Three Teams Receive First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan College has stood at the top of the ODAC softball podium three of the past four years and the league coaches picked the Marlins as the favorite to again lift the conference trophy in the ODAC Softball Preseason Poll. VWC received nine first place votes on the way to collecting 99 total points to lead the annual survey.

The next three teams on the chart are separated by just one point. Randolph-Macon College and Lynchburg College are tied with 82 tallies, with the Yellow Jackets earning one first place nod. Eastern Mennonite University garnered the remaining top vote on the way to slotting fourth with 81 points.

Virginia Wesleyan entered the 2016 conference tournament as the top seed and made that billing stand up despite weather forcing an extra day of competition. The Marlins went 4-0 thru the double-elimination bracket at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va., defeating Emory & Henry College (9-1) and Roanoke College (4-2) before topping EMU in the winners' bracket semifinals (6-2). The Royals made their way back to the top portion of the field and nearly forced an "if necessary" title-deciding contest, but VWC pulled out a 10-9 victory in nine innings.

The postseason continued for Virginia Wesleyan in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Marlins, who finished the season ranked 29th by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, were selected to host a four-team regional. The homefield advantage failed to help the Marlins as they dropped the opener, 2-0, to St. Vincent College and were then eliminated by Salisbury University, 2-1, the following day.

The NFCA preseason poll features a pair of ODAC squads entering 2017. The Marlins open the campaign as the 25th-rated team in Division III, while Randolph-Macon is one of 11 schools earning votes just outside the initial 25 ranked teams.

There will be plenty of talent returning to dugouts across the ODAC with 21 All-ODAC honorees set for another go-round in 2017. Lynchburg features a league-best six all-conference returners, including three of the seven back from the All-ODAC First Team. Second baseman Leslie Bourgeois and outfielder Skylar Dickens are joined by ODAC homerun leader (12) Mackenzie Chitwood.

Virginia Wesleyan also features multiple first team standouts in shortstop Kiersten Richardson and First Team All-American first baseman Cassetty Howerin. The Marlins' junior led the ODAC in batting average (.504) and runs driven in (63) as well as on-base percentage (.584), doubles (13), walks (28) and total bases (108).

Eastern Mennonite and Emory & Henry welcome back one first teamer each. The Royals are buoyed by third baseman Mariah Foltz, while the Wasps look to slugger Caley Hodge to pace the offense.

The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on Saturday, February 11.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for the Wednesday, March 1.   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 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 and odacathletics on Instagram.

* Minimum 0.5 IP per team game for ERA qualification

2017 Poll Position: 10th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-29/2-16 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Lis Schulz Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .330 -- Lindsey Talley   Hits: 34 -- Lindsey Talley   Runs: 20 -- Lindsey Talley   2B: 9 -- Victoria Gontarz   HR: 1 -- Lindsey Talley/Carlita Tibbs   RBI: 12 -- Lindsey Talley   SB: 7 -- Lindsey Talley   Wins: 2 -- Hannah Trala   ERA: 3.97 -- Hannah Trala   IP: 60.0 -- Hannah Trala   K: 34 -- Hannah Trala		2017 Poll Position: 2nd (tied) 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 31-13/12-6 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/2-2, Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Kevin Proffitt Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Candace Whittemore (P), Harley Jones (1B)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .344 -- Harley Jones   Hits: 45 -- Harley Jones   Runs: 31 -- Harley Jones   2B: 10 -- Skyler Toth   HR: 7 (6) -- Harley Jones   RBI: 26 -- Harley Jones   SB: 9 -- Brandi Mulvena   Wins: 16 (4) -- Candace Whittemore   ERA: 1.81 -- Candace Whittemore   IP: 154.2 (2) -- Candace Whittemore   K: 136 (2) -- Candace Whittemore
2017 Poll Position: 4th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 31-14/13-5 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/3-2, Runner-up Head Coach: J.D. McCurdy Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Mariah Foltz (3B)   Second Team: Carli Hill (C), Sydney Reach (2B)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .444 (3) -- Carli Hill   Hits: 67 (1) -- Carli Hill   Runs: 43 (2) -- Carli Hill   2B: 11 (3) -- Mariah Foltz/Carli Hill/Sydney Reath   HR: 6 (10) -- Carli Hill   RBI: 35 (8) -- Carli Hill   SB: 3 -- Carli Hill/Alexa Sheets   Wins: 12 (6) -- Sydney Reath   ERA: 3.16 -- Sydney Reath   IP: 133.0 (4) -- Sydney Reath   K: 96 (5) -- Lauren Seale		2017 Poll Position: 6th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 19-22/9-9 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/1-2, Eliminated in third round Head Coach: Mike Mitchell Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Katie Smith (OF)   Third Team: Erin Forbes (SS), Ruthie Williams (UT) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .371 -- Taylor Carter   Hits: 49 (9) -- Taylor Carter   Runs: 40 (5) -- Taylor Carter   2B: 10 (10) -- Taylor Carter   HR: 3 -- Taylor Carter/Katie Smith   RBI: 29 -- Katie Smith   SB: 25 (3) -- Taylor Carter   Wins: 7 -- Ruthie Williams   ERA: 2.26 -- Emily Salsberry   IP: 76.2 -- Teresa Wagner   K: 37 -- Teresa Wagner
2017 Poll Position: 7th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-27/7-11 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8 Seed/0-2, Eliminated in second round Head Coach: Tommy Forrester Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Caley Hodge (DP)   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .395 -- Caley Hodge   Hits: 47 (9) -- Caley Hodge   Runs: 24 -- Leah Elswick/Riley Pudney   2B: 10 -- Riley Pudney   HR: 7 (6) -- Caley Hodge   RBI: 37 (4) -- Caley Hodge   SB: 6 -- Danielle Loving/Amanda Whitlow   Wins: 2 -- Leah Elswick/Riley Pudney   ERA: 4.88 -- Riley Pudney   IP: 38.2 -- Riley Pudney   K: 9 -- Riley Pudney		2017 Poll Position: 9th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-30/2-16 2016 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: .320 -- Karli Rorabaugh   Hits: 32 -- Karlie Rorabaugh   Runs: 15 -- Megan Wilk   2B: 4 -- Lindsay Corbin/Haley Koeninger/Megan Wilk   HR: 3 -- Megan Wilk   RBI: 15 -- Lindsay Corbin   SB: 3 -- Breanne Smith   Wins: 4 -- Carrie Robinson   ERA: 3.45 -- Kayla O'Connell   IP: 93.1 -- Lindsay Corbin   K: 41 -- Carrie Robinson
2017 Poll Position: 5th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 25-18/8-10 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/1-2, Eliminated in third round Head Coach: Dennis Shores Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Makayla Carver (DP)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .426 (4) -- Makayla Carver   Hits: 46 -- Makayla Carver   Runs: 31 -- Makayla Carver   2B: 10 (10) -- Caroline Barnette/Makayla Carver   HR: 8 (5) -- Sabrina Moreno   RBI: 35 (8) -- Sabrina Moreno   SB: 24 (4) -- Makayla Carver   Wins: 10 (8) -- Courtney Lackey   ERA: 3.41 -- Courtney Lackey   IP: 113.0 (9) -- Courtney Lackey   K: 75 (7) -- Courtney Lackey		2017 Poll Position: 11th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-15 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in the ODAC in 2016 Head Coach: Danielle Delude Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders   AVG: .462 -- Kayla Dooms   Hits: 18 -- Kayla Dooms   Runs: 15 -- Kayla Dooms   2B: 6 -- Kayla Dooms   HR: 1 -- Mary Kate Bailey/Kayla Dooms   RBI: 18 -- Kayla Dooms   SB: 2 -- Kayla Dooms   Wins: 1 -- Kayla Dooms/Taylor Fischer   ERA: 9.88 -- Taylor Fischer   IP: 28.1 -- Taylor Fischer   K: 25 -- Kayla Dooms
2017 Poll Position: 2nd (tied) 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 27-18/12-6 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/3-2, Eliminated in semifinals Head Coach: Dawn Simmons Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Leslie Bourgeois (2B), Skylar Dickens (OF), Mackenzie Chitwood (UT)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Conner English (P), Kayla St. John (3B), Brittany Coffey (DP) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .373 -- Mackenzie Chitwood   Hits: 47 -- Mackenzie Chitwood/Kayla St. John   Runs: 42 (3) -- Kayla St. John   2B: 11 (3) -- Kayla St. John   HR: 12 (1) -- Mackenzie Chitwood   RBI: 39 (3) -- Mackenzie Chitwood   SB: 5 -- Skylar Dickens   Wins: 18 (2) -- Conner English   ERA: 2.44 -- Conner English   IP: 174.2 (1) -- Conner English   K: 142 (1) -- Conner English		2017 Poll Position: 1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 38-7/17-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/4-0, ODAC Champion Head Coach: Brandon Elliott Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Cassetty Howerin (1B), Kiersten Richardson (SS)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Liz Bailey (2B), Blake Henderson (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .504 (1) -- Cassetty Howerin   Hits: 65 (2) -- Cassetty Howerin   Runs: 39 (6) -- Cassetty Howerin   2B: 13 (1) -- Cassetty Howerin   HR: 10 (3) -- Cassetty Howerin   RBI: 63 (1) -- Cassetty Howerin   SB: 26 (2) -- Kiersten Richardson   Wins: None   ERA: N/A   IP: 19.0 -- Kasey Newcomb   K: 7 -- Alan Peters
2017 Poll Position: 8th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 21-19/8-10 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7 Seed/0-2, Eliminated in second round Head Coach: Sara Flinn Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Lindsey Chaney (P) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .353 -- Hunter Glave   Hits: 42 -- Hunter Glave/Becca Montgomery   Runs: 28 -- Hunter Glave   2B: 10 (10) -- Dianne Davis   HR: 5 -- Becca Montgomery   RBI: 36 (5) -- Becca Montgomery   SB: 8 -- Hunter Glave/Becca Montgomery   Wins: 8 (9) -- Lindsey Chaney   ERA: 2.17 -- Lindsey Chaney   IP: 109.2 (10) -- Lindsey Chaney   K: 93 (6) -- Lindsey Chaney