SU, R-MC, VWC Earn First Place Consideration

FOREST, Va. --- Reigning ODAC champion Shenandoah University was picked as the conference favorite heading into the 2016 campaign as the Hornets received five first place and 94 total points to lead the ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll.  Randolph-Macon College picked up four top nods and 90 overall tallies to rank second, while Virginia Wesleyan College kept the top-three tightly packed with 88 points and the remaining two first place votes from the league's head coaches.

The 2015 ODAC Tournament was effected by weather, but that didn't stop Shenandoah from winning its first three games to put itself in the driver's seat in the ODAC's double-elimination format.  Virginia Wesleyan recovered by a second-day loss to Randolph-Macon to defeat Roanoke College and R-MC on the third day for a right to square off with SU.  The Marlins handed the Hornets their first loss, 9-8, to force the if-game.  Shenandoah came out on top in that contest, 4-2, to claim their first ODAC baseball crown.  It also marked the first conference title for any sport at SU since joining the ODAC in 2012.

Shenandoah continued its season in the NCAA Division III Tournament with a trip to the regionals at Ross Memorial Park in Washington, Pa.  The Hornets took down Adrian College (Mich) in the first round, 5-1, before being shutout by Heidelberg University (Ohio), 5-0, in their second game.  SU was eliminated by Frostburg State University (Md.) in its next contest via a 7-2 scoreline.

ODAC teams will not be short on talent in 2016, as 20-of-39 All-ODAC honorees return. However, just five are from the first team, with a pair wearing Randolph-Macon lemon and black.  Reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year Rick Spiers is back after leading the ODAC with a 1.52 earned run average.  He's joined by first team starter James Walsh, who tied with Spiers for the most wins in the ODAC (7) and led the league outright in innings pitched (75.0) and strikeouts (85).  Virginia Wesleyan's Sean Greiser earned the ODAC Pitcher of the Year award last season, and he's back to lead the Marlins staff after going 6-1 with a 2.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 50.0 innings of work. He was 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA versus ODAC foes.

Eastern Mennonite University and Roanoke feature the remaining two returning first team standouts. Outfielder Joe Hall led the ODAC with a .423 batting average for ODAC Coach of the Year Ben Spott's Royals. Maroons' catcher Will Black hit .376 with a conference-best 14 doubles.

The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on the weekend of Friday, February 5, with several teams in action.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Saturday, March 5.   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 Baseball Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC baseball programs.  For more information on ODAC baseball, 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 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 24-14-1/12-8 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/0-2, eliminated on day two Head Coach: Curt Kendall Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Ryan Leake (SP), Steven Woerner (SP) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .324 -- Kenner Berry   Hits: 45 -- Kenner Berry   Runs: 27 -- Kenner Berry   2B: 9 -- Cavin Clyde   HR: 1 -- Austin Batten/Kenner Berry/Brendan Howell/Brandon Poole   RBI: 27 (9) -- Kenner Berry   SB: 7 (7) -- Austin Batten   Wins: 5 (6) -- Ryan Leake   Saves: 3 (5) -- Justin Petock   ERA: 2.02 (4) -- Ryan Leake   IP: 58.0 (6) -- Ryan Leake   K: 46 (6) -- Ryan Leake		2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-10/13-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/2-2, eliminated on day three Head Coach: Ray Hedrick Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: James Walsh (SP), Rick Spiers (ROY-UT)   Second Team: Mitchell Keeler (C), Stuart Brown (3B)   Third Team: Nick Maiolo (DH) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .389 (4) -- Mitchell Keeler   Hits: 42 -- Mitchell Keeler/Nick Maiolo   Runs: 28 -- Mitchell Keeler   2B: 9 -- Stuart Brown   HR: 5 (3) -- Nick Maiolo   RBI: 31 (4) -- Nick Maiolo   SB: 6 (10) -- Blake Saathoff   Wins: 7 (1) -- Rick Spiers/James Walsh   Saves: 1 -- Christian Cok/Nic Phelps   ERA: 1.52 (1) -- Rick Spiers   IP: 75.0 (1) -- James Walsh   K: 85 (1) -- James Walsh
2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-18/10-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/0-2, eliminated on day two Head Coach: Ben Spotts Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Joe Hall (OF)   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .423 (1) -- Joe Hall   Hits: 47 -- Joe Hall   Runs: 26 -- Joe Hall   2B: 7 -- Patrick Love   HR: 1 -- Patrick Love   RBI: 24 -- Kyle Armstrong   SB: 9 (6) -- Joe Hall   Wins: 4 (9) -- Kyle Armstrong   Saves: 2 (8) -- Joe Hall   ERA: 4.36 -- Kyle Armstrong   IP: 47.0 -- Aaron Hooven   K: 31 -- Aaron Hooven		2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-15/11-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/1-2, eliminated on day three Head Coach: Matt McGuire Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Will Black (C)   Second Team: Will Decker (OF)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .376 (7) -- Will Black   Hits: 41 -- Will Black   Runs: 31 (8) -- Will Black   2B: 14 (1) -- Will Black   HR: 2 -- Will Decker   RBI: 25 -- Will Decker   SB: 13 (3) -- Devin Cassity   Wins: 3 -- John Ruhlman   Saves: 1 -- Harrison Richards   ERA: 4.42 -- John Ruhlman   IP: 36.2 -- John Ruhlman   K: 43 (8) -- Johnson Ruhlman
2016 Poll Position: 11th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-27/3-17 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Trey McCall Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .356 -- Brandon Lineberry   Hits: 42 -- Brandon Lineberry   Runs: 26 -- Brandon Lineberry   2B: 11 (8) -- Brandon Lineberry   HR: 9 (1) -- Brandon Lineberry   RBI: 37 (1) -- Brandon Lineberry   SB: 2 -- Ben Barnett/Chase Kirk   Wins: 2 -- Garrett Butler/Aaron Sparks   Saves: 3 (5) -- Chase Kirk   ERA: 5.71 -- Aaron Sparks   IP: 58.1 (5) -- Aaron Sparks   K: 33 -- Aaron Sparks		2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 28-10-1/16-4 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/4-1, ODAC Champion Head Coach: Kevin Anderson Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Michael Scimanico (SP), Darrell Thompson (SP), Ryan Mossman (UT)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .370 (9) -- Ryan Mossman   Hits: 42 -- John Wilt   Runs: 31 (8) -- John Wilt   2B: 11 (8) -- Ryan Mossman   HR: 4 (6) -- John Wilt   RBI: 32 (2) -- John Wilt   SB: 4 -- Joe Coleman/John Wilt   Wins: 7 (1) -- Darrell Thompson   Saves: 4 (2) -- Ryan Mossman   ERA: 2.25 (5) -- Ryan Mossman   IP: 63.2 (3) -- Darrell Thompson   K: 57 (3) -- Darrell Thompson
2016 Poll Position: 10th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 14-22/7-13 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Nick Black Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .316 -- A.J. Girtling   Hits: 37 -- Josh Shepherd   Runs: 24 -- Josh Shepherd   2B: 9 -- Chuck Noble   HR: 2 -- Grayson Tuttle   RBI: 17 -- Chuck Noble   SB: 4 -- Josh Shepherd   Wins: 4 (9) -- Darin Salter   Saves: 2 (8) -- Drew Martin   ERA: 4.41 -- Darin Salter   IP: 49.0 -- Darin Salter   K: 25 -- Chase Shuford		2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 19-14-1/14-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/4-2, lost in 2nd title game Head Coach: Chris Francis Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Sean Greiser (PiOY-SP)   Second Team: Taylor Erby (OF)   Third Team: C.J. Lindsay (C), Matt Murray (3B), Justin Erby (OF) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .362 -- Matt Murray   Hits: 50 (5) -- Matt Murray   Runs: 32 (6) -- Taylor Erby   2B: 12 (3) -- Taylor Erby   HR: 3 (8) -- Taylor Erby   RBI: 26 -- Taylor Erby   SB: 6 (10) -- Justin Erby   Wins: 6 (4) -- Sean Greiser   Saves: 3 (5) -- Riley Koonce   ERA: 2.34 (8) -- Sean Greiser   IP: 50.0 -- Sean Greiser   K: 71 (2) -- Sean Greiser
2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-21-1/8-12 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Jeff Kinne Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .340 -- John Lloyd   Hits: 35 -- John Lloyd   Runs: 20 -- John Lloyd   2B: 12 (3) -- John Lloyd   HR: 3 (8) -- Lee Carneal   RBI: 20 -- Lee Carneal   SB: 4 -- John Lloyd   Wins: 1 -- Matt Hinson/Reggie Johnson/Matthew Metheny/Zach Perkins/Teddy West   Saves: 2 (8) -- Teddy West   ERA: 2.63 (10) -- Reggie Johnson   IP: 54.2 (10) -- Reggie Johnson   K: 45 (7) -- Reggie Johnson		2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-16/6-14 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Lucas Jones Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .296 -- Jonny Swenson   Hits: 26 -- Luke Myer   Runs: 11 -- Ryan Weston   2B: 7 -- Ryan Weston   HR: 1 -- Kyle Ruedisili   RBI: 16 -- Luke Myer   SB: 3 -- Luke Myer   Wins: 4 (9) -- Tom Concklin   Saves: None   ERA: 2.74 -- Tom Concklin   IP: 46.0 -- Tom Concklin   K: 37 -- Tom Concklin
2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-20/10-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Percy Abell Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Joe Tomasulo (2B), Jonathan Munn (DH)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10   AVG: .423 (2) -- Jonathan Munn   Hits: 55 (2) -- Jonathan Munn   Runs: 33 (5) -- Drew Taylor   2B: 11 (8) -- Joe Tomasulo   HR: 2 -- Jonathan Munn   RBI: 31 (4) -- Jonathan Munn   SB: 6 (10) -- Drew Taylor   Wins: 2 -- Zack Engelmann/David Goulding/Gerald Taylor/   Saves: 1 -- Zack Engelmann   ERA: 3.63 -- David Goulding   IP: 52.0 -- David Goulding   K: 21 -- David Goulding