One Point Separates Top Two Teams
FOREST, Va. --- Just one point separates the top two teams in the ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll conducted by the league's head coaches. Shenandoah University collected six first place votes on the way to 96 total points, leaving the Hornets just one tally clear of Randolph-Macon College. The Yellow Jackets received the remaining five first place nods as part of their 95-point haul.
The next three positions in the survey feature just three points between them. Defending ODAC champion Roanoke College sits third with 71 points with Hampden-Sydney College just one tick behind with 70 markers. Washington and Lee University trails the Tigers by just two points with 68 in fifth position.
Roanoke took the long road to the conference title last season, which stretched even further given the weather that washed out the first day and forced play to continue thru Monday. The Maroons, which entered the fray as the sixth seed, lost their first outing to Shenandoah, 4-2. But head coach Matt McGuire's squad rattled off four straight wins including a pair of victories on the final over Washington and Lee via 9-6 and 4-3 scorelines, the latter resulting in the program's first-ever ODAC championship.
RELATED: 2017 ODAC Tournament Results
The season continued for both Roanoke and at-large selection Shenandoah in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Maroons made the short trip to Danville for regional action in a six-team pod and took a different path to a similar result. Again as the sixth seed, RC took down top-seeded Salisbury University, 15-5, in the opening game. That led to two more triumphs over Emory University (4-2) and LaGrange College (5-2) before Salisbury drug out a 7-6 win to force a winner-take-all regional final.
Tied 4-4 after five innings, Roanoke exploded for seven runs in the sixth on the way to a 15-5 triumph to lock up the squad's first trip to the national championship series in Appleton, Wis.
Shenandoah nearly provided a second ODAC squad in the final eight-team field. Playing in an eight-team regional in York, Pa., the Hornets took down Maritime (N.Y.), 5-3, before falling to Wheaton College (Mass.), 6-0. SU recovered for three straight wins over Lesley University (4-1), Alvernia University (8-6), and Johns Hopkins University (4-2). The victory over JHU marked the 41st for Shenandoah, setting new ODAC and program records for team victories in a season.
That win also setup a winner-take-all showdown and rematch with Wheaton. The Lyons pushed across the game's only run in the second inning, propelling them to Appleton and putting a close on SU's campaign.
Roanoke was slotted as the eighth seed in eight-team national championship field, but much like in the regionals, that didn't deter the Maroons from making some noise. RC opened with an 8-7 victory over top-seed Oswego State. Washington & Jefferson College got the better of the Maroons in game two, 11-1, but RC rebounded with a 10-3 victory over Concordia University-Chicago in an elimination game.
In addition to setting a new program record for wins with 35, that win setup the Maroons for a rematch with W&J. The Presidents again topped RC, this time via an 8-1 line. W&J would go on to finish as the national runner-up to California Lutheran University.
RELATED: NCAA National Series Bracket | NCAA Regional Brackets
In the national polls, Shenandoah, Randolph-Macon, and Roanoke each feature in preseason lists published by the America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and D3baseball.com. The ABCA slots Roanoke 10th in the country, while Shenandoah sits 16th. Randolph-Macon was outside of the top-40, but received votes towards the poll.
The table by D3baseball.com setup in a similar fashion. Shenandoah opens in 12th position, while Roanoke ranks 17th. R-MC again received votes towards the listing, but came up just short of the 25 ranked squads.
RELATED: ABCA Preseason Poll | D3baseball.com Preseason Poll
Entering the 2018 season, 24 of the 40 players that earned All-ODAC recognition in 2017 return for another run. That includes seven from the All-ODAC First Team. Shenandoah and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Kevin Anderson welcome back a league-best five all-conference standouts including a pair of first teamers. Colin Morse earned ODAC Pitcher of the Year honors a season ago and is joined by first team first baseman Luke Nussman.
Washington and Lee also features a pair of returning first teamers. Chadwick Feeley is back to man is position at shortstop, while Danny Devereux opens his third year in Lexington after being last season's top choice as a relief pitcher.
The remaining three first team returners don Eastern Mennonite University, Guilford College, and Randolph-Macon colors. R-MC's outfield benefits from the return of reigning ODAC Player of the Year Cole Migliorini. EMU welcomes back pitcher and infielder Damon Frazier, who was the first team utility choice, while Guilford welcomes back second baseman Trevor Denton.
RELATED: 2017 All-Conference Awards
The 2018 season begins with non-conference play on Thursday, February 8. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4.
The ODAC Tournament embarks on a new format this season. The field increases from six to eight teams, with the tournament landscape covering two weekends. The weekend of May 4-6 will feature four best-of-three series at the top four seeds. Those four winners will meet the following weekend, May 10-12, at City Stadium in Lynchburg for a double-elimination tournament to determine the ODAC champion.
Listed below is the complete 2018 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.
| 2018 ODAC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL | |
| (#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
| 1. Shenandoah University (6) | 96 pts. |
| 2. Randolph-Macon College (5) | 95 pts. |
| 3. Roanoke College | 71 pts. |
| 4. Hampden-Sydney College | 70 pts. |
| 5. Washington and Lee University | 68 pts. |
| 6. Virginia Wesleyan University | 60 pts. |
| 7. Guilford College | 41 pts. |
| 8. Emory & Henry College | 33 pts. |
| 9. Lynchburg College | 25 pts. |
| 10. Bridgewater College | 23 pts. |
| 10. Eastern Mennonite University | 23 pts. |
* Pitching minimum for ERA is 0.5 IP per team game
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2018 Poll Position: 2nd2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-15/13-7 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/1-2, Eliminated in Game 8 Head Coach: Ray Hedrick Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Cole Migliorini (OF-POY) Second Team: Nick Roth (SP), Rick Spiers (OF) Third Team: Jeff Butler (2B) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .399 (3) -- Cole Migliorini Hits: 61 -- Cole Migliorini Runs: 47 (5) -- Cole Migliorini 2B: 13 (9) -- Cole Migliorini HR: 9 (2) -- Cole Migliorini RBI: 48 (3) -- Rick Spiers SB: 19 (2) -- Rick Spiers Wins: 5 -- Nick Roth/Cody Thompson Saves: 6 (3) -- Rick Spiers ERA: 2.94 -- Christian Cok IP: 57.2 -- Nick Roth K: 45 -- Nick Roth |
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2018 Poll Position: 10th2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 19-20/6-14 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Ben Spotts Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Damon Frazier (UT) Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .352 -- Damon Frazier Hits: 51 -- Zach Roberts Runs: 25 -- Zach Roberts 2B: 8 -- Zach Roberts HR: 4 -- Damon Frazier RBI: 30 -- Damon Fraizer SB: 4 -- Zach Roberts Wins: 5 -- Damon Frazier Saves: 2 -- Ryan Brewer ERA: 4.92 -- Damon Frazier IP: 67.2 (8) -- Damon Frazier K: 50 (6) -- Damon Frazier |
2018 Poll Position: 3rd2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 35-19/9-11 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/4-1, ODAC Champion Head Coach: Matt McGuire Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .344 -- Scott Ellis Hits: 79 (1) -- Sean Guida Runs: 58 (1) -- Sean Guida 2B: 13 (9) -- Dean Hermanson HR: 1 -- Sean Guida/Dean Hermanson/Ross Strickland RBI: 37 -- Sean Guida SB: 17 (4) -- Sean Guida Wins: 7 (3) -- Sal Trancucci Saves: 3 (7) -- Sal Trancucci ERA: 3.00 -- Eli Sumpter IP: 66.1 (9) -- Steve Loney K: 38 -- Steve Loney |
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2018 Poll Position: 8th2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-23/7-13 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Trey McCall Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Logan Forster (1B), Josh Macek (OF), Ben Sexton (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .376 (6) -- Josh Macek Hits: 41 -- Josh Macek/Ben Sexton/Zach Smith Runs: 28 -- Eli Straw 2B: 8 -- Zach Smith/Eli Straw HR: 5 (4) -- Eli Straw RBI: 26 -- Eli Straw SB: 14 (7) -- Daulton Horne Wins: 4 -- Gavin Felty/Toby Robson Saves: 3 (7) -- Alex Laws ERA: 2.49 -- Chandler Kezele IP: 58.2 -- Toby Robson K: 46 -- Gavin Felty |
2018 Poll Position: 1st2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 41-10/16-4 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/2-2, Eliminated in Game 9 Head Coach: Kevin Anderson Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Colin Morse (SP-PiOY), Luke Nussman (1B) Second Team: Tristan Baker (2B) Third Team: Gerard DePhillips (SP), Michael Bugonowicz (RP) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .411 -- Luke Nussman Hits: 69 (5) -- Tristan Baker Runs: 54 (3) -- Tristan Baker 2B: 15 (3) -- Nick Goode HR: 2 -- Robert Marcelle RBI: 34 -- Nick Goode SB: 8 -- Tristan Baker Wins: 9 (1) -- Colin Morse Saves: 0 ERA: 2.31 (2) -- Gerard DePhillips IP: 92.2 (2) -- Colin Morse K: 96 (1) -- Colin Morse |
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2018 Poll Position: 6th2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 21-20/11-9 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/1-2, Eliminated in Game 7 Head Coach: Chris Francis Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Brandon Kussmaul (SS) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .363 -- Corey King Hits: 55 -- Randy Neisz Runs: 40 -- Corey King 2B: 16 (2) -- Corey King HR: 4 -- Randy Neisz RBI: 35 -- Randy Neisz SB: 8 -- Deon Hammond Wins: 4 -- Nick Bay Saves: 1 -- Chance Pauley ERA: 3.39 -- Chance Pauley IP: 63.2 (10) -- Nick Bay K: 42 -- Nick Bay |
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2018 Poll Position: 4th2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 21-19/10-10 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/0-2, Eliminated in Game 4 Head Coach: Jeff Kinne Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Jonathan Triesler (RP), Jayson Maitland (UT) Third Team: Devin Daugherty (C) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .333 -- Devin Daugherty Hits: 46 -- Brian Goodwyn Runs: 32 -- Brian Goodwyn 2B: 7 -- Devin Daugherty HR: 5 (4) -- Brian Goodwyn RBI: 30 -- Brian Goodwyn SB: 17 (4) -- Brian Goodwyn Wins: 6 (7) -- Trey Celata Saves: 3 (7) -- Jayson Maitland ERA: 2.82 (6) -- Chase Mayberry IP: 60.2 -- Chase Mayberry K: 48 (10) -- Chase Mayberry |
2018 Poll Position: 5th2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 28-14/16-4 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/3-2, Runner-up Head Coach: Ted White Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Danny Devereux (RP), Chadwick Feeley (SS) Second Team: None Third Team: Kyle Ruedisili (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .371 (8) -- Chadwick Feeley Hits: 66 (6) -- Chadwick Feeley Runs: 43 (10) -- Kyle Ruedisili 2B: 13 (9) -- Chadwick Feeley HR: 5 (4) -- Kyle Ruedisili RBI: 39 (10) -- Ryan Monson SB: 8 -- Austin Crane Wins: 8 (2) -- Danny Devereux Saves: 5 (4) -- Danny Devereux ERA: 2.33 (3) -- Danny Devereux IP: 58.0 -- Danny Devereux K: 46 -- Danny Devereux |
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2018 Poll Position: 9th2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-21/7-13 2017 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: .361 -- Will Harris Hits: 35 -- Will Harris Runs: 23 -- Thomas Powell 2B: 7 -- Will Harris HR: 2 -- Will Harris RBI: 25 -- Will Harris SB: 10 -- Thomas Powell Wins: 3 -- Jake Conner/David Goulding Saves: 0 ERA: 5.57 -- Jake Conner IP: 54.1 -- David Goulding K: 20 -- David Goulding |
2018 Poll Position: 10th
2018 Poll Position: 7th