FOREST, Va. --- ODAC softball has been wildly successful for much of the last decade on several levels with a combination of single-school dominance and multi-institutional parity. This year's ODAC Softball Preseason Poll may illustrate that better than ever with just one point separating two of the 15 squads that have qualified for NCAA Tournament play over the past five seasons.

Six-time defending ODAC champion Virginia Wesleyan University sits atop the table but by just one point over fellow 2022 NCAA super regional qualifier Randolph-Macon College. The Marlins collected six first place votes on the way to 95 points, while the Yellow Jackets secured the remaining five top nods to power a 94-point haul.

University of Lynchburg lines up next with 81 markers and is followed closely by 2022 NCAA qualifier Roanoke College with 75 tallies. Bridgewater College rounds out the top-five with 63 points.

In the following sections, we take a quick look back at last season and get a feel for what to expect for the upcoming softball campaign.

2022 ODAC TOURNAMENT | BRACKET

• Third-seeded Virginia Wesleyan and fourth-seeded Roanoke were the last two teams standing in the ODAC's difficult eight-team double-elimination tournament bracket.
• The Marlins took the shortest route possible to reach the championship round; they defeated #6 Ferrrum College, 7-0, in the first round and then earned a 4-3 decision over #2 Randolph-Macon in round two; in the winner's bracket semifinal, VWU downed Roanoke, 9-1, in five innings to take position in the driver's seat, one win from hoisting the league hardware.
• Roanoke squeezed out a 1-0 shutout over #5 Bridgewater in the first round and again won by a single run in the second round with a 3-2 triumph over #1 Lynchburg; after falling to VWU in the semifinals, the Maroons' offense showed up with an 8-0 six-inning triumph over Lynchburg in their lone contest in the loser's bracket.
• In the first of two possible championship games, Roanoke erased Virginia Wesleyan's advantage by handing the Marlins their first loss of the tournament, 5-3, to set up a winner-take-all final.
• The last game did not disappoint with Julia Sinnett's RBI ground out in the fourth inning providing the contest's lone run in VWU's 1-0 title-winning shutout.
• The Marlins have now won six straight and a record 14 overall ODAC softball crowns.

2022 NCAA DIVISION III TOURNAMENT

• The ODAC saw three teams enter the NCAA's field of 64 squads with automatic qualifier Virginia Wesleyan joined by at-large choices Randolph-Macon and Roanoke.
• Roanoke traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for regional play at Case Western Reserve; the Maroons were on the wrong end of a second straight 1-0 scoreline in their first game against Concordia Wisconsin; on day two, RC was eliminated from the bracket with a 4-2 loss to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).
• Randolph-Macon was selected to host a regional pod and took advantage of its home venue with a 2-1 victory over Farmingdale State, an 8-3 triumph over MIT, and a second regional-clinching 3-1 win over the Engineers.
• R-MC traveled to Eastern Connecticut State for best-of-3 super regional action; the Warriors needed eight innings but they slid by the Yellow Jackets with a 1-0 win in game one; the series closed in game two with R-MC falling 4-0.
• Virginia Wesleyan headed to Amherst College for regional play; the Marlins opened with a 2-0 win over Rochester before posting a 3-2 victory over Husson; VWU clinched the regional title with a 9-2 pasting of host Amherst.
• The Marlins played at familiar foe Christopher Newport University in the super regionals; the Captains posted a 3-2 win in game one and followed with a 5-2 victory the next day to close out VWU's season.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING NATIONALLY ENTERING 2023

• NFCA Division III Preseason Top-25 Coaches Poll -- Two ODAC schools feature in 2023's first NFCA Division III Top-25 Preseason Coaches Poll; Virginia Wesleyan is slotted seventh in the table, while Randolph-Macon sits 10th in the list voted on by a 10-coach panel; reigning national champion Christopher Newport University tops the chart with a perfect 250 points.

WELCOME TO THE ODAC!

• Averett University became the 15th full-time member of the ODAC on July 1 and begin its first season of ODAC softball this spring; the Cougars previously played out of the USA South Athletic Conference.
• Head coach Carol Oberhelman, a 2020 graduate of Lynchburg, is in her first season as a collegiate head coach in 2023.
• The Cougars went 18-14 overall last season including 9-9 in the USA South's East Division, finishing tied for fifth in the table.
• Pitcher Taylor Sullivan highlights AU's roster after going 11-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 110.1 innings last season.

RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
The athletes listed below represent the top-three returning statistical leaders for each listed category from the 2022 spring season.
Batting Minimums: 2.5 plate appearances per game and played 75% of team games
Pitching Minimums: 1.0 innings pitcher per team game

• BATTING LEADERS
  • Batting Avg. | .442 - Dominique Irving (RAND); .412 - Sarah Wimer (BC); .399 - Caitlin Myers (VWU)
  • On-Base Pct. | .505 - Gracie Dooley (LYN); .494 - Caitlin Myers (VWU); .481 - Sarah Wimer (BC)
  • Slugging | .786 - Sarah Wimer (BC); .716 - Rilee Baughan (R-MC); .680 - Sophie Tully (LYN)
  • Runs | 42 - Amanda Lanyon (R-MC); 40 - Dominique Irving (RAND)/Caitlin Myers (VWU)
  • Hits | 61 - Dominique Irving (RAND); 59 - Amanda Lanyon (R-MC); 57 - Caitlin Myers (VWU)
  • Doubles | 15 - Torrie Shifflett (BC); 14 - Jazmyne Smith (BC)/Sarah Wimer (BC)
  • Triples | 3 - Several Players
  • Homers | 11 - Rilee Baughan (R-MC)/Sarah Wimer (BC); 6 - Kayla Davis (R-MC)/Caitlin Myers (VWU)/Lyndsey Sears (FC)/Sophie Tully (LYN)
  • RBI | 53 - Rilee Baughan (R-MC); 48 - Sarah Wimer (BC); 40 - Caitlin Myers (VWU)
  • Walks | 23 - Caitlin Myers (VWU); 20 - Sarah Wimer (BC); 19 - Breanna Weaver (FC)
  • Stolen Bases | 33 - Amanda Lanyon (R-MC); 24 - Naomi Sadler (R-MC); 19 - Dominique Irving (RAND)
• PITCHING LEADERS
  • ERA | 1.21 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC); 1.45 - Emily Seale (VWU); 2.06 - Jada Karnes (RC)
  • Innings Pitched | 190.1 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC); 166.1 - Jada Karnes (RC); 164.1 - Emily Seale (VWU)
  • Wins | 22 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC)/Emily Seale (VWU); 20 - Jada Karnes (RC)
  • Saves | 3 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC)/Natalye Graham (EMU)/Emily Seale (VWU)
  • Complete Games | 23 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC); 21 - Jada Karnes (RC); 14 - Emily Seale (VWU)/Lyndsey Sears (FC)
  • Strikeouts | 244 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC); 145 - Jada Karnes (RC); 114 - Lyndsey Sears (FC)
  • Strikeouts/7 Innings | 8.97 - Gracie Ellis (R-MC); 8.46 - Maggie McCray (FC); 6.10 - Jada Karnes (RC)

RETURNING ALL-ODAC TALENT | 2022 ALL-ODAC SOFTBALL AWARDS
The 2023 season features 27-of-40 All-ODAC honorees from a season. That is eight more than returned last year from the 2021 all-conference lists. This year's returning contingent includes eight players from the 2023 All-ODAC First Team and three athletes that earned four special individual honors. Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Dawn Simmons welcomes back five all-league performers -- tied with Bridgewater for the most in the conference -- including ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year and first team first baseman Sophie Tully. Randolph-Macon righty Gracie Ellis returns after collected ODAC Pitcher and Rookie of the Year laurels in her first campaign last year.

   PITCHERS/CATCHERS (11)

• Gracie Ellis (R-MC) -- All-ODAC First Team (P)
• Jada Karnes (RC) -- All-ODAC First Team (P)
• Sarah Wimer (BC) -- All-ODAC First Team (C)
• Emily Charlton (LYN) -- All-ODAC Second Team (P)
• Emily Seale (VWU) -- All-ODAC Second Team (P)
• Caitlin Myers (VWU) -- All-ODAC Second Team (C)
• Lauren Bible (VWU) -- All-ODAC Third Team (P)
• Emma Killion (BC) -- All-ODAC Third Team (P)
• Samantha Martin (BC) -- All-ODAC Third Team (P)
• Becca Boone (EMU) -- All-ODAC Third Team (C)
• Carly Hudnall (LYN) -- All-ODAC Third Team (C)

   INFIELDERS (10)

• Sophie Tully (LYN) -- All-ODAC First Team (1B)
• Rilee Baughan (R-MC) -- All-ODAC First Team (1B)
• Delaney Nuckols (RAND) -- All-ODAC First Team (SS)
• Breanna Weaver (FC) -- All-ODAC Second Team (1B)
• Torrie Shifflett (BC) -- All-ODAC Second Team (2B)
• Makayla Austin (RC) -- All-ODAC Second Team (3B)
• Kassidy Lancos (GC) -- All-ODAC Second Team (SS)
• Grace Fravel (EMU) -- All-ODAC Second Team (3B)
• Jazmyne Smith (BC) -- All-ODAC Second Team (1B)
• Danielle McNeill (SU) -- All-ODAC Third Team (3B)

   OUTFIELDERS (4)

• Dominique Irving (RAND) -- All-ODAC First Team
• Naomi Sadler (R-MC) -- All-ODAC First Team
• Amanda Lanyon (R-MC) -- All-ODAC Second Team
• Gracie Dooley (LYN) -- All-ODAC Third Team

   DESIGNATED PLAYER/UTILITY (2)

• Anna Grace Terrell (LYN) -- All-ODAC Second Team (DP)
• Lyndsey Sears (FC) -- All-ODAC Second Team (UT)

ODAC HEAD COACHES
Some of the best coaches in the business lead ODAC teams in all sports. Below we take a look at the career records and tenures for the league's softball coaches entering the 2023 campaign.

• Carol Oberhelman (AU) -- First Season as a Collegiate Head Coach
• Megan Pleskovic (BC) -- Overall: 48-37 (.565) in 3 years | at BC: 48-37 (.565) in 3 years
• J.D. McCurdy (EMU) -- Overall: 371-311-2 (.544) in 19 years | at EMU: 371-311-2 (.544) in 19 years
  • 3x ODAC Coach of the Year (2007, 10, 16)
• Gerald Culler (FC) -- Overall: 142-112 (.559) in 7 years | at FC: 142-112 (.559) in 7 years
• Dennis Shores (GC) -- Overall: 326-281-4 (.537) in 16 years | at GC: 326-281-4 (.537) in 16 years
  • 1x ODAC Coach of the Year (2008)
• Dawn Simmons (LYN) -- Overall: 666-346-2 (.658) in 24 years | at LYN: 666-346-2 (.658) in 24 years
  • 6x ODAC Coach of the Year (2001, 03-05, 13, 22)
• Kasdyn Waldron (RAND) -- Overall: 20-56-1 (.266) in 3 years | at RAND: 20-56-1 (.266) in 3 years
• Kevin Proffitt (RMC) -- Overall: 457-265-2 (.633) in 20 years | at R-MC: 457-265-2 (.633) in 20 years
  • 1x ODAC Coach of the Year (2007)
• Mike Mitchell (RC) -- Overall: 325-208 (.610) in 14 years | at RC: 325-208 (.610) in 14 years
  • 1x ODAC Coach of the Year (2012)
• Courtney Moyer (SU) -- Overall: 32-50 (.390) in 3 years | at SU: 32-50 (.390) in 3 years
• Brandon Elliott (VWU) -- Overall: 543-129 (.808) in 16 years | at VWU: 543-129 (.808) in 16 years
  • 8x ODAC Coach of the Year (2011-12, 14-15, 17-19, 21)

THE SCHEDULE AND TOURNAMENT

• ODAC teams are slated to play a full 20-game league schedule; the maximum number of games a team can play overall is 40.
• The first regular season games are set for the weekend of February 11-13.
• The conference slate kicks off with four series on Saturday, March 25 with the rest of the league entering league play thereafter.
• The ODAC Tournament features a new format beginning with the 2023 season; it will mimic the regional and super regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament and competed over two sets of dates.
  
  • May 5-7: Opening Double-Elimination Series Pod #1 at #1 Seed -- features seeds 1-4-5-8
  • May 5-7: Opening Double-Elimination Series Pod #2 at #2 Seed -- features seeds 2-3-6-7
  • May 11-12: Best-of-3 Championship Series at Highest Remaining Seed
• In future seasons, both opening series will be competed at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem; the Moyer Complex is unavailable in 2023 as multi-million dollar renovations continue on the ODAC's historic tournament home.
• The selections for the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament will be announced on Monday, May 15.

Listed below is the 2023 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll. For more information on ODAC softball, 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 Instagram.

2023 ODAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL