Lynchburg, Randolph-Macon, Roanoke tied for Second

FOREST, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan College received 10 first place votes on the way to 100 total points to headline the 2014 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll.  Three teams tied for second behind the Marlins, all receiving 79 tallies from the league's head coaches.  Lynchburg College secured the remaining first place vote and sits level with Randolph-Macon College and Roanoke College in the annual survey.

The 2013 ODAC Tournament not only needed extra innings, but an extra day as weather stretched the event to four days in Salem.  Virginia Wesleyan and Shenandoah University clashed in the longest game in ODAC history to decide who would wear the crown.  The contest lasted 19 innings, snapping the league-mark by four frames and falling just two innings short of the NCAA Division III record.  The Marlins proved victorious, pushing across two-runs on a homer by Lindsey Inzana for an 8-6 win over SU.

VWC was joined in the NCAA Division III Tournament by Lynchburg and Roanoke, marking the first time three ODAC schools earned bids to one NCAA softball tournament.  Lynchburg dropped its first two contests in the double-elimination format, falling to Piedmont College (4-1) and Neumann College (6-5, 9 inn.).  Roanoke lost its first outing to Christopher Newport University (8-0), but rebounded for a 9-1 win over PSU-Altoona.  Emory University ended the Maroons season with an 8-1 win on the third day.

Virginia Wesleyan won its first two contests over Roger Williams University (2-0) and Susquehanna University before falling to Montclair State University (2-1) on day three.  The Marlins got their feet back under them with a second triumph over Susquehanna (4-0), but Montclair St. got the best of VWC in the regional final (3-2, 8 inn.).

Entering the 2014 season, 24 all-conference standouts return to fields across the conference, and eight of those belong to Virginia Wesleyan (41-8 overall, 18-2 in ODAC play in 2013).  Among the Marlins’ returners are NFCA First Team All-American and reigning ODAC Player of the Year, outfielder Tori Higginbotham (.470 BA, 9 2B, 13 HR, 39 RBI, 46 SB), and 2013 ODAC Pitcher of the Year MacKenzie Creech (23-4, 1 SV, 12 CG, 1.33 ERA, 157.2 IP, 138 K).  Three return from the All-ODAC Second Team including first baseman Season Dailey (.353, 10 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI), outfielder Courtney Bogan (.398, 5 3B, 18 RB, 28 SB) and designated player Inzana (.341, 7 2B, 8 HR, 50 RBI).  Another trio earned All-ODAC Third Team recognition.  That group features catcher Taylor Galvin (.260, 9 2B, 16 RBI), shortstop Andrea Shannon (.294, 17 RBI) and outfielder/pitcher Kristina Karagiorgis (.319, 10 2B, 24 RBI/13-3, 11 CG, 1.90 ERA, 117.2 IP, 88 K).

Lynchburg (32-13, 15-5) and 2013 ODAC Coach of the Year, Dawn Simmons, return three All-ODAC honorees, all from the third team.  That list includes pitcher Hope Johnson (16-5, 2 SV, 11 CG, 2.06 ERA, 142.2 IP, 108 K), second baseman Melanie Tenney (.367, 7 2B, 25 RBI), and outfielder Jessi Hall (.340, 7 3B, 21 RB, 21 SB).  Amber Ingram (4-5, 4 CG, 3.34 ERA 79.2 IP, 58 K) and Elizabeth Fioretti (9-1, 1 SV, 1.28 ERA, 49.1 IP, 43 K) will also toe the rubber, and Danielle Powell (.301, 12 2B, 2 HR, 31 RBI) and Nicole Riley (.286, 17 RBI) comprise the left side of LC’s infield.

Randolph-Macon (34-9, 15-5) boasts a potent offense, powered by a pair from the All-ODAC First Team in catcher Madison Gilman (.443, 12 2B, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 11 SB) and shortstop Sharese Jarvis (.375, 17 HR, 50 RBI).  Outfielder Jenna Best (.318, 9 2B, 5 HR, 21 RBI) earned second team laurels and enters the season as the Yellow Jackets most experienced pitcher (2-0, 1.88 ERA, 18.2 IP, 9 K).  Leadoff hitter Amanda Sopko (.338, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 35 SB) is joined by Christa Simon (.368, 9 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI) in the outfield, while Katie Woody (.297, 5 HR, 26 RBI) features at first base.

Roanoke (31-14, 15-5) will be looking to a mix of new and old to continue its recent success, which includes a “trip” to Salem for the national championship series in 2012 and appearances in the last two NCAA tournaments.  Pitcher Kelly Higbie (17-8, 1 SV, 15 CG, 2.00 ERA, 157.1 IP, 87 K) and shortstop/pitcher Stephanie Clark (.309, 6 2B, 7 HR, 43 RBI/12-5, 1 SV, 13 CG, 3.04 ERA, 108.1 IP, 66 K) earned second team honors in 2013.  They’re joined by outfielder Rhea Schleicher (.307, 3 HR, 11 RBI) and catcher Alexis Roop (.288, 7 HR, 26 RBI) as experienced veterans from the 2012 squad.

Shenandoah (28-18, 10-10) welcomes back reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year Kim Brady (.392, 9 2B, 6 HR, 26 RBI), who also secured first team honors from the Hornets’ outfield.  She’s the lone all-conference returner, but SU has several standouts back for their second season under the ODAC banner.  That list includes a stable of outfielders in Brittany Guepe (.411, 11 RBI, 10 SB), Morgan Coble (.306, 9 2B, 3 HR, 35 RBI), and Erica Kondzielawa (.336, 8 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBI), as well as shortstop Heather Sink (.328, 5 2B, 19 RBI, 10 SB).  Megan Tripp (10-6, 4 CG, 3.11 ERA, 96.2 IP, 42 K) looks to take her turn in the circle.

The 2014 season will be the final slate of games for Bridgewater College (24-18, 10-10) head coach Donnie Fulk, as the 23-year veteran announced his impending retirement in January.  He brings back second baseman and leadoff hitter Kasey Anderson (.338, 3 3B, 30 SB), as well as Brea Hinegardner (.301, 6 HR, 15 RBI) and Brooke Throckmorton (.327, 10 2B, 12 RBI) to power the Eagles’ offense.  Brianna Cox (3-2, 2 CG, 2.10 ERA, 40.0 IP, 20 K) is the most experienced returning pitcher.

Guilford College (19-19, 5-15) and Eastern Mennonite University (21-19, 9-11) both welcome back experienced talent to their rosters.  The Quakers are looking forward to the return of second team second baseman Cynthia Hayes (.598, 8 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 19 SB), who was near the top of NCAA Division III’s batting lists when her 2013 campaign was cut short due to injury.  Infielders Rachel Howard (.347, 10 2B, 20 RBI) and Marty Wilcox (.377, 5 HR, 18 RBI) add to GC’s offense, while pitcher Maggie Shaffer (6-5, 8 CG, 3.41 ERA, 76.0 IP, 66 K) looks to build on a solid freshman campaign.  The Royals boast five players that earned all-conference recognition in 2013.  Shortstop Brooke Hensley (.354, 10 2B, 6 HR, 25 RBI) and outfielder/pitcher Molly Smith (.348, 8 2B, 4 HR, 28 RBI/6-3, 2 CG, 3.91 ERA, 57.1 IP, 35 K) earned second team accolades, while third baseman Cheyenne Cash (.339), outfielder Brooke Sigrist (.336, 8 2B) and designated player Angelia Miller (.404, 7 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI) were tabbed to the third team.  Jordan Aylor (9-6, 7 CG, 4.06 ERA, 98.1 IP, 70 K) joins Smith in the circle for EMU.

Like Roanoke, Randolph College (26-16, 9-11) graduated a strong senior class, but plenty of talent returns.  The infield features Patti Vinson (.331, 8 2B, 4HR, 40 RBI) and Brittney Via (.269, 4 HR, 20 RBI).  Outfielders Erin Wehrhan (.319, 10 SB) and Rachel Hickman (.326, 11 RBI, 10 SB) add speed to the line-up, while Logan Carter (11-10, 1 SV, 16 CG, 2.43 ERA, 126.2 IP, 109 K) returns to the pitching rubber.

Emory & Henry College (12-26, 4-16) is under new leadership with Tommy Forrester taking over the Wasps’ coaching reins.  His squad features an experienced group, led by first team third baseman Hannah Bays (.336, 8 2B, 12 HR, 49 RBI).  The line-up boasts plenty of offense in outfielders Cortney Halsey (.327, 7 HR, 21 RBI) and Sylvia Robbins (.320, 9 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI), as well as infielder Martha Fluharty (.304, 6 2B, 2 HR, 23 RBI) and utility player Bethany Anderson (.300, 3 HR, 16 RBI).  Brandy Bryant (3-10, 8 CG, 5.14 ERA, 94.0 IP, 54 K) and Katie Grimm (6-5, 3 CG, 5.54 ERA, 59.1 IP, 26 K) lead a list of four returning pitchers.

Sweet Briar College (0-22, 0-20) looks to start its climb up the ODAC ladder.  The Vixens feature last year’s top two hitters in Megan Thompson (.220, 4 2B, 3 SB) and Tessa Crawford (.213).  Thompson (0-7, 6 CG, 9.97 ERA, 33.0 IP, 19 K) is also SBC's top returning pitcher.

The 2014 softball season begins on Saturday, February 15.  For more information on ODAC softball, visit any of the participating schools’ websites 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.

2014 ODAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes