Randolph-Macon Headlines ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll

Randolph-Macon Headlines ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll

Top Four Teams Separated by only 12 Points

FOREST, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College, the reigning conference champion, sits atop the annual ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll conducted by the league's head coaches. The Yellow Jackets collected five first place votes on the way to 91 total points, just two ticks clear of Shenandoah University in second. The Hornets secured three top nods. Washington and Lee University rounds out the top three with 80 points, having picked up the remaining three first place votes to push it ahead of Virginia Wesleyan College by just one tally.

Weather forced a move of the 2016 ODAC Tournament for two days of competition. Liberty University provided the host venue for the first and final days, while the ODAC's traditional home, City Stadium, welcomed conference teams for games on the second and third days. Randolph-Macon sliced thru the six-team field undefeated, topping Hampden-Sydney College, 6-5, for its sixth league championship and third in the past six years.

Randolph-Macon and Shenandoah both made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, coming up just short of advancing to the final series in Appleton, Wisc. SU's run was affected by weather, but didn't keep the Hornets from defeating national power Marietta College, 3-2, and Birmingham Southern College, 6-2, it their first two games in regional play at Berry College. After losing a day to rain, Shenandoah fell to Emory University, 14-7, before keeping its championship series hopes alive with a 10-8 triumph over BSC. Emory, with one game in hand, eliminated SU the following day via a 15-2 result.

The Yellow Jackets opened its regional slate in Washington, Pa., with an 8-0 thumping of St. Joseph's (L.I.) and a 2-1 nail-biting win over the College of Wooster. R-MC put itself in the driver's seat with a 19-6 triumph over La Roche College. The Redhawks, much like Shenandoah, came back to face R-MC for the regional title. La Roche picked up the two wins it needed, defeating Randolph-Macon 7-2 and 4-3 on consecutive days.

When it comes to the national outlook entering 2017, ODAC teams and players dot preseason lists published by D3baseball.com. Randolph-Macon is slotted 10th in the outlet's preseason top-25 poll, with Shenandoah chiming in 16th and Washington and Lee receiving votes towards the table. SU designated hitter Jake Loew was tabbed a Second Team Preseason All-American, while Bridgewater College outfielder Kenner Berry earned a spot on the Honorable Mention Preseason All-American squad.

There will certainly be no shortage of talent on diamonds across the conference with 21-of-41 All-ODAC honorees returning to league rosters. Six of those players secured All-ODAC First Team honors. Virginia Wesleyan heads that list with catcher C.J. Lindsay and shortstop Brandon Kussmaul back in Virginia Beach. The Marlins have a league-best five All-ODAC athletes back in the dugout. Bridgewater will look for another stat-stuffing season from Berry, while Randolph-Macon features Rick Spiers, who stars both with the bat and on the hill for the Yellow Jackets. Shenandoah welcomes back hot-hitting outfielder Abel Arocho, while Washington and Lee brings back 2016 earned run average champ Tom Concklin to anchor its rotation.

The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on the weekend of Friday, February 3, with just a couple teams in action.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Friday and Saturday, March 4-5.   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 2017 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 and odacathletics on Instagram.

2017 ODAC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes
1. Randolph-Macon College (5) 91 pts.
2. Shenandoah University (3) 89 pts.
3. Washington and Lee University (3) 80 pts.
4. Virginia Wesleyan College 79 pts.
5. Bridgewater College 59 pts.
6. Roanoke College 57 pts.
7. Hampden-Sydney College 55 pts.
8. Eastern Mennonite University 31 pts.
9. Guilford College 30 pts.
10. Emory & Henry College 18 pts.
11. Lynchburg College 16 pts.

* Pitching minimum for ERA is 0.5 IP per team game

2017 Poll Position: 5th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 22-19/11-9
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/1-2, eliminated on day three
Head Coach: Curt Kendall
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 Kenner Berry
  Second Team: None
  Third Team: None
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .414 (3) -- Kenner Berry
  Hits: 65 (T2) -- Kenner Berry
  Runs: 35 (T8) -- Kenner Berry
  2B: 13 (T5) -- Kenner Berry
  HR: 7 (4) -- Kenner Berry
  RBI: 45 (4) -- Kenner Berry
  SB: 5 -- Kenner Berry/Garrison Wright
  Wins: 2 -- Chad Lenz
  Saves: 0
  ERA: 4.50 -- Samuel Imeson
  IP: 31.1 -- Ian Mayes
  K: 33 -- Tristan Daywalt

  2017 Poll Position: 1st
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 35-8-1/14-6
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/4-0, ODAC Champion
Head Coach: Ray Hedrick
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 Rick Spiers (UT)
  Second Team: None
  Third Team: None
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .421 (2) -- Rick Spiers
  Hits: 59 (7) -- Rick Spiers
  Runs: 38 (6) -- Rick Spiers
  2B: 10 -- Jeffrey Butler
  HR: 3 (T10) -- Cole Migliorini/Rick Spiers
  RBI: 23 -- Jeffrey Butler/Cole Migliorini
  SB: 16 (T3) -- Rick Spiers
  Wins: 7 (5) -- Christian Cok
  Saves: 7 (T3) -- Christian Cok
  ERA: 2.47 (5) -- Nic Phelps
  IP: 72.0 (7) -- Rick Spiers
  K: 64 (T6) -- Rick Spiers
     
2017 Poll Position: 8th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-21/8-12
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Ben Spotts
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 None
  Second Team: None
  Third Team: Kyle Salladay (C), Griffin Stanley (OF)
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .351 -- Griffin Stanley
  Hits: 48 -- Ryan Hedrick
  Runs: 35 -- Griffin Stanley
  2B: 8 -- Ryan Hedrick
  HR: 1 -- Adam Marston/Kyle Mathews/David Meehan/Zach Roberts
  RBI: 30 -- Ryan Hedrick
  SB: 10 (9) -- Griffin Stanley
  Wins: 3 -- Ryan Brewer
  Saves: 5 (T5) -- Joe Hall
  ERA: 4.81 -- Ryan Brewer
  IP: 48.2 -- Ryan Brewer
  K: 25 -- Ryan Brewer
  2017 Poll Position: 6th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 23-17/10-10
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Matt McGuire
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 None
  Second Team: None
  Third Team: John Ruhlman (SP)
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .336 -- Sean Guida
  Hits: 49 -- Sean Guida
  Runs: 32 -- Sean Guida
  2B: 17 (2) -- Will Decker
  HR: 2 -- Dan Brodeur/Will Decker/Craig Kiley
  RBI: 31 -- Craig Kiley
  SB: 16 (T3) -- Sean Guida
  Wins: 4 -- Kenny Mackovic
  Saves: 5 (T5) -- Eli Sumpter
  ERA: 3.38 -- Kenny Mackovic
  IP: 65.1 -- John Ruhlman
  K: 51 -- John Ruhlman
     
2017 Poll Position: 10th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-30/4-16
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Trey McCall
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 None
  Second Team: Carson Bryan (1B)
  Third Team: Holden Watkins (SS)
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .333 -- Holden Watkins
  Hits: 47 -- Carson Bryant
  Runs: 24 -- Holden Watkins
  2B: 9 -- Carson Bryant
  HR: 2 -- Holden Watkins
  RBI: 18 -- Carson Bryant
  SB: 5 -- Holden Watkins
  Wins: 5 (T8) -- Gavin Felty
  Saves: 2 -- Logan Forster
  ERA: 3.29 -- Gavin Felty
  IP: 68.0 -- Garrett Butler
  K: 39 -- Garrett Butler
  2017 Poll Position: 2nd
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 35-12/15-5
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/2-2, eliminated on day three
Head Coach: Kevin Anderson
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 Abel Arocho (OF)
  Second Team: Colin Morse (SP), Jake Loew (DH)
  Third Team: Tristan Baker (2B)
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .393 (4) -- Abel Arocho
  Hits: 72 (1) -- Abel Arocho
  Runs: 59 (T1) -- Tristan Baker
  2B: 15 (3) -- Jake Loew
  HR: 6 (5) -- Jake Loew
  RBI: 55 (1) -- Jake Loew
  SB: 7 -- Jake Loew
  Wins: 5 (T8) -- Colin Morse
  Saves: 0
  ERA: 2.80 (8) -- Colin Morse
  IP: 64.1 -- Colin Morse
  K: 55 (10) -- Colin Morse
     

2017 Poll Position: 9th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-23/6-14
2016 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: .351 -- Rocco Wilcox
 Hits: 45 -- Josh Shepherd
 Runs: 30 -- Josh Shepherd
 2B: 9 -- Joe Metts
 HR: 2 -- Andrew Brann/Logan Jones/Joe Metts
 RBI: 28 -- Josh Shepherd
 SB: 9 (T10) -- Josh Shepherd
 Wins: 4 -- John Todd
 Saves: 3 (T10) -- John Todd
 ERA: 2.66 (6) -- John Todd
 IP: 59.1 -- Darin Salter
 K: 46 -- John Todd

  2017 Poll Position: 4th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 18-15/12-8
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/0-2, eliminated on day two
Head Coach: Chris Francis
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 C.J. Lindsay (C), Brandon Kussmaul (SS)
  Second Team: Justin Erby (OF)
  Third Team: Randy Neisz (OF), Taylor Erby (DH)
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .384 (5) -- Brandon Kussmaul
  Hits: 48 -- Justin Erby/Brandon Kussmaul
  Runs: 33 -- Justin Erby
  2B: 11 -- Taylor Erby
  HR: 5 (6) -- Randy Neisz
  RBI: 31 -- Taylor Erby
  SB: 17 (2) -- Deon Hammond
  Wins: 4 -- Nick Ott
  Saves: 3 (T10) -- Riley Koonce
  ERA: 2.95 -- Riley Koonce
  IP: 41.0 -- Austin Gammon
  K: 26 -- Austin Gammon
     
2017 Poll Position: 7th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 28-15/12-8
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/2-2, runner-up
Head Coach: Jeff Kinne
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 None
  Second Team: Brian Goodwyn (OF-ROY)
  Third Team: None
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .359 -- Brian Goodwyn
  Hits: 61 (6) -- Brian Goodwyn
  Runs: 33 -- Brian Goodwyn
  2B: 10 -- Brian Goodwyn
  HR: 1 -- Tyler Blevins/Moe Gothe/Ryan Peevey/Dustin Wiles
  RBI: 22 -- Tyler Blevins
  SB: 25 (1) -- Brian Goodwyn
  Wins: 3 -- Jimmy Butler
  Saves: 7 (T3) -- Zach Perkins
  ERA: 2.34 -- Zach Perkins
  IP: 34.2 -- Zach Perkins
  K: 42 -- Zach Perkins
  2017 Poll Position: 3rd
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 26-14/13-7
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/1-2, eliminated on day three
Head Coach: Lucas Jones
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 Tom Concklin (SP)
  Second Team: Danny Devereux (RP), Ryan Weston (3B)
  Third Team: Cory Paton (C)
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .350 -- Ryan Weston
  Hits: 47 -- Kyle Reudisili
  Runs: 22 -- Chadwick Feeley
  2B: 9 -- Ryan Ruedisili/Ryan Weston
  HR: 3 (T10) -- Ryan Weston
  RBI: 21 -- Ryan Weston
  SB: 6 -- Austin Crane
  Wins: 8 (T3) -- Tom Concklin
  Saves: 8 (T1) -- Danny Devereux
  ERA: 1.03 (1) -- Tom Concklin
  IP: 78.1 (5) -- Tom Concklin
  K: 60 (8) -- Tom Concklin
     
2017 Poll Position: 11th
2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-28/5-15
2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Percy Abell
Returning All-ODAC Players
  First Team:
 None
  Second Team: None
  Third Team: None
Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) ODAC Top-10
  AVG: .312 -- Matt Ward
  Hits: 43 -- Matt Ward
  Runs: 16 -- Matt Ward
  2B: 10 -- Matt Ward
  HR: 1 -- Nathan Sharp/Matt Ward
  RBI: 18 -- Nathan Sharp
  SB: 2 -- Thomas Powell/Luke Rodgers/Nathan Sharp
  Wins: 5 (T8) -- David Goulding
  Saves: 1 -- Zack Engelmann
  ERA: 3.42 -- David Goulding
  IP: 94.2 (2) -- David Goulding
  K: 64 (T6) -- David Goulding