FOREST, Va. --- Parity dominates the story in the ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll with four of the top-five teams earning first place consideration in the annual survey of the league's head coaches. Randolph-Macon College leads the table with 114 points powered by seven first place votes. Reigning back-to-back ODAC champion Shenandoah University is tied with Roanoke College for second with 100 points. The Hornets, however, picked up three first place votes. Virginia Wesleyan University and the University of Lynchburg share the remaining two top nods and rank fourth and fifth, respectively, with 98 and 83 markers.

The 2019 ODAC Tournament marked the second season of the league's dual-weekend format. Much like the first go-round, the top four seeds advanced with sweeps in their best-of-three opening series. Randolph-Macon, Roanoke, Shenandoah, and Virginia Wesleyan headed to Salem for double-elimination play on the second weekend, but weather forced an alteration to the schedule. The first game for both teams was played a day early at an off site with R-MC topping VWU (4-2) at Estes Park in Ashland and SU shutting out RC (11-0) at Kiwanis Field in Salem.

With weather still a concern, Virginia Wesleyan played Roanoke at Kiwanis in the first game on day two. The Marlins staved off elimination with a 2-1 victory. The remainder of the tournament continued at its intended host location, Haley Toyota Field in Salem Memorial Stadium. Shenandoah downed Randolph-Macon, 8-6, to put itself in the driver's seat, while R-MC earned a rematch with SU after topping VWU, 2-1, for the second spot in the final.

Randolph-Macon posted a 5-1 victory in the first of two championship games, setting up a winner-take-all seventh game later that Saturday afternoon. The Hornets put up four runs in the second inning and held on throughout the remainder of the contest for a 5-4 victory to lift their second straight and third overall ODAC baseball trophy. Shenandoah is the first team to win back-to-back baseball championships since Virginia Wesleyan in 2003 and 2004.

RELATED: 2019 ODAC Tournament Results

Despite the conference's overall strength in baseball, Shenandoah was the ODAC's lone representative in the NCAA Tournament's field of 58 teams. The Hornets opened play rather ominously with a 5-3 loss to regional host Kean University. But SU recovered for wins over Ithaca College (9-2) and Westfield State (7-1) on day two to setup a rematch with the Cougars. Shenandoah earned a 6-4 win in 10 innings to force a winner-take-all final. SU again won with its back against the wall, posting a 4-1 result to claim the regional crown.

Shenandoah traveled the following weekend to Baltimore, Md., to take on Johns Hopkins University in super regional play at Babb Field. The Blue Jays won the opener, 6-3, and then advanced to the national championship series with a 7-3 result over SU in game two of the best-of-three series.

RELATED: NCAA Tournament Super Regional and Regional Brackets

ODAC rosters in 2020 will be a bit more plentiful with returning talent from last season as 26 of the 40 All-ODAC honorees from 2019 return to league diamonds. Randolph-Macon leads the charge in terms of returning All-ODAC First Team selections. Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Ray Hedrick is undoubtedly pleased to return ODAC Player the Year, third baseman Mike Nickles. Hedrick, however, will have to replace the production of ODAC Pitcher of the Year Nick Roth. Helping that out will be fellow first team arm Michael Zubovich, as well as first team outfielder Shawn Nickles.

Eastern Mennonite University, Ferrum College, and Hampden-Sydney College each feature four all-conference returners. The Royals and new head coach Adam Posey look to All-ODAC Second Team catcher Ray Tricarico and outfielder Jordan Jones along with All-ODAC Third Team starter Connor Lutz and outfielder Jaylon Lee. Ferrum welcomes back first team catcher Tim Ortega as well as a trio of second team Panthers in righty Drew Calohan, third baseman Kyle Anstice, and outfielder Josh Greenway. H-SC features a pair of first teamers in second baseman Chase Counts and designated hitter Matthew Spagnolo. The Tigers also return second team outfielder Jacob Bartlett and third team starter Chase Mayberry.

Lynchburg and Roanoke both return three All-ODAC standouts. The Hornets are led by second team starter Hunter Campbell and third team reliever Santiago Meneses and utility man Kinston Carson. Reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year, third baseman and pitcher Garrett Jackson, is also back in the Hill City. Roanoke looks to first team reliever Kevin Ledford and outfielder Will Smith as well as third team catcher Gavin Kandrick.

Shenandoah returns two all-conference stars from last season's championship squad. Reliever Gerard DePhillips -- who led the country with 13 saves -- was a second team pick, while outfielder Keegan Woolford earned a third team selection.

The remaining three All-ODAC returners wear Bridgewater, Virginia Wesleyan, and Washington and Lee jerseys. Ben Spotts, formerly the head coach at EMU, takes over the reins at Bridgewater from Curt Kendall. He welcomes back first team shortstop Jacob Talley. Virginia Wesleyan looks to first team do-everything utility player Jacob Pilarski, while Washington and Lee features third team outfielder Ryan Monson.

RELATED: 2018 All-Conference Awards

The 2020 season begins with non-conference play on Friday, February 7.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Saturday, February 29. The first weekend of the ODAC Tournament will be played at the campuses of the top four seeds on May 1-3. The four advancing squads will head to Salem, Va., and Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark for double-elimination play on May 8-9.

Listed below is the complete 2020 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll. 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.