2021 ODAC Baseball Players of the Week
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Colby Martin, Shenandoah, Fy., Infielder/Pitcher
May 03, 2021Martin, a first-year from Lititz, Pa., put together a big week at the dish and registered a save in his lone pitching appearance in Shenandoah's 4-1 week. With a bat in his hands, Martin slashed at .526/.609/.947 as he went 10-of-19 with two doubles, a pair of homers, six RBI, 10 runs scored, four walks, and seven stolen bases. In a 10-2 win over Eastern Mennonite, he doubled and drove in a run while scoring three times, walking once, and stealing a base. He drove in three runs with a homer among two hits to go with two runs scored and two stolen bases in a non-conference win over Wilson College, 6-5. In a split with Hampden-Sydney (L, 4-3; W, 5-3), Martin went a combined 4-for-7 with a homer in game two, two RBI, three runs scored, two walks, and two stolen bases. He tossed the final inning in game two, walking one and striking out one to earn a save. Martin finished his week with three hits including a double to go with two runs scored, a walk, and two stolen bases in a 14-4 conference win at Mt. Aloysius. For the season, Martin leads the ODAC in runs (49), hits (61), stolen bases (21), and slugging (.797). He is second in triples (6), RBI (46), total bases (106), batting (.459), and OBP (.530). He is also third with 12 doubles. On the hill, Martin is 0-1 with three saves in 5.2 innings of work. He has struck out 10 batters. -
Brandon Pond, Lynchburg, Jr., Pitcher
May 03, 2021Pond, a junior from Chesterfield, Va., helped Lynchburg finished tied for first in the ODAC standings with Randolph-Macon after picking up a 12-1 win over Bridgewater on Sunday. Pond worked the first seven innings and did not allow a run. He scattered seven hits and walked one while striking out four batters. The win, which was part of a sweep of the Eagles, keeps the Hornets in the running for the ODAC's top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. For the season, Pond is 6-3 in 11 appearances, all starts. He has fanned 72 batters and allowed 19 earned runs over 69.0 innings of work. He owns a 2.48 ERA and boasts a .217 opponent's batting average.
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Zach Perkins, Washington and Lee, So., Outfielder/Pitcher
April 26, 2021Perkins, a sophomore from Vienna, Va., contributed at the plate and on the hill in helping Washington and Lee to a 3-0 week. Perkins slashed at .667/.667/1.000, going 8-for-12 overall with a pair of doubles, a triple, eight RBI, eight runs scored, a pair of walks, and a stolen base. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI, and a run scored in a 12-5 win over Eastern Mennonite. He then registered six hits in the Generals sweep of Virginia Wesleyan, 20-8 and 13-8. Perkins went 4-for-5 with a double, triple, four RBI, and four runs scored in game one. He followed with two hits including a double with a walk, RBI, stolen base, and three runs scored in game two. For the season, Perkins is hitting .356 with a .435 OBP and a .589 slugging percentage. Perkins also started and went 8.0 innings to earn the win over EMU. He gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.
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Justin Woodall, Hampden-Sydney, So., Pitcher
April 26, 2021Woodall, a sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va., earns his second weekly award of the season after tossing his first collegiate complete game to lead Hampden-Sydney to a 4-0 victory at Bridgewater. It also went down as a shutout for Woodall as he gave up no runs on five hits in a full nine frames. He walked three and struck out nine batters, which ties his career-best mark. He was 50/50 in ground ball versus fly ball outs, inducing seven each. Woodall is now 4-0 on the season in nine appearances including eight starts. He has struck out 53 batters over 50.1 innings of work. He owns a 2.32 ERA.
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Kevin Navedo, Bridgewater, Sr., 2nd Base
April 19, 2021Navedo, a senior from Harrisonburg, Va., was a run-producing juggernaut for the Eagles in their 4-0 week against ODAC competition. Navedo slashed at .500/.524/1.063 with five extra-base hits, 12 RBI and six runs scored over Bridgewater's four outings. In a 6-5 victory over Eastern Mennonite, Navedo did not register a hit, but he drove in three runs and scored once. He turned up the production in 13-10 victory at Ferrum as he went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Navedo registered five hits and six RBI in a sweep on the road at Guilford. He doubled twice and homered in game one, driving in two runs and scoring twice with a walk in a 13-6 victory. In game two, he went 2-for-3 with a solo shot, four RBI, a run scored, and two walks on the way to a 15-3 Eagles triumph. For the season, Bridgewater's second baseman boasts a .305/.358/.593 slash line with three homers and 18 RBI.
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Zack Potts, Lynchburg, So., Pitcher
April 19, 2021Potts, a sophomore from Oilville, Va., put together a pair of strong starts to help Lynchburg to a pair of ODAC victories. In a matchup with nationally 12th-ranked Randolph-Macon, Potts started and went the first 5.1 innings of the midweek affair, surrendering one run on five hits before exiting. He walked two and struck out two and took a no decision in the Hornets 3-1 win. Potts returned to the hill on Sunday and went the distance in a 2-1 victory over Eastern Mennonite. He gave up one run on three hits over nine frames. He walked one and struck out eight. After giving up a fourth inning single, Potts did not allow another EMU baserunner until the leadoff batter in ninth inning reached via error. That broke string of 14 batters retired in a row. For the season, Potts is now 5-0 over 10 appearances including four starts. He owns a 2.94 ERA and has struck out 52 batters over 49.0 innings of work.
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Mike Nickles, Randolph-Macon, Sr., 3rd Base
April 12, 2021Nickles, a senior from Stafford, Va., saw half of his eight hits go for extra bases as he posted a .533/.526/1.200 slash line in nationally 12th-ranked Randolph-Macon's 3-1 week. Nickles, who had at least one RBI in each game last week, opened with a three-run smash to right to give R-MC the lead for good in the fifth inning in its 11-3 triumph over William Peace. He walked and scored twice as well in that contest. In an 8-2 victory at Hampden-Sydney, Nickles singled twice while driving in two runs and scoring once. In a split with #18 Shenandoah, Nickles singled and drove in a run in the Yellow Jackets 6-5 setback in game one. Game two was another story all-together as the 2019 ODAC Player of the Year went 4-for-4 with a pair of triples, a game-tying three-run homer, and a walk on the way to four RBI and three runs scored in R-MC's 15-7 win. For the season, Nickles is slashing at .333/.429/.583 with three homeruns and an ODAC fifth-best 24 RBI. He is also fifth in triples (2) and stolen bases (9).
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Grayson Thurman, Lynchburg, Sr., Pitcher
April 12, 2021Thurman, a senior from Lynch Station, Va., tossed 6.2 innings of scoreless ball over two appearances to help Lynchburg to a pair of ODAC road wins. Thurman opened with a career-high 5.2 innings of work out the bullpen to earn the victory in an 11-7 victory at Virginia Wesleyan. He gave up just one hit and walked three batters while fanning a career-best eight batters. Thurman then finished off a 13-6 win at Emory & Henry. He climbed the hill for the final frame, striking out three of the four Wasps he faced. For the season, Thurman is 2-1 with two saves in 13 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He owns a 2.35 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 23.0 innings of work. Batters are hitting a paltry .130 against him.
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Jaylon Lee, Eastern Mennonite, Sr., Centerfielder
April 05, 2021Lee, a senior from Newport News, Va., powered Eastern Mennonite to a 2-1 week by slashing .538/.571/.1.385. Lee went 7-for-13 with five extra-base hits including a double, two triples, and two homers to go with 11 RBI, seven runs scored, four stolen bases, and a walk. He put together one of the statistically best games in EMU history in an 18-11 win over Washington and Lee. He went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and a three-run blast on the way to eight RBI with three runs scored and two stolen bases. In a doubleheader split at Hampden-Sydney, Lee went 4-for-9 with three RBI and four runs scored. He was 3-for-4 in game one with a double, two triples, two RBI and two runs scored in the Royals' 6-2 win. In a 10-9 setback in game two, EMU's centerfielder singled and drove in a run with a run scored, a walk, and two stolen bases. For the season, Lee leads the ODAC in slugging (.939) and is third in batting (.455) and homers (3). He is fifth in on-base percentage (.524) and triples (2).
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Evan Parks, Roanoke, Jr., Pitcher
April 05, 2021Parks, a junior from Roanoke, Va., was strong in a pair of outings last week. Parks started and threw the first three innings in a 9-1 win over Guilford. He gave up one run on four hits without a walk and three strikeouts. He was stellar in his second start of the week, pitching into the 10th inning in the Maroons 3-2 win over nationally 13th-ranked Shenandoah University in 10 innings. Parks gave up two runs on four hits in 9.0 frames. He walked three and struck out four. He kept SU off the scoreboard until a two-run homer in the ninth inning. After a lead-off walk, he set down seven batters in a row and then enjoyed a run of eight straight outs into the sixth inning. He again set down eight straight Hornets before a lead-off walk in the ninth. For the season, Parks is 1-2 in seven appearances including six starts. He owns a 3.86 ERA with seven walks and 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings of work.
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Pearce Bucher, Shenandoah, So., 3rd Base
March 29, 2021Bucher, a sophomore from Stephens City, Va., earns his second straight weekly award after posting three multi-hit efforts in helping Shenandoah to a 3-0 week against ODAC competition. Pearce slashed .615/.643/1.077 as he went 8-for-13 with two homers, five RBI, four runs scored, and a walk. In a 14-2 win over Washington and Lee, Bucher went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. He followed with a second 3-for-5 outing in game one against Virginia Wesleyan. He belted a two-run homer on the way to three RBI with two runs scored in a 16-3 SU triumph. In a 7-6 come-from-behind win in game two, Bucher went 2-for-3 with a solo shot and a walk. For the season, the Hornets third baseman is slashing .429/.500/.653, which rank fifth, eighth, and seventh in the ODAC, respectively. He is third in homers (3) and fourth in hits (21) and RBI (17).
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Justin Woodall, Hampden-Sydney, So., Pitcher
March 29, 2021Woodall, a sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va., put together a gem of a start in the Tigers' 7-0 victory over Virginia Wesleyan. Woodall registered a career-high eight strikeouts as part of 7.0 shutout innings. He game up just three hits and walked a pair of batters. He retired the first seven Marlins he faced to set the tone for the rest of the outing. For the season, Woodall is 2-0 over four appearances, all starts, in 22.1 innings on the hill. He has fanned 23 batters and boasts a 2.01 ERA with a .189 opponents' batting average.
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Pearce Bucher, Shenandoah, So., 3rd Base
March 22, 2021Bucher, a sophomore from Stephens City, Va., helped Shenandoah go 3-0 last week against ODAC competition by registering a .417/.563/.750 slash line. Bucher went 5-for-12 combined with a double, homer, four runs scored, six RBI, and four walks. He opened with a 3-for-4 effort in a 14-5 win over Washington and Lee. He belted a two-run homer to left in the fifth inning on the way to driving in three runs in total with a walk. In the first game of a doubleheader at Emory & Henry, Bucher drew a pair of walks in a 7-0 Hornets win. In game two, he helped SU to a 12-4 triumph by going 2-for-5 with a walk and a two-run double. He again drove in three runs in total and scored once. For the season, Bucher is slashing .361/.452/.500 with a homer and 12 RBI, which ranks fifth in the conference. Shenandoah's third baseman owns a .962 fielding percentage and is fifth in the ODAC with 22 assists. He has made just one error. This week, he fielded all 10 chances cleanly with nine assists and one putout.
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Tad Dean, Shenandoah, So., Starting Pitcher
March 22, 2021Dean, a sophomore from Stephens City, Va., was lights out in the Hornets 7-0 victory over Emory & Henry in the first game of a road sweep of the Wasps. Dean went the distance for the first time in his collegiate career for his first nine-inning shutout. He gave up just two hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out seven batters, setting a new career-high. Dean retired the first five batters he faced and then sat down 15 Wasps in a row until a double with two down in the seventh inning. He finished the game with seven straight outs facing as many batters. For the season, Dean is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 20.0 innings and three appearances, all starts.
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Kinston Carson, Lynchburg, Gr., Outfielder/Pitcher
March 15, 2021Carson, a graduate student from Tappahannock, Va., smacked two hits in all four Lynchburg games last week, helping the Hornets to a 3-1 showing with a .533/.650/.933 slash line. Carson doubled in each contest to finish with four two-baggers, a triple, six RBI, seven runs scored, four walks, and two stolen bases. He started the week going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base in a 17-2 win over William Peace. He again went 2-for-4 with a double and triple, two walks, two runs scored, a stolen base, and a RBI in a 9-4 victory at Averett. In a split (13-3, 1-2) at Roanoke, Carson went a combined 4-for-7 with two walks, two doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored. Carson also threw 3.2 innings in game one against the Maroons, giving up one run on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts. For the season, Carson is hitting .289 with a .370 OBP and .447 SLG. He leads the ODAC in doubles (4) and is second in RBI (11).
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Hunter Mohr, Bridgewater, Jr, Starting Pitcher
March 15, 2021Mohr, a junior from Appomattox, Va., put together a career-best outing -- his first of the season -- in Bridgewater's 11-0 victory over Emory & Henry. Mohr threw 7.0 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and walking one while striking out a career-best 10 batters. After the first batter of the game reached via an error, Mohr set down eight straight Wasps. He had another run of seven straight outs midway thru his start and retired each f the final five batters he faced.
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Avery Neaves, Lynchburg, So., Catcher/Outfielder
March 08, 2021Neaves, a sophomore from Reston, Va., picks up his second straight weekly award after hitting safely in all four last week with a trio of multi-hit efforts in helping Lynchburg to a 2-2 showing. Neaves went 2-for-3 in game one (L, 3-0) at Methodist and followed with a double and run scored in game 2 (L, 12-4) against the Monarchs. In a sweep (9-4, 17-3) of Ferrum, Neaves went 2-for-3 in game one with a triple, stolen base, and run scored. He exploded in game two, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, a three-run homer towards seven total RBI with four runs scored and a walk. He finished the week with a .643/.688/1.214 slash line. For the season, Neaves is hitting .455 with with a .537 OBP. He leads (or shares) the ODAC in SLG (1.061), hits (15), doubles (4), triples (2), homers (4), RBI (18), total bases (35), and stolen bases (4).
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Nic Graziano, Hampden-Sydney, Jr., Starter
March 08, 2021Graziano, a junior from Virginia Beach, Va., made the most of his second start of the season in helping Hampden-Sydney to an 8-0 victory at Washington and Lee. Graziano toss 7.0 shutout innings to earn his first win of the year. He gave up four hits and worked around four walks. He struck out seven Generals, matching his career-best single-game total. Graziano is now 1-1 on the season with a 1.64 ERA over 11.0 innings on the bump. He has given up nine hits and fanned 11 batters.
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Avery Neaves, Lynchburg, So., Catcher/Outfielder
March 01, 2021Neaves, a sophomore from Reston, Va., had a hand in 10 of Lynchburg's 14 runs scored last week as the Hornets went 1-2 in non-conference games. Neaves nearly hit for the cycle in an 11-9 win over Averett. He went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and homer on the way to driving in seven runs and scoring two more. The seven RBI are the most by a Lynchburg player since Joe Rogers plated eight Hornets against Oneonta State on February 22, 2014. In game two at William Peace, Neaves registered his eighth RBI of the week. For the season, Neaves is slashing .316/.400/.947 with that .947 slugging percentage leading the ODAC. He also leads the conference in runs (6), homers (3), RBI (11), total bases (18), and stolen bases (3).
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Owen Tappy, Hampden-Sydney, So., Relief Pitcher
March 01, 2021Tappy, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., put the caps on a strong pitching day in the Tigers 2-1 victory at Methodist in the first game of a double-header split in Hampden-Sydney's opening games of the schedule. Tappy tossed three scoreless frames to close the game and earn his first victory in his first appearance of the season. He gave up one hit and walked two batters while fanning a pair.
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Matt Yarbrough, Ferrum, Sr., 1st Base
February 22, 2021Yarbrough, a senior from Danville, Va., ripped the cover off the ball in his first outing of the season, helping Ferrum open with a 6-5 victory at N.C. Wesleyan. Yarbrough had a hand in five of those runs as he went 2-for-5 with a two-run triple and two-run homer on the way to a five-RBI day. The triple was the first of his career and the homer marked his second jog around the bases.
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Kevin Ledford, Roanoke, Sr., Relief Pitcher
February 22, 2021Ledford, a senior from Stafford, Va., returned to his customary late-bullpen role for the Maroons to start 2021 and picked up an extra-innings victory via a 6-5 result at William Peace. Ledford worked two scoreless innings to finish the game. He surrendered two hits and struck out four batters without a walk. For his career, Ledford is 5-4 with eight saves, 84 strikeouts, and a 1.82 ERA in 74.0 innings of work, all in relief.
