By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
| Connor Dillman needs 92
strikeouts in 2015 to set an Emory program
record. Emory athletics photo |
It was more than the magic in that ol' sombrero that propelled Emory to a second place finish in the 2014 D-III World Series. The Eagles almost made it two improbable series wins, losing the finale to UW-Whitewater. Emory earned their spot in the final round despite losing their first game of the regional and started the World Series with a loss to Baldwin Wallace. No. 3 Emory is a favorite to return to Wisconsin over the Memorial Day weekend/
Emory will not be the only contender as familiar teams will be near the top of the national rankings. No. 6 Salisbury made it two South regional teams in the 2014 D-III World Series with their win in the Mideast regional and is also looking to return in 2015. Joining Salisbury and Emory as preseason favorites are No. 17 Shenandoah and No. 18 Birmingham-Southern. Both the Hornets and Panthers had outstanding seasons but stumbled in the playoff round. Don't expect this to be the case in 2015 as each comes into 2015 with plenty of returning talent.
New Faces
Troy Brohawn, Salisbury: Troy Brohawn became just the fourth head coach of the Salisbury program since 1964. Brohawn replaced Doug Fleetwood who won 467 games in 14 years at the head of the Sea Gull program. "I was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and this is home to me," Brohawn said. "I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to return to the collegiate ranks and Salisbury University and to take the next step as a head coach."
| Cody Church comes to
Maryville after a pair of outstanding seasons as an assistant coach
at NCAA D-I Tennessee Tech. Maryville athletics photo |
Cody Church, Maryville: Cody Church was named the head baseball coach for the Maryville Fighting Scots this summer. Church becomes the 25th head coach in Maryville's 138 years of baseball, a program that boasts a 1,469-1,194 (.551) career collegiate record on Scotland Yard. Church comes to Maryville after a pair of outstanding seasons as an assistant coach at Division I Tennessee Tech.
Chris Francis, Virginia Wesleyan: Chris Francis, a Virginia Wesleyan assistant coach in a five-year span when the Marlins won three ODAC titles and advanced to the NCAA Division III championship tournament three times, is the program's new head coach. Francis returns to the Marlins to take on the challenge of rebuilding a program that has struggled through four straight losing seasons and have not qualified for the ODAC's championship tournament since 2010.
David Jenkins, Sewanee: David Jenkins was hired as the new baseball coach for the Tigers this summer, coming from Shenandoah where he served as an assistant coach since 2008. "Coach Jenkins is ideally qualified to serve as Sewanee’s next head baseball coach,” said Athletic director Mark Webb. “He’s been an assistant with one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the country. He has proven experience as an outstanding recruiter, and I’m confident our baseball program will thrive under his leadership.”
Conference Previews
Capital Athletic Conference: York has a magnificent run in the CAC last year, capturing the regular season title by three games over Salisbury. Unfortunately, it was Salisbury who won the conference title and went on to their eighth playoff appearance in as many seasons. The Spartans dropped out of the regional rankings after week one and the CAC missed out in sending a second team to the NCAA playoffs. Look for the Sea Gulls to give new head coach Troy Brohawn a trip to the NCAA regional round in May.
Salisbury has made the NCAA playoffs every year this decade, ending a 16 year playoff drought in 2000. Another trip is expected in 2015 as the Sea Gulls are poised to continue their success in reaching the playoff round. Two seniors, one on both sides of the ball will be instrumental to their success. Outfielder Kyle Hayman, a D3Baseball.com Preseason All-American second team selection will be the offensive leader. Hayman batted .416 and led the team with 28 stolen bases in 2014. Sea Gull ace, Brett Collacchi earned an honorable mention nod on the D3baseball.com preseason team and enters 2015 with 25 wins, 12 wins coming in the 2014 campaign.
| Randy Frankenfield is the
third Frankenfield brother to play for the Spartans following Chris
(2006-10) and Drew (2012-13). York athletics photo |
Christopher Newport made a run in the conference tournament but fell to Salisbury in the CAC Championship game. The Captains will face a challenge in replacing Billy Steel. Steel, the 2014 CAC Player of the Year, was among the region's top hitters and his slash line, .427/.521/.745, ranked among the top six in program history in all three categories. Senior Tommy Vitaletti returns in 2015. After shrugging off an early season leg injury, the Captains outfielder put together one of the finest hitting streaks in program history by collecting a hit in 20 straight games. He finished the season with a .396 average and led the team in doubles (19). The offense will have to carry the day as their top three starters graduated in 2014.
York surprised everyone with a regular season title and improving by seven wins over their 2013 totals. The strength of the Spartans will be in their pitching staff. The freshman duo of Elliot Mortimer (6-3, 3.05 ERA) and Randy Frankenfield (1-2, 3.92 ERA) combined for 40% of York's starts and both are back in 2015. With Dan Guranus (7-1, 3.16 ERA) returning for his senior season, future is bight for the Green and White. The Spartan offense will be led by Derek Pitzer who enters his senior year as a .332 hitter in 114 career games. Look for York to stay near the top of the conference standings.
Frostburg State finished in a three way tie with Salisbury and Christopher Newport but the loss of two seven-win pitchers will see the Bobcats looking someone to step forward as the staff ace. The Bobcats will have a potent offense with three All-CAC players, 2B Ricky Castro (.439, 27 RBI), 3B Zach Weiss (.399, 42 runs), and 1B Ricky Brady (.385, 7 HR) returning for their senior seasons.
Wesley, Mary Washington and St. Mary’s (Md.) finished in the middle of the standings with Wesley and St. Mary's rounding out the six team conference tournament. The Wolverines' Trevor Merers (.370, 26 runs, 2013 CAC Rookie of the Year) is the only returning all-CAC player from the middle-of-the-pack schools. Marymount, Southern Virginia and Penn State-Harrisburg combined for four total wins in their first year in the CAC.
Old Dominion Athletic Conference: The Old Dominion Athletic Conference sent two teams to the playoffs for the second year and 2015 could see the same if the regular champion fails to win the ODAC tournament again. In 2013 Bridgewater was upended by Randolph-Macon and the Eagles did it to Shenandoah last year. The Shanandoah Hornets should repeat in 2015 as the regular season champs.
| Michael Paul, the 2014 ODAC
Player of the Year moves to first base in 2015. Shenandoah athletics photo |
A Shenandoah repeat is almost assured on paper but they will need to prove it on the field. The Hornets have only one hole to fill as the reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Kevin Anderson, returns starters at every field position and pitchers who accounted for 23 of the squad's 33 victories last spring. Starting pitcher Vince Claudio has graduated and his spot will be filled by freshman Colin Morse. The graduation of 1B Dan Powers has three infielders moving to different positions to accomadate the return of SS John Wilt. The effect should be positive as ODAC Player of the Year, Michael Paul (.444, 62 RBI) will move to first base where he will be a better defensive fit.
It will be an up and coming Randoph-Macon team in 2015. The Yellow Jackets will be young with just five seniors on the 2015 roster and experienced with just two players finishing their senior season in 2014. Third baseman Nate Meiners (.423, 36 runs) and reliever Glenn McLaughlin (0-0, 8 saves, 1.35 ERA) are the only seniors playing a major role for the Yellow Jackets. Adding to the offense will be C Mitchell Keeler (.331, 34 RBI, 5 HR) and third team 2015 Preseason All-American DH Nicholas Maiolo (.397, 47 RBI, 7 HR). Randolph-Macon is well poised to make it ten straight ODAC tournament appearances.
| Corey Armentrout earned two
saves on the final day of the ODAC tournament to help lead team to
the 2014 conference title. Bridgewater athletics photo |
Bridgewater (Va.) slipped to third in the conference in 2014, despite a program record 36 wins. Key to Bridgewater's success in last season ODAC tournament win was MVP Corey Armentrout (6-4, 4 saves, 3.68 ERA) and Armentrout is expected back for his senior season as the staff ace. Anchoring the offense will be 1B Brendan Howell (.326, 32 RBI, 4 HR) and Justin Petrock (.292, 34 RBI). So much for the good news. In 2014 the Eagles graduated pitchers with 24 of their 36 wins and three of their top four hitters. Fortunately head coach Curt Kendall has plenty of talent to fill the holes left by last years seniors.
Lynchburg will bring a balanced team to the diamond in 2015. Seniors Brandon Miller (9-4, 2 saves, 2.70 ERA) and Martin Henderlite (8-2, 1.12 ERA in 2013) are arguably the best 1-2 combination in the ODAC and will be joined by two underclassmen in the rotation. The returning players on the offensive side of the equation are just as solid with their three best hitters coming back for their senior season: OF Lincoln Evans (.367, 30 RBI, 11 SB), 3B Wil Parsons (.361, 38 runs), and C Rob Tomasulo (.393, 34 runs). When the season ends in April, it very well may be the other Hornets on top of the ODAC standings.
Hampden-Sydney and Washington and Lee made the 2014 playoffs but made early exits. Both teams return a pair of All-ODAC performers. For the Tigers, first teamers OF Christian Hamlett (.357, 42 runs), and 2B Lee Carneal (.377, 22 RBI) are back in 2015. The Generals bring back second team selections in SS Taylor Rowe (.348, 24 runs) and reliever Cory Smith (1-2, 5 saves, 1.89 ERA).
The bottom of ODAC consisted of Eastern Mennonite, Emory and Henry, Guilford, Roanoke, and Virginia Wesleyan. Eastern Mennonite made the most of their season with their highest win total in 12 years and third ever 20+ win season. With new head coach Chris Francis, Virginia Wesleyan will be looking to improve from their 14 win season last year.
 |
| Birmingham-Southern's Blake
Stevens was the 2014 D3baseball.com South Region Pitcher of the
Year. Birmingham-Southern photo by Robert Dean |
Southern Athletic Association: The Southern Athletic Association was represented by Birmingham-Southern and Rhodes in the 2014 South Regional. The SAA participants were just 1-4 as the Panthers lost two close games and Rhodes lost twice to Emory, sandwiching a win over Covenant. The Panthers should make it a repeat year as they are the best of the four teams expected to contend for the conference title.
Birmingham-Southern placed the most players (three) on the D3baseball.com 2015 preseason honor squad in C Jacob Mayfield (.361, 36 RBI, 6 HR), SP Blake Stevens (8-2, 1.06 ERA, 77 SO), and RP David Bourbonnais (5-0, 5 saves, 0.61 ERA). Every offensive starter that played a major role in the 2014 championship season returns with just one key pitcher leaving after the 2014 season. The sole loss to head coach Jan Weisberg's squad is SAA Pitcher of the Year, Miles Nordgren. Few coaches have the luxury of so many returnees and Weisberg will be looking for more than a conference title in 2015.
Berry is becoming a conduit to the major leagues. In the off-season, Collin McHugh excelled as a rookie on the Houston Astro's squad and 2014 standout Stephen Gaylor signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves. The pipeline to professional baseball is a result of a quality program. First baseman Alex McGill (.383, 46 RBI, 5 HR) and SP Ben Jernigan (8-3, 2.52 ERA, 57 SO) are two of five first/second team All-SAA All-Stars to return in 2015. Joining them are 3B Alfred Francis (.321, 15 RBI, 7 SB), SS Sam Joyce (.317, 20 RBI), and SP Ryan O'Connell (5-0, 4.07 ERA) who earned honorable recognition as underclassmen in 2014.
| Rhodes has a second playoff
appearance on their to do list for 2015. Rhodes athletics photo |
Rhodes earned their first playoff appearance in their historic 2014 season and will be looking for a second in 2015. The best of the Lynx pitchers will be returning for another season as All-Region pitchers Blake Glauben (6-5, 2.28 ERA, 78 SO) and Adam Putnam (7-2, 2.52 ERA, 71 SO) will be back for their junior year. Rhodes will have holes to fill in 2015 after the graduation of several key seniors. One senior returning will be their top hitter in 2B Justin Genter (.335, 35 runs, 17 SB). Genter, a redshirt-senior, will be one of three returners on the infield.
Millsaps took a couple missteps in 2014 after a Top 10 finish and a spot in the D-III World Series in 2013. The Majors fell to fourth in the 2014 standings. Keith Shumaker (.357, 33 runs) continues his extraordinary career as a 2015 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American. Shumaker also shined on the mound for Millsaps, going 6-1 with a 2.82 earned run average. Shumaker will have plenty of help on the mound as the top of the rotation is back. The offense will have a few holes to fill but most of the top hitters will be back. Millsaps should bounce back in 2015.
Hendrix, Centre, Oglethorpe, Sewanee round out the bottom of the SAA. Hendrix will notice the absence of 2014 SAA Player of the Year Collin Radack, who is finding success in the pro ranks. Sewanee will feature a new head coach in David Jenkins who will be looking to change the fortunes for the Tigers.
USA South Athletic Conference: Covenant edged out Ferrum in their first year in the USA South but if the 2015 preseason coaches poll fortells the future, it is the Panthers who will end on top of the conference standings. Also contending for a title run will be Piedmont, who with Huntingdon, recieved support in the D3baseball.com Top 25.
| Jake Perkins had two
no-hitters in 2014. Ferrum athletics photo |
Ferrum head coach Ryan Brittle has turned around the Panther's program, taking his team from the celler in 2013 to the top of the standings in 2014. Ferrum rode the arms of 2014 USAC Pitcher of the Year Jake Perkins (8-1, 1.95 ERA, 85 SO) and 2014 Rookie Pitcher of the Year Dillon Weaver (6-2, 2.98 ERA) to claim a share of the conference title. Ferrum will have six position players back, led by outfielder Adam Duncan (.336, 28 runs). With a mix of senior leadership and talented underclassmen, Ferrum could find themselves in the D-III World Series for the first time.
Covenant shared the USA South title with Ferrum but won the automatic bid with a series win over Ferrum. The two teams will once again battle for the chance to represent the conference in the 2015 regional. The Scots placed five players on the All-USA South first team and return four in 2015. The Covenant ace will be Garrett Kriston (7-3, 3.57 ERA, 73 SO) but the strength of the team will be with the offense. Covenant hit .320 as a team with Will Cleland (.331, 42 runs, 18 SB), Perry Rigby (.327, 31 RBI), and Will Carlton (.285, 38 RBI, 4 HR) all returning. The adage is that good pitching will tame good hitting but Covenant will need to prove the opposite to repeat as conference champions.
Piedmont brings a wealth of experience to the field in 2015 and the future is now for the Lions. Their six top hitters and four top pitchers all return with plenty of senior leadership on the team. Key for the Lions will be junior closer Allen Tokarz (5-1, 3 saves, 1.65 ERA). Piedmont was .500 in one run games and if these close losses turned into wins, it would have been Piedmont representing the USA South in the 2014 Regional.
Perennial powers Methodist and North Carolina Wesleyan join Huntingdon and LaGrange as picked to be in the middle of the pack at the end of the season. Back for the Monarchs are seniors Chris Powers (.357, 33 runs) and Steven Kirby (.278, 23 RBI). A big year in 2014 for NCW's Luis Palencia (.373, 25 runs) and Ciro Norzagaray (.331, 24 RBI) were expected and the two Battlin' Bishops responded. NCW head coach Charlie Long will have to find some more performances like these to make 2015 a championship season. The Hawks and Panthers each placed three players on the 2014 all-conference team but 2014 Rookie of the Year, Will Pharis (.306, 33 RBU, 3 HR) and Casey Bell (.304, 21 RBI) return for Huntingdon and LaGrange, respectively.
Maryville (Tenn.), Averett, and Greensboro, the bottom three teams in 2014 are expected to continue to be celler dwellers. A new addition to the 2015 USA South standings this season will be William Peace as the Pacers will field a baseball team in the Conference for the first time. Maryville's Nick Dean is a player to watch. The 2014 Player of the Year led the league with a .401 batting average and a .563 slugging percentage.
Independents: Don't expect to see Emory take seven years to make the final round again after finishing in second place (2007). They have plenty left on their squad for 2015. Conner Dillman (10-1, 2.35 ERA, 78 SO) has been the staff ace for three years and comes in to 2015 12 wins short of a school record. Outfielders Brett Lake (.417, 54 runs, 69 RBI) and Wes Peacock (.338, 16 2B) will be stalwarts for the offense.