Top Four Teams Separated by only 12 Points
FOREST, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College, the reigning conference champion, sits atop the annual ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll conducted by the league's head coaches. The Yellow Jackets collected five first place votes on the way to 91 total points, just two ticks clear of Shenandoah University in second. The Hornets secured three top nods. Washington and Lee University rounds out the top three with 80 points, having picked up the remaining three first place votes to push it ahead of Virginia Wesleyan College by just one tally.
Weather forced a move of the 2016 ODAC Tournament for two days of competition. Liberty University provided the host venue for the first and final days, while the ODAC's traditional home, City Stadium, welcomed conference teams for games on the second and third days. Randolph-Macon sliced thru the six-team field undefeated, topping Hampden-Sydney College, 6-5, for its sixth league championship and third in the past six years.
Randolph-Macon and Shenandoah both made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, coming up just short of advancing to the final series in Appleton, Wisc. SU's run was affected by weather, but didn't keep the Hornets from defeating national power Marietta College, 3-2, and Birmingham Southern College, 6-2, it their first two games in regional play at Berry College. After losing a day to rain, Shenandoah fell to Emory University, 14-7, before keeping its championship series hopes alive with a 10-8 triumph over BSC. Emory, with one game in hand, eliminated SU the following day via a 15-2 result.
The Yellow Jackets opened its regional slate in Washington, Pa., with an 8-0 thumping of St. Joseph's (L.I.) and a 2-1 nail-biting win over the College of Wooster. R-MC put itself in the driver's seat with a 19-6 triumph over La Roche College. The Redhawks, much like Shenandoah, came back to face R-MC for the regional title. La Roche picked up the two wins it needed, defeating Randolph-Macon 7-2 and 4-3 on consecutive days.
When it comes to the national outlook entering 2017, ODAC teams and players dot preseason lists published by D3baseball.com. Randolph-Macon is slotted 10th in the outlet's preseason top-25 poll, with Shenandoah chiming in 16th and Washington and Lee receiving votes towards the table. SU designated hitter Jake Loew was tabbed a Second Team Preseason All-American, while Bridgewater College outfielder Kenner Berry earned a spot on the Honorable Mention Preseason All-American squad.
There will certainly be no shortage of talent on diamonds across the conference with 21-of-41 All-ODAC honorees returning to league rosters. Six of those players secured All-ODAC First Team honors. Virginia Wesleyan heads that list with catcher C.J. Lindsay and shortstop Brandon Kussmaul back in Virginia Beach. The Marlins have a league-best five All-ODAC athletes back in the dugout. Bridgewater will look for another stat-stuffing season from Berry, while Randolph-Macon features Rick Spiers, who stars both with the bat and on the hill for the Yellow Jackets. Shenandoah welcomes back hot-hitting outfielder Abel Arocho, while Washington and Lee brings back 2016 earned run average champ Tom Concklin to anchor its rotation.
The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on the weekend of Friday, February 3, with just a couple teams in action. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Friday and Saturday, March 4-5. 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 2017 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 and odacathletics on Instagram.
2017 ODAC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL | |
(#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
1. Randolph-Macon College (5) | 91 pts. |
2. Shenandoah University (3) | 89 pts. |
3. Washington and Lee University (3) | 80 pts. |
4. Virginia Wesleyan College | 79 pts. |
5. Bridgewater College | 59 pts. |
6. Roanoke College | 57 pts. |
7. Hampden-Sydney College | 55 pts. |
8. Eastern Mennonite University | 31 pts. |
9. Guilford College | 30 pts. |
10. Emory & Henry College | 18 pts. |
11. Lynchburg College | 16 pts. |
* Pitching minimum for ERA is 0.5 IP per team game
2017 Poll Position: 5th |
2017 Poll Position: 1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 35-8-1/14-6 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/4-0, ODAC Champion Head Coach: Ray Hedrick Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Rick Spiers (UT) Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .421 (2) -- Rick Spiers Hits: 59 (7) -- Rick Spiers Runs: 38 (6) -- Rick Spiers 2B: 10 -- Jeffrey Butler HR: 3 (T10) -- Cole Migliorini/Rick Spiers RBI: 23 -- Jeffrey Butler/Cole Migliorini SB: 16 (T3) -- Rick Spiers Wins: 7 (5) -- Christian Cok Saves: 7 (T3) -- Christian Cok ERA: 2.47 (5) -- Nic Phelps IP: 72.0 (7) -- Rick Spiers K: 64 (T6) -- Rick Spiers |
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2017 Poll Position: 8th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-21/8-12 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Ben Spotts Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Kyle Salladay (C), Griffin Stanley (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .351 -- Griffin Stanley Hits: 48 -- Ryan Hedrick Runs: 35 -- Griffin Stanley 2B: 8 -- Ryan Hedrick HR: 1 -- Adam Marston/Kyle Mathews/David Meehan/Zach Roberts RBI: 30 -- Ryan Hedrick SB: 10 (9) -- Griffin Stanley Wins: 3 -- Ryan Brewer Saves: 5 (T5) -- Joe Hall ERA: 4.81 -- Ryan Brewer IP: 48.2 -- Ryan Brewer K: 25 -- Ryan Brewer |
2017 Poll Position: 6th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 23-17/10-10 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Matt McGuire Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: John Ruhlman (SP) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .336 -- Sean Guida Hits: 49 -- Sean Guida Runs: 32 -- Sean Guida 2B: 17 (2) -- Will Decker HR: 2 -- Dan Brodeur/Will Decker/Craig Kiley RBI: 31 -- Craig Kiley SB: 16 (T3) -- Sean Guida Wins: 4 -- Kenny Mackovic Saves: 5 (T5) -- Eli Sumpter ERA: 3.38 -- Kenny Mackovic IP: 65.1 -- John Ruhlman K: 51 -- John Ruhlman |
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2017 Poll Position: 10th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-30/4-16 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Trey McCall Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Carson Bryan (1B) Third Team: Holden Watkins (SS) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .333 -- Holden Watkins Hits: 47 -- Carson Bryant Runs: 24 -- Holden Watkins 2B: 9 -- Carson Bryant HR: 2 -- Holden Watkins RBI: 18 -- Carson Bryant SB: 5 -- Holden Watkins Wins: 5 (T8) -- Gavin Felty Saves: 2 -- Logan Forster ERA: 3.29 -- Gavin Felty IP: 68.0 -- Garrett Butler K: 39 -- Garrett Butler |
2017 Poll Position: 2nd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 35-12/15-5 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/2-2, eliminated on day three Head Coach: Kevin Anderson Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Abel Arocho (OF) Second Team: Colin Morse (SP), Jake Loew (DH) Third Team: Tristan Baker (2B) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .393 (4) -- Abel Arocho Hits: 72 (1) -- Abel Arocho Runs: 59 (T1) -- Tristan Baker 2B: 15 (3) -- Jake Loew HR: 6 (5) -- Jake Loew RBI: 55 (1) -- Jake Loew SB: 7 -- Jake Loew Wins: 5 (T8) -- Colin Morse Saves: 0 ERA: 2.80 (8) -- Colin Morse IP: 64.1 -- Colin Morse K: 55 (10) -- Colin Morse |
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2017 Poll Position: 9th |
2017 Poll Position: 4th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 18-15/12-8 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/0-2, eliminated on day two Head Coach: Chris Francis Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: C.J. Lindsay (C), Brandon Kussmaul (SS) Second Team: Justin Erby (OF) Third Team: Randy Neisz (OF), Taylor Erby (DH) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .384 (5) -- Brandon Kussmaul Hits: 48 -- Justin Erby/Brandon Kussmaul Runs: 33 -- Justin Erby 2B: 11 -- Taylor Erby HR: 5 (6) -- Randy Neisz RBI: 31 -- Taylor Erby SB: 17 (2) -- Deon Hammond Wins: 4 -- Nick Ott Saves: 3 (T10) -- Riley Koonce ERA: 2.95 -- Riley Koonce IP: 41.0 -- Austin Gammon K: 26 -- Austin Gammon |
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2017 Poll Position: 7th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 28-15/12-8 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/2-2, runner-up Head Coach: Jeff Kinne Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Brian Goodwyn (OF-ROY) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .359 -- Brian Goodwyn Hits: 61 (6) -- Brian Goodwyn Runs: 33 -- Brian Goodwyn 2B: 10 -- Brian Goodwyn HR: 1 -- Tyler Blevins/Moe Gothe/Ryan Peevey/Dustin Wiles RBI: 22 -- Tyler Blevins SB: 25 (1) -- Brian Goodwyn Wins: 3 -- Jimmy Butler Saves: 7 (T3) -- Zach Perkins ERA: 2.34 -- Zach Perkins IP: 34.2 -- Zach Perkins K: 42 -- Zach Perkins |
2017 Poll Position: 3rd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-14/13-7 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/1-2, eliminated on day three Head Coach: Lucas Jones Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Tom Concklin (SP) Second Team: Danny Devereux (RP), Ryan Weston (3B) Third Team: Cory Paton (C) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .350 -- Ryan Weston Hits: 47 -- Kyle Reudisili Runs: 22 -- Chadwick Feeley 2B: 9 -- Ryan Ruedisili/Ryan Weston HR: 3 (T10) -- Ryan Weston RBI: 21 -- Ryan Weston SB: 6 -- Austin Crane Wins: 8 (T3) -- Tom Concklin Saves: 8 (T1) -- Danny Devereux ERA: 1.03 (1) -- Tom Concklin IP: 78.1 (5) -- Tom Concklin K: 60 (8) -- Tom Concklin |
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2017 Poll Position: 11th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-28/5-15 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Percy Abell Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .312 -- Matt Ward Hits: 43 -- Matt Ward Runs: 16 -- Matt Ward 2B: 10 -- Matt Ward HR: 1 -- Nathan Sharp/Matt Ward RBI: 18 -- Nathan Sharp SB: 2 -- Thomas Powell/Luke Rodgers/Nathan Sharp Wins: 5 (T8) -- David Goulding Saves: 1 -- Zack Engelmann ERA: 3.42 -- David Goulding IP: 94.2 (2) -- David Goulding K: 64 (T6) -- David Goulding |