (5) -- Ryan Mossman IP: 63.2 (3) -- Darrell Thompson K: 57 (3) -- Darrell Thompson |
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2016 Poll Position: 10th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 14-22/7-13 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Nick Black Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .316 -- A.J. Girtling Hits: 37 -- Josh Shepherd Runs: 24 -- Josh Shepherd 2B: 9 -- Chuck Noble HR: 2 -- Grayson Tuttle RBI: 17 -- Chuck Noble SB: 4 -- Josh Shepherd Wins: 4 (9) -- Darin Salter Saves: 2 (8) -- Drew Martin ERA: 4.41 -- Darin Salter IP: 49.0 -- Darin Salter K: 25 -- Chase Shuford |
2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 19-14-1/14-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/4-2, lost in 2nd title game Head Coach: Chris Francis Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Sean Greiser (PiOY-SP) Second Team: Taylor Erby (OF) Third Team: C.J. Lindsay (C), Matt Murray (3B), Justin Erby (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .362 -- Matt Murray Hits: 50 (5) -- Matt Murray Runs: 32 (6) -- Taylor Erby 2B: 12 (3) -- Taylor Erby HR: 3 (8) -- Taylor Erby RBI: 26 -- Taylor Erby SB: 6 (10) -- Justin Erby Wins: 6 (4) -- Sean Greiser Saves: 3 (5) -- Riley Koonce ERA: 2.34 (8) -- Sean Greiser IP: 50.0 -- Sean Greiser K: 71 (2) -- Sean Greiser |
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2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-21-1/8-12 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Jeff Kinne Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .340 -- John Lloyd Hits: 35 -- John Lloyd Runs: 20 -- John Lloyd 2B: 12 (3) -- John Lloyd HR: 3 (8) -- Lee Carneal RBI: 20 -- Lee Carneal SB: 4 -- John Lloyd Wins: 1 -- Matt Hinson/Reggie Johnson/Matthew Metheny/Zach Perkins/Teddy West Saves: 2 (8) -- Teddy West ERA: 2.63 (10) -- Reggie Johnson IP: 54.2 (10) -- Reggie Johnson K: 45 (7) -- Reggie Johnson |
2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-16/6-14 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Lucas Jones Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .296 -- Jonny Swenson Hits: 26 -- Luke Myer Runs: 11 -- Ryan Weston 2B: 7 -- Ryan Weston HR: 1 -- Kyle Ruedisili RBI: 16 -- Luke Myer SB: 3 -- Luke Myer Wins: 4 (9) -- Tom Concklin Saves: None ERA: 2.74 -- Tom Concklin IP: 46.0 -- Tom Concklin K: 37 -- Tom Concklin |
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2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-20/10-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Percy Abell Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Joe Tomasulo (2B), Jonathan Munn (DH) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .423 (2) -- Jonathan Munn Hits: 55 (2) -- Jonathan Munn Runs: 33 (5) -- Drew Taylor 2B: 11 (8) -- Joe Tomasulo HR: 2 -- Jonathan Munn RBI: 31 (4) -- Jonathan Munn SB: 6 (10) -- Drew Taylor Wins: 2 -- Zack Engelmann/David Goulding/Gerald Taylor/ Saves: 1 -- Zack Engelmann ERA: 3.63 -- David Goulding IP: 52.0 -- David Goulding K: 21 -- David Goulding |