Baseball

2020 ODAC Spring Wrap-Up | Baseball

2020 ODAC Spring Wrap-Up | Baseball
Posted: May 08, 2020

FOREST, Va. --- Spring sports have been extraordinarily successful for the ODAC and its member schools in recent seasons, lending to a lot of excitement as the weather turns warmer in the final third of the academic year. That was true of the 2020 campaign as well before competition was halted due to the climate surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, some of the ODAC's best teams and student-athletes did take to their respective arenas and gave us a glimpse of what could have been an outstanding season.

In this installment of a series of season wrap-up features designed at recognizing some of those early achievements in the conference's spring sports, we take a look at the ODAC's baseball programs.

In addition to the sections below showcasing a conference-wide view of the sport, wrap-ups and features from our member schools will be included to provide a more in-depth perspective for each program. The school features are posted at the bottom of this release and will be included as they become available.

STARTING OFF THE SEASON STRONG

Nearly all ODAC teams got off to good starts in 2020 with eight of the 12 squads above .500 and two of those just short of the mark only off by one game. Nobody, however, jumped out of the gates faster than Randolph-Macon College as the Yellow Jackets won their first four games and then finished on an 11-game streak towards the program's best-ever start at 15-1. Two-time defending ODAC champion Shenandoah University wasn't far behind as the Hornets boasted a 10-2 record powered by a 7-0 start to the season.

Hampden-Sydney College owned the second-most victories in the league at 12-4. After starting 3-3, the Tigers rattled off eight straight wins.

Bridgewater College (11-4), Eastern Mennonite University (11-8), Ferrum College (11-5), and the University of Lynchburg (11-4) each won 11 times before play was halted. The Eagles' slate featured a seven-game run, while the Royals -- who played the most games in the league at 19 -- enjoyed a six-game victory stretch during their schedule. The Panthers' start was a bit more up-and-down but did include a four-game winning trend. The Hornets enjoyed runs of three and six games in their 15-contest slate.

Washington and Lee University posted a 10-4 mark thanks in part to victories in the Generals' first six outings. Both Guilford College and Roanoke College came up one-game short of the .500 mark at 7-8. 

EARNING PUB FROM THE NATIONAL PUNDITS

Randolph-Macon and Shenandoah both featured in two national polls throughout the campaign. Randolph-Macon finished the season ranked #1 by Perfect Game and #2 in the top-25 poll published by D3baseball.com and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Shenandoah was slotted 12th in both final polls.

Neither team featured in the preseason survey by D3baseball.com/NCBWA, but both were in by the first week of play at #17 for R-MC and #22 for SU. They climbed to seventh and 18th, respectively, in week two. The Yellow Jackets jumped to second in week three and held that spot thru the two remaining polls. The Hornets were rated 11th in week three, dropped a couple spots to 13th in week four, and finished up 12th in the final chart.

In the Perfect Game preseason poll, Shenandoah was ranked 17th with Randolph-Macon coming in 20th. There was no change for SU until week four when they climbed to 12th and stayed in that position in the final survey. R-MC, however, stayed at 20 in week one and dropped a spot in week two, but then surged to #9 in week three and then to nation's top ranking in the final two editions.

REALLY TOUGH SCHEDULES

ODAC baseball has enjoyed a lot of success at the national level in recent seasons with Randolph-Macon making a deep run in 2016 and coming up one win shy of playing for the NCAA trophy in 2018. Roanoke made the national championship series in 2018, the same season Shenandoah nearly joined them in Appleton, Wis. The Hornets almost earned a trip to the finals again last season.

The success experienced by those squads has helped open the door for a wider range of competition for the entire league. Outside of Randolph-Macon and Shenandoah, which were ranked by both Perfect Game and D3baseball.com/NCBWA (see above), ODAC teams squared off with several nationally ranked opponents.

Eight of the league's teams were slated to meet Christopher Newport University, which enjoyed an early season national ranking by D3baseball.com/NCBWA. Randolph-Macon was one of those squads (W, 7-6) as the Yellow Jackets scheduled a league-best six nationally-ranked opponents. Their slate included Cortland State (W, 8-4; L, 9-12), Rhodes College (W, 6-3), and The College of New Jersey (W, 8-4; W, 12-6). They did not get a chance to square off with Salisbury University and Tufts University.

Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan each featured four non-league nationally-rated opponents. Both had CNU on their calendars (RC - W, 5-4; VWU - DNP), while the Maroons took on Cortland (W, 9-0), Johns Hopkins University (L, 3-4), and Marietta College (L, 5-6). The Marlins met Emory University (L, 0-8) and Salisbury (W, 6-1), but their contest against Birmingham-Southern College was cancelled due to weather.

ODAC/VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU SCHOLAR-ATHLETE

Washington and Lee outfielder Ryan Monson shines both on and off the field. In the classroom, he maintains a 3.916 grade point average as a economics and geology double-major. Soon to be a four-time Academic All-ODAC honoree, Monson is a W&L Scholar-Athlete and was named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2019. He was inducted in the Phi Eta Sigma honor society, the country's oldest and largest honor society for first-year students in all disciplines. The senior Frisco, Texas native spent the summer of 2019 as one of W&L's summer research scholars. He enjoyed six weeks working with Dave Harbor on his plucking (form of river erosion) research project, as well as time at the University of Arizona LaserChron Lab with Jeff Rahl dating zircon samples from the late Paleozoic era. He also traveled to Kangaroo Island, Australia and worked as an intern at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (HBWS).

On the field, Monson earned Third Team All-ODAC recognition in 2019 after setting single-season career-highs in batting average (.367), hits (51), and slugging percentage (.482). He hit .308 thru W&L's 14 games this season. Monson will graduate seventh in program history in career at-bats (482) and walks (64). He totaled 143 hits, 84 runs, and 82 RBI in four seasons, and also added a .387 on-base percentage. Monson was also sure-handed in the outfield as he made just two errors towards a .993 fielding percentage with nine outfield assists.

DEVELOPING STORYLINES AND PLAYERS WE WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED

  • Shenandoah Asks "How rare is a 3-peat in ODAC Baseball?" | Shenandoah baseball has arguably been the school's most successful program since SU joined the ODAC for the 2012-13 campaign. The Hornets hoisted their first ODAC trophy in 2015 and then again in 2018 and 2019. This squad was at 10-2 at the close of the 2020 season and trending towards a run at a third straight ODAC title. How rare is a three-peat in ODAC baseball? It has only been done twice before. Lynchburg won five straight years from 1980-84 and Bridgewater claimed titles from 1994-96. 
  • Balance Guides Randolph-Macon | Which area of the field do you want to focus? Randolph-Macon's program-best 15-1 start, which features a running 11-game winning streak, is bolstered by experienced talent up and down the lineup and throughout its pitching ranks. The Yellow Jackets led the ODAC in runs (144), RBI (126), doubles (40), and extra-base hits (52). They added to that with the league's second-best ERA (3.23) and leader in strikeouts (174) and strikeout rate (10.8 K/9). They also committed the fewest errors (10) in the ODAC with the league's best fielding percentage (.983). R-MC's lone loss was the second-game of a split against one-time nationally ranked Cortland. They defeated the other three nationally ranked opponents on their early slate and didn't get a shot at the remaining two.
  • Nickles Trio | Among the many talented players on Randolph-Macon's roster is a set of brothers contributing to all areas of the Yellow Jackets success. Seniors Matt Nickles, Mike Nickles, and Shawn Nickles have put their stamp on R-MC's teams during their careers. Mike, a third baseman, was the 2019 ODAC Player of the Year and was leading the ODAC in doubles (12) and total bases (39) as play closed. Shawn, an outfielder, was #1 in the ODAC in RBI (25). Matt, righty starter, was 3-0 in six starts with a 2.79 ERA to go along with an ODAC-best 54 strikeouts and 16.76 K/9 in 29.0 innings of work. Matt and Mike are twins while Shawn is a year older, having tranferred to R-MC after spending a year at Coastal Carolina.
  • Hot at the Dish | Several players were off to strong starts offensively. To highlight a few -- SU's Keegan Woolford was #1 in the ODAC in homers (5), OBP (.600), and SLG (.927), second in RBI (20) and runs (22), and third in total bases (38) and batting (.463). Ferrum's Tim Ortega was atop the ODAC in total bases (39), second in hits (24), and third in homers (3), RBI (18), walks (13), and SLG (.684). Hampden-Sydney's Andrew Kasiski led the ODAC in hits (28) and batting (.491) and tied for third with SU's Henry Delavergne in OBP (.547). SU's Grant Thompson was second in batting (.479). Guilford's Isaiah Hairston was second in OBP (.551) and SLG (.865) and third in homers (3). Emory & Henry's Chandler Kezele was second in doubles (9) and tied with Bridgewater's Jacob Talley for fourth in RBI (17). W&L's Joe Gazin led the ODAC in steals (16). EMU's Jordan Jones was second in steals (12) and third in walks (13). R-MC's Ryan Duphorn was first in runs (25) and third in walks (13) and steals (11). Bridgewater's Jarret Biesecker was second in hits (24) with Hampden-Sydney's Nick Grohowski. 
  • Crafty on the Hill | Several players were off to strong starts on the hill. To highlight a few -- W&L's Tom Kellogg led the ODAC in ERA (0.86). H-SC's Chase Mayberry was second in strikeouts (38) and ERA (1.20) and third in IP (30.0) and wins (3). Lynchburg's Brandon Pond was third in ERA (1.29). EMU's John Judy was third in wins (3) and strikeouts (34) and fifth in ERA (1.73). Ferrum's Drew Calohan led the ODAC in wins (4) and IP (32.1). R-MC's Michael Zubovich was first in wins (4), second in IP (31.0), and fifth in strikeouts (32). Bridgewater's Tucker Garrison was third in wins (3). VWU's Jacob Pilarski was second in K/9 (13.71) and fourth in strikeouts (33). Bridgewater's Brett Tharp, H-SC's Bradford Webb, and Lynchburg's Grayson Thurman all tied for third in saves (3). Ferrum's Will Davis, H-SC's Trenton Tiller, and Lynchburg's Kinston Carson also tied for third in wins (3).

RANK 'EM

The following list of players were ranked inside NCAA Division III's top-50 in a major statistical category.

  • Jarret Biesecker, BC | 19th in runs (20); 37th in hits (24)
  • JT Creed, BC | 47th in walks (12)
  • Tucker Garrison, BC | 16th in wins (3)
  • Kevin Navedo, BC | 22nd in walks (13)
  • Luke Zaczewski, BC | 26th in doubles (7)
  • Jacob Talley, BC | 29th in runs (19); 45th in RBI (17)
  • Brett Tharp, BC | 6th in saves (3)
  • Robert Guenther, EMU | 22nd in walks (13)
  • Jordan Jones, EMU | 11th in steals (12); 22nd in walks (13)
  • John Judy, EMU | 16th in wins (3); 23rd in strikeouts (34)
  • Spencer Laitinen, EMU | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Chandler Kezele, E&H | 7th in doubles (9); 45th in RBI (17)
  • Kyle Anstice, FC | 1st in walks (18)
  • Drew Calohan, FC | 2nd in wins (4)
  • Will Davis, FC | 16th in wins (3); 31st in strikeouts (32)
  • Josh Greenway, FC | 46th in homers (3)
  • Sam McLaughlin, FC | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Tim Ortega, FC | 22nd in walks (13), 28th in RBI (18); 34th in total bases (39); 37th in hits (24), 46th in homers (3)
  • Cory Peel, FC | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Grey Sherfey, FC | 5th in triples (4)
  • Isaac Yeaman, FC | 17th in homers (4)
  • Isaiah Hairston, GC | 46th in homers (3)
  • Nick Grohowski, H-SC | 37th in hits (24)
  • Andrew Kasiski, H-SC | 8th in hits (28)
  • Chase Mayberry, H-SC | 15th in strikeouts (38); 16th in wins (3)
  • Trenton Tiller, H-SC | 16th in wins (3)
  • Bradford Webb, H-SC | 6th in saves (3)
  • Kinston Carson, LYN | 16th in wins (3)
  • Santiago Meneses, LYN | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Grayson Thurman, LYN | 6th in saves (3)
  • Ryan Duphorn, R-MC | 2nd in runs (25); 16th in steals (11); 22nd in walks (13)
  • Cole Grinde, R-MC | 10th in walks (14)
  • Hayden Moore, R-MC | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Matt Nickles, R-MC | 2nd in strikeouts (54); 14th in K/9 (16.76); 16th in wins (3)
  • Mike Nickles, R-MC | 2nd in doubles (12); 29th in runs (19); 34th in total bases (39)
  • Shawn Nickles, R-MC | 3rd in RBI (25)
  • Reece Yeargain, R-MC | 12th in runs (21)
  • Michael Zubovich, R-MC | 2nd in wins (4); 31st in strikeouts (32)
  • Kevin Ledford, RC | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Henry Delavergne, SU | 19th in runs (20)
  • Carson Kulina, SU | 41st in hits allowed/9 (3.78)
  • Frankie Ritter, SU | 5th in triples (4)
  • Granton Thompson, SU | 50th in hits (23)
  • Keegan Woolford, SU | 4th in homers (5); 8th in runs (22); 13th in RBI (20); 37th in SLG (.927); 41st in total bases (38); 47th in OBP (.600)
  • Andrew Lowe, VWU | 32nd in saves (2)
  • Austin Obenour, VWU | 46th in homers (3), 47th in walks (12)
  • Jacob Pilarski, VWU | 27th in strikeouts (33)
  • Jackson Gazin, W&L | 3rd in steals (16)

THE ODAC HAS SOME REALLY GOOD COACHES

Good coaching is a staple up and down the ODAC's ranks of sponsored sports. From promising newcomers to those with established cultures and even a few with hall of fame credentials, there are no shortage of quality mentors for the league's student-athletes.

Six active conference coaches have earned ODAC Coach of the Year laurels. Hampden-Sydney's Jeff Kinne and Randolph-Macon's Ray Hedrick lead that list with three honors each. Kinne claimed his awards in 2005, 2007, and 2010, while Hedrick earned his peers' acclaim in 2008, 2018, and 2019. Shenandoah's Kevin Anderson has won twice in 2014 and 2017. Bridgewater mentor Ben Spotts won in 2015 while guiding the Eastern Mennonite program. Emory & Henry's Trey McCall was recognized in 2012. Lynchburg's Lucas Jones earned his honor in 2016 while leading Washington and Lee.

Active ODAC coaches have won a lot of games, combining for a 2,508-2,264-15 record for a .525 winning percentage. Anderson has won the most games, crossing 500 wins at Shenandoah this past year and owning 653 victories for his career. He also boasts the league's best winning percentage at .683.

Hedrick and Kinne have won over 300 games apiece. Hedrick has won at a .611 clip on the way to 376 victories, while Kinne's 343 wins have come at a .533 winning percentage. Guilford's Nick Black is next on the list to crack 300 victories. He has won 257 times in 15 seasons guiding the Quakers.

Below is a snapshot of the ODAC's active head coaches and their career records thru this season.

  • Ben Spotts, BC | 128-153-1 (.456) in 8 overall seasons | 11-4-0 (.733) in 1 season at Bridgewater
  • Adam Posey, EMU | 11-8 (.579) in 1 season
  • Trey McCall, E&H | 135-413 (.246) in 16 seasons
  • Ryan Brittle, FC | 144-109 (.569) in 7 seasons
  • Nick Black, GC | 257-302-2 (.460) in 15 seasons
  • Jeff Kinne, H-SC | 343-300-6 (.533) in 17 seasons
  • Lucas Jones, LYN | 100-78 (.562) in 5 overall seasons | 46-50 (.479) in 3 seasons at Lynchburg
  • Ray Hedrick, R-MC | 376-238-6 (.611) in 16 seasons
  • Matt McGuire, RC | 168-127 (.569) in 8 seasons
  • Kevin Anderson, SU | 653-303-2 (.683) in 21 overall seasons | 506-216-1 (.701) in 17 seasons at SU
  • Chris Francis, VWU | 155-186-1 (.455) in 9 overall seasons | 116-91-1 (.560) in 6 seasons at Virginia Wesleyan
  • Ted White, W&L | 38-47 (.447) in 3 seasons

Click one of the graphics below to be taken to that school's season wrap-up feature. These features will be added as our members complete them.

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.