Roanoke Run in ODAC Tournament Comes to an End

action photo of RC baseball player Jonny Wall hitting
Roanoke falls at ODAC Championship

The Basics – ODAC Final Weekend Championship Series
Score: #6 Roanoke 0 | #2 Shenandoah 13

Records: Maroons 26-16 | Hornets 34-10-1
Location: High Point, N.C.

The Lead: Roanoke came into the 2022 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Baseball Tournament as the #6 seed. After a sweep of Randolph-Macon and two wins over the top seed from Lynchburg, the Maroons would enter Sunday needing to defeat #2 Shenandoah twice to claim the crown. The Hornets would strike first and with the help of a three-run home run, send six runners home in the bottom of the second. Two innings later another three-run shot would increase the Hornets lead, 10-0. A 101-pitch shutout by the Hornet hurler would close the door on the Maroons as Shenandoah took the title, 13-0.

Highlights:

  • Roanoke would get a hit, walk, and hit batter to but three runners on base in the first two innings. However, Roanoke was unable to plate a run and Shenandoah took advantage with a six-run bottom of the second, highlighted by a three-run home run to left.
  • In the bottom of the fourth, the Hornets added a run and then another drive over the left field fence to make it 10-0.
  • Riley Owen threw a 101-pitch shutout for the Hornets as Roanoke was unable to score against the right hander.
  • Conner Butler was 2-4 while Jacob Bonzon finished the day by going 2-3. Brandon Hill got the start and took the loss for the Maroons.
  • When the All-Tournament Team was announced at the conclusion of the event, a quartet of Roanoke players were honored for their performances. Caleb Lingenfelter was named one of the pitchers, Jonny Wall earned a spot at shortstop, Jeb Byerley as an outfielder and PK Cocolis earned a spot as a utility player.

Up next: Now the Maroons must wait on the NCAA DIII Baseball Selection Committee to convene later tonight to see if Roanoke will earn an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA DIII Baseball Tournament.