FOREST, Va. --- This an unprecendented time in the world of collegiate athletics, with spring sports and championships canceled due to the landscape surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The stoppage of competition, while affecting all student-athletes, was especially painful for the senior class of 2020 with an abrupt end to their careers. In a new series of features, the ODAC would like to honor this class of athletes and celebrate them for their years of contributions to their respective programs at each of the conference's 15 member schools.
In this installment of our "Saluting the Class of 2020" features, the ODAC showcases the seniors from our baseball programs.
Baseball has long been a strength of the ODAC's sponsored sports, but even that success has seen an uptick thanks in part to this senior class. Since 2017, six ODAC squads have qualified for NCAA tournaments with a long run each year. Shenandoah University, winners of each of the past two ODAC championships and three since 2015, qualified for all three NCAA fields and posted a 10-7 record. That included a 5-2 showing in 2017 where the Hornets came up one win short of the Division III championship series and a 4-3 mark in 2019 where SU bowed out in the super regionals.
Roanoke College joined SU in the 2017 tournament and turned its first ODAC title as the sixth seed into a true Cinderella story by advancing all the way to the national championship series. The Maroons won six games in that postseason run, including one amongst the final eight teams in the country.
Randolph-Macon College came ever so close to the final best-of-three series for the Division III trophy in 2018. Entering as an at-large choice, the Yellow Jackets swept thru four regional games to make the championship series in Appleton, Wis. R-MC dropped game one to Misericordia, but won its next three contests to setup a scenario with Texas-Tyler where the winner of their final game would move on to play for the NCAA's walnut and bronze prize. Despite its strong run, R-MC came up short in that contest.
RELATED: ODAC Tournament History | ODAC Baseball NCAA History
When it comes to ODAC and NCAA records, Shenandoah's Gerard DePhillips stands out. He set a new conference record for saves in a season in 2019 with 13. That tied for the most in Division III with Bobby Tramondozzi from UMass-Boston and ties with 15 other players for the 20th-most in any single-season in D-III. DePhillips' total was a key part of SU racking up 20 team saves, which is tied for second-most in D-III single-season history.
Shenandoah's 2017 squad set an ODAC record with 41 victories. That team is the only unit in ODAC history to eclipse the 40-victory mark. The next closest was 38 wins for Randolph-Macon in 2018.
RELATED: ODAC Baseball Record Book | NCAA Baseball Record Book
Statistically, several ODAC seniors were having strong starts to their seasons. Below are those that ranked inside the ODAC's top-five at the close of the season.
Batting Leaders
- BC's Luke Paczewski was 3rd in doubles (7)
- BC's Jacob Talley was T-4th in doubles (6) and RBI (17)
- E&H's Chandler Kezele was 2nd in doubles (9), 4th in SLG (.630), and T-4th in RBI (17)
- FC's Kyle Anstice was 1st in walks (18)
- FC's Tim Ortega was T-2nd in hits (24), 3rd in RBI (18) and SLG (.684), T-3rd in homers (3) and walks (13), and T-4th in doubles (6)
- FC's Grey Sherfey was T-1st in triples (4)
- H-SC's Andrew Kasiski was 1st in hits (28) and batting avg. (.491), 4th in OBP (.547), and T-4th in doubles (6)
- R-MC's Ryan Duphorn was 1st in runs (25) and T-3rd in triples (2), walks (13), and stolen bases (11)
- R-MC's Cole Grinde was 2nd in walks (14)
- R-MC's Mike Nickles was 1st in doubles (12) and 5th in SLG (.600)
- R-MC's Shawn Nickles was 1st in RBI (25)
- R-MC's Reece Yeargain was 3rd in runs (21)
- SU's Grant Thompson was 2nd in batting avg. (.479) and 5th in hits (23) and OBP (.537)
- SU's Keegan Woolford was 1st in homers (5), OBP (.600), and SLG (.927), 2nd in runs (22) and RBI (20), and 3rd in batting avg. (.463)
- VWU's Zack Clark was 4th in stolen bases (8)
- VWU's Austin Obenour was T-3rd in homers (3)
- W&L's Ryan Monson was T-5th in stolen bases (7)
Pitching Leaders
- BC's Tucker Garrison was T-3rd in wins (3)
- EMU's John Judy was 3rd in strikeouts (34), T-3rd in wins (3), 4th in K/9 (11.77), and 5th in ERA (1.73)
- EMU's Spencer Laitinen was T-4th in saves (2)
- FC's Drew Calohan was 1st in innings pitched (32.1) and T-1st in wins (4) and complete games (1)
- FC's Cory Peel was T-4th in saves (2)
- H-SC's Chase Mayberry was T-1st in complete games (1), 2nd in strikeouts (38) and ERA (1.20), 3rd in innings pitched (30.0), T-3rd in wins (3), and 5th in K/9 (11.40)
- H-SC's Bradford Webb was T-1st in saves (3)
- LYN's Kinston Carson was T-3rd in wins (3)
- R-MC's Hayden Moore was T-4th in saves (2)
- R-MC's Matt Nickles was 1st in strikeouts (54) and K/9 (16.76), T-3rd in wins (3), and 4th in innings pitched (29.0)
- R-MC's Michael Zubovich was T-1st in wins (4) and 2nd in innings pitched (31.0)
- VWU's Andrew Lowe was T-4th in saves (2)
- VWU's Jacob Pilarski was 2nd in K/9 (13.71) and 4th in strikeouts (33)
- W&L's Tom Kellogg was 1st in ERA (0.86) and 3rd in K/9 (12.00)
- W&L's Carson McKoon was T-1st in complete games (1) and 4th in ERA (1.35)
RELATED: ODAC Statistical Leaders -- Batting | Pitching
The class of 2020 accounts for 27 All-ODAC honors over the past three seasons. Hampden-Sydney College leads the way with six all-league seniors. Pitcher Jonathan Triesler was second team in 2017 and third team in 2018. Second baseman Chase Counts and DH Matt Spagnolo were first teamers in 2019, while outfielder Jacob Bartlett and starter Chase Mayberry earned second and third team assignments in the same set of awards, respectively. Catcher Andrew Kasiski was a third team pick in 2018.
Five from Randolph-Macon have All-ODAC pedigree. Third baseman Mike Nickles was the ODAC Player of the Year last season while brother and outfielder Shawn Nickles as well as starter Michael Zubovich joined him on the first team. Centerfielder Ryan Duphorn and catcher Reece Yeargain were first team picks in 2018.
Ferrum College and Shenandoah each sport a trio of all-conference seniors. Catcher Tim Ortega highlighted the Panthers first season in the ODAC with a first team assignment. Third baseman Kyle Anstice and starter Drew Calohan earned second team nods. Hornets DH/outfielder Keegan Woolford, who ranks ninth all-time in the ODAC with 29 career homers, was a first team choice in 2018 and a third team honoree last year. DePhillips earned third team recognition as a starter in 2017 and second team honors as a closer in 2019. Outfielder Grant Thompson was first team selection in 2018.
The University of Lynchburg features of pair of All-ODAC seniors. Starter Hunter Campbell and lefty/outfielder Kinston Carson garnered second and third team laurels in 2019, respectively.
The remaining three All-ODAC stars are from Bridgewater College, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Washington and Lee University. Eagles shortstop Jacob Talley was a third team choice in 2017 and a first team selection in 2019, while Marlins starter and DH Jacob Pilarski earned first team distinction in 2018 and 2019. Generals outfielder Ryan Monson was a third team pick last season.
RELATED: All-ODAC Awards -- 2017 | 2018 | 2019
Several ODAC seniors earned honors from both D3baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) during their careers. Pilarski and Woolford garnered All-American nods from D3baseball.com in 2018. Both were first team picks in that outlet's All-South Region awards that season. Yeargain, Duphorn, and Thompson were third team selections. In 2019, Pilarski was joined by Mike Nickles, Spagnolo, and Zubovich on the second team with Carson and Woolford earning third team distinction.
From the ABCA, Woolford was a first team All-South Region pick in 2018 and 2019 with Pilarski joining him on the first team in 2018. Yeargain and Thompson were second team choices, while Duphorn was a third team honoree that season. In 2019, Mike Nickles, Ortega, and Zubovich earned second team assignments. Carson, Counts, and Pilarski were named to the third team.
RELATED: ABCA Awards Platform | D3baseball.com
Showcased below are videos introducing you to each of the baseball players from the class of 2020. Click on one of the links below a video to be sent to that player's bio to learn more about them. Be sure to check out the senior features published by ODAC member athletic departments throughout the spring.
For more 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 following @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.