VWC, LC Receive First Place Consideration
FOREST, Va. --- Reigning ODAC champion Randolph-Macon College was tabbed the favorite by the league's head coaches entering the 2016 season as the Yellow Jackets earned 78 total points and six first place votes to lead the ODAC Softball Preseason Poll. Virginia Wesleyan College collected 72 tallies and three top nods, while Lynchburg College secured third place with 69 points including the remaining first place vote.
ODAC softball followers saw a new champion crowned in 2015 as Randolph-Macon turned its tournament fourth seed into a 4-0 run at the James I. Moyer Complex in Salem to hoist the program's first ODAC softball championship trophy. The Yellow Jackets out-scored their opponents 17-3 in the four contests, including a pair of 2-0 shutouts over Guilford College and Virginia Wesleyan in their first two outings.
Along with the new hardware came an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament for Randolph-Macon, and it was joined by VWC as an at-large selection. Both squads tasted victory in their respective regionals. The Marlins took down McDaniel College, 11-1, but were eliminated by two successive losses to Salisbury University -- 4-0 and 3-2 -- in the NCAA's double elimination format. The Yellow Jackets moved past Ramapo College, 8-6, in nine innings before falling to Christopher Newport University, 3-2. R-MC righted the ship with an 8-6 triumph over Salem College in 12 innings, but CNU ended the Yellow Jackets' postseason run via an 11-6 decision.
Entering the new campaign, 25-of-36 All-ODAC honorees are set to return to fields across the conference. That total includes eight athletes from the All-ODAC First Team. Lynchburg's Kayla St. John and Danielle Powell earned their spots at third base and utility, respectively, while Virginia Wesleyan features first baseman Cassetty Howerin and outfielder Courtney Bogan, the reigning ODAC Player of the Year. Bogan led the ODAC in batting (.487), hits (57) and stolen bases (49).
Catcher and ODAC RBI champ (41) Madison Gilman is back to try to lead R-MC to a second conference title, while outfielder Leah Elswick returns to an Emory & Henry College squad that come up one victory short of a championship game berth. Eastern Mennonite University features outfielder Aislinn Lucas, and Guilford College welcomes back second baseman Caroline Barnette.
The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Sunday, February 14. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for the weekend of March 19. 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 Softball Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC softball programs. For more information on ODAC softball, 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 SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL | |
| (#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
| 1. Randolph-Macon College (6) | 78 pts. |
| 2. Virginia Wesleyan College (3) | 72 pts. |
| 3. Lynchburg College (1) | 69 pts. |
| 4. Roanoke College | 54 pts. |
| 5. Emory & Henry College | 44 pts. |
| 5. Guilford College | 44 pts. |
| 7. Eastern Mennonite University | 33 pts. |
| 8. Randolph College | 30 pts. |
| 9. Shenandoah University | 17 pts. |
| 10. Bridgewater College | 9 pts. |
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2016 Poll Position: 8th2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-19/9-11 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8 Seed/0-2, Eliminated in Second Round Head Coach: Caroline Cubbage Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Hunter Glave (1B), Haley Brickles (SS) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .361 -- Hunter Glave Hits: 35 -- Hunter Glave Runs: 31 (10) -- Hunter Glave 2B: 12 (3) -- Hunter Glave HR: 10 (2) -- Hunter Glave RBI: 38 (3) -- Hunter Glave SB: 7 -- Rachel Hickman Wins: 10 (6) -- Hannah Winfree Saves: 2 (2) -- Gracyn Allen-Ingle/Lauren Morris ERA: 3.83 -- Hannah Winfree IP: 115.0 (4) -- Hannah Winfree K: 75 (5) -- Hannah Winfree |
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2016 Poll Position: 7th2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-14/9-11 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7 Seed/0-2, Eliminated in Second Round Head Coach: J.D. McCurdy Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Aislinn Lucas (OF) Second Team: Lauren Seale (DP) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .452 (3) -- Aislinn Lucas Hits: 42 -- Aislinn Lucas Runs: 31 (10) -- Mariah Foltz/Danyele Smith 2B: 12 (3) -- Danyele Smith HR: 6 (5) -- Angelia Miller RBI: 38 (3) -- Angelia Miller SB: 1 -- Mariah Foltz/Aislinn Lucas/Angelia Miller/Lauren Seale Wins: 5 -- Lauren Seale Saves: 2 (2) -- Lauren Seale ERA: 3.06 -- Lauren Seale IP: 82.1 (10) -- Lauren Seale K: 66 (8) -- Lauren Seale |
2016 Poll Position: 1st2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-12/12-8 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/4-0, Champions Head Coach: Kevin Proffitt Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Madison Gilman (C) Second Team: Nelda Bagley (P) Third Team: Sierra Ford (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .389 -- Madison Gilman Hits: 44 (10) -- Madison Gilman Runs: 33 (5) -- Madison Gilman 2B: 13 (2) -- Madison Gilman HR: 7 (4) -- Madison Gilman RBI: 41 (1) -- Madison Gilman SB: 5 -- Sierra Ford Wins: 20 (1) -- Nelda Bagley Saves: None ERA: 1.69 (4) -- Nelda Bagley IP: 178.0 (1) -- Nelda Bagley K: 167 (1) -- Nelda Bagley |
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2016 Poll Position: T-5th2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-12/10-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/3-2, Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Tommy Forrester Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Leah Elswick (OF) Second Team: None Third Team: Caley Hodge (3B), Danielle Loving (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .398 (8) -- Leah Elswick Hits: 45 (8) -- Leah Elswick/Caley Hodge Runs: 32 (7) -- Caley Hodge 2B: 11 (6) -- Leah Elswick HR: 11 (1) -- Caley Hodge RBI: 38 (3) -- Caley Hodge SB: 8 -- Jordan Chrisley Wins: 6 -- Taylor Banner Saves: None ERA: 5.64 -- Taylor Banner IP: 58.1 -- Taylor Banner K: 21 -- Taylor Banner |
2016 Poll Position: 4th2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 22-14/15-5 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/2-2, Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Mike Mitchell Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Katie Smith (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .383 -- Katie Smith Hits: 36 -- Katie Smith Runs: 33 (5) -- Taylor Carter 2B: 7 -- Samantha Baldwin HR: 4 -- Samantha Baldwin/Taylor Carter/Becca Wenger RBI: 19 -- Samantha Baldwin SB: 25 (4) -- Taylor Carter Wins: 7 (9) -- Ruthie Williams Saves: None ERA: 3.84 -- Ruthie Williams IP: 82.0 -- Ruthie Williams K: 43 -- Ruthie Williams |
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2016 Poll Position: T-5th2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 24-17/11-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/1-2, Eliminated in Third Round Head Coach: Dennis Shores Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Caroline Barnette (2B) Second Team: Taylor Boyd (SS) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .393 (9) -- Caroline Barnette Hits: 53 (3) -- Caroline Barnette/Taylor Boyd Runs: 34 (4) -- Caroline Barnette 2B: 8 -- Caroline Barnette HR: 6 (5) -- Caroline Barnette RBI: 26 -- Caroline Barnette SB: 19 (5) -- Laura Hall Wins: 7 (9) -- Maggie Shaffer Saves: 2 (2) -- Casey Snead ERA: 1.57 (3) -- Courtney Lackey IP: 68.0 -- Maggie Shaffer K: 44 -- Casey Snead |
2016 Poll Position: 9th2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-22/8-12 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Marlena Kotynski Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .348 -- Lindsay Corbin Hits: 31 -- Lindsay Corbin Runs: 20 -- Kimberly Brady 2B: 7 -- Lindsay Corbin HR: 4 -- Lindsay Corbin RBI: 23 -- Lindsay Corbin SB: 4 -- Cassie Green Wins: 2 -- Lindsay Corbin Saves: 2 -- Lindsay Corbin ERA: 5.06 -- Lindsay Corbin IP: 74.2 -- Lindsay Corbin K: 36 -- Lindsay Corbin |
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2016 Poll Position: 3rd2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 31-13/16-4 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/3-2, Eliminated in Finals Head Coach: Dawn Simmons Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Kayla St. John (3B), Danielle Powell (UT) Second Team: None Third Team: Conner English (P), Leslie Bourgeois (2B) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .398 (7) -- Danielle Powell Hits: 53 (3) -- Danielle Powell Runs: 26 -- Kayla St. John 2B: 10 (8) -- Danielle Powell HR: 5 (8) -- Kayla St. John RBI: 33 (7) -- Danielle Powell SB: 6 -- Skylar Dickens Wins: 11 (5) -- Conner English Saves: 2 (2) -- Conner English ERA: 1.81 (5) -- Conner English IP: 108.1 (5) -- Conner English K: 115 (3) -- Conner English |
2016 Poll Position: 2nd2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 30-8/18-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/1-2, Eliminated in Third Round Head Coach: Brandon Elliott Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Cassetty Howerin (1B), Courtney Bogan (OF - POY) Second Team: Mary Shipp (P), Taylor Galvin (C), Kayla Malkos (2B), Kayla Dost (3B) Third Team: Liz Bailey (UT) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10 AVG: .487 (1) -- Courtney Bogan Hits: 57 (1) -- Courtney Bogan Runs: 45 (2) -- Courtney Bogan 2B: 11 (6) -- Kayla Dost HR: 5 (8) -- Cassetty Howerin RBI: 40 (2) -- Cassetty Howerin SB: 49 (1) -- Courtney Bogan Wins: 13 (4) -- Mary Shipp Saves: None ERA: 1.23 (2) -- Mary Shipp IP: 97.0 (8) -- Mary Shipp K: 70 (7) -- Mary Shipp |
2016 Poll Position: 10th