Virginia Wesleyan, Lynchburg Round Out Top Three
SALEM, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College received
92 total poll points in the 2009 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll as
the Yellow Jackets were picked as the favorites to repeat as
conference champions. R-MC also received six of the ten first place
nods in the annual survey of the league's coaches. Following
closely behind is Virginia Wesleyan College with 88 total markers
and one first place tally. Lynchburg College received three
votes for the top spot and sits just two total poll points behind
VWC.
Randolph-Macon claimed its third ODAC baseball title and closed its
season with a 25-17 overall record and 12-6 in league competition.
The Yellow Jackets proved best in the field, leading the league
with a .962 fielding percentage. They made the second fewest errors
(58), coming up just short of Washington and Lee's 52 miscues. R-MC
was also ranked third with a .325 batting average. First Team
All-ODAC selection, Mike Wallace, led the ODAC with a .438 batting
average to go long with five homers and 43 runs batted in. Wallace
returns for his junior season along with fellow First Team All-ODAC
pick, Greg Meleski (.394 BA, 65 H, 41 RBI). Back to solidify
the starting rotation is 2008 ODAC Co-Pitcher and Co-Rookie of the
Year, Byron Mendenhall. He posted a 7-1 record with a 2.33
earned run average and 71 strikeouts in 69.2 innings of work.
Senior Nick Simons (2-0, 1.69) adds to the pitching stables.
Virginia Wesleyan (26-14-1, 13-5 ODAC) boasted the league's top
pitching staff with a 3.48 team earned run average. ODAC
Co-Rookie and Co-Pitcher of the Year, Gary Bulman, headed up the
rotation. He finished with an 8-0 record and a 2.12 ERA, good
for fourth in the league. He fanned 54 batters in 59.1
innings on the hill, allowing only 40 hits. Senior C.J.
Rhodes is the top bat returning for the Marlins. Last season,
he hit at a .367 clip with four homeruns and 43 RBI. All-ODAC
Second Team selection, Phil Cadle (.347 BA, .956 FLD%), is a solid
performer both at the dish and in the field.
Lynchburg (32-13, 15-3 ODAC) will have to replace the production of
former player of the year, Ronnie Labrie (.428, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 31
SB), and fellow first teamer, Jon Crews (.374, 7, 59), following
graduation. Right-hander, Joe Devlin, and third baseman, Jeff
Taylor, both return following All-ODAC First Team seasons.
Devlin led the league with a 9-0 record and a 1.02 earned run
average. A control pitcher, Devlin walked only 16 batters in
70.1 innings. Taylor finished ninth in the conference with a
.392 batting average with 42 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 30
attempts.
Listed below is the 2009 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll. To
learn more about ODAC Baseball, visit any of the participating
schools' websites or the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.
2009 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll
(#) denotes first place votes
1. Randolph-Macon (6) |
92 pts. |
2. Virginia Wesleyan (1) |
88 pts. |
3. Lynchburg (3) |
86 pts. |
4. Bridgewater |
71 pts. |
5. Washington and Lee |
61 pts. |
6. Hampden-Sydney |
42 pts. |
7. Roanoke |
40 pts. |
8. Guilford |
34 pts. |
9. Eastern Mennonite |
19 pts. |
10. Emory & Henry |
17 pts. |