By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
| Emory's Jackson Weeg recorded 12 wins, leading a pitching staff that posted a 3.67 ERA in 2015. Emory athletics photo |
In 2015 D3baseball.com predicted that Emory would make a return visit to Appleton, Wis., but with CAC conference-mates, Salisbury and Frostburg State joining the Eagles in the D-III World Series, it gave us three chances to pat ourselves on the back for getting it right. Sticking with a winner, it is Emory we predict will three-peat on their way to another D-III World Series appearance.
All three teams from last year’s final round will find plenty of competition in getting back to the D-III World Series. The SAA has two national contenders in Birmingham-Southern and Rhodes. Randolph-Macon, Huntingdon and Methodist will also be in the mix for a shot at the final round. Virginia Wesleyan could see big gains in wins this year and is a dark horse to join the national conversation. From this pool of teams we could very well see the first south region team to host the Walnut and Bronze since N.C. Wesleyan in 1999.
New Faces
Lucas Jones, Washington and Lee: Lucas Jones has the task of replacing legendary Washington and Lee baseball coach Jeff Sickley. After graduating from Lynchburg in 2005, Jones has coached at the D-I, D-III and junior college levels in Virginia, most recently as head coach for Patrick Henry Community College. "Washington and Lee University represents all that is great in Division III athletics, with its world-class education and athletic programs. I am proud to build a vision and culture around the founding principles already in place," said Jones.
| Frank Maldonado's D-III expereince came as the hitting and infield coach at Cal Lutheran. Greensboro athletics photo |
Frank Maldonaldo, Greensboro: Frank Maldonado is the fifth head baseball coach in Greensboro history, replacing Jonathon Nichols. Maldonado comes to the Pride after coaching for six years at the University of Tampa, where he helped lead the Spartans to three NCAA Division II national championships. "I look forward to building a strong foundation where our student-athletes will learn to compete in and out of the classroom and flourish beyond the game of baseball," Maldonado stated.
Conference Previews
Capital Athletic Conference: No. 4 Salisbury earned its ninth playoff appearance in as many seasons but the story in 2015 was the No. 10 Frostburg Bobcats, winning the CAC title. Just back of the top CAC duo, Mary Washington missed the playoffs but coming back with much of their team intact is our pick to battle Salisbury for the league title.
Salisbury added another World Series appearance to their storied program and will be at the top of the CAC standings in 2016. The first piece of business is replacing Brett Collacchi and Dan Fein, who combined for a 12-4 record in 2015. The senior duo of Ryan Daiss (6-1, 2.68 ERA, 54 SO) and Connor Shockley (6-0, 4.25 ERA, 34 SO) are ready to move to the top of the rotation. The offense will be led by Pete Grasso (.346, 8 2B, 47 RBI) and Alex Lipman (.388, 9 2B, 27 RBI). Both continued their success in the 2015 season into the summer wood bat leagues and are ready for the spring season.
Mary Washington saw its bubble burst when playoff bids were passed out on selection Sunday. It should be a different story in 2016 as the only piece of the puzzle that will need replacing is CAC Player of the Year, Jono Haught. The king of the mound will be Ryan Van Assche (10-1, 2.01 ERA, 77 SO) as part of a returning staff that was a combined 21-5 in 2015. Senior closer Tyler Daig (1-0, 2.10 ERA, 33 SO, 6 SV) will keep late leads safe and look for David Slupek (.390, 14 2B, 40 RBI) to contribute at the plate.
| Greg Schneider, Frostburg State earned D3baseball.com South Regon Rookie of the Year honors in 2015. d3photography.com photo by Larry Radlof |
Pitching was a question coming into 2015 for Frostburg State but transferring player, Clayton Freimuth and 2015 D3baseball.com South Rookie of the Year, Greg Schneider, gave the Bobcats a potent 1-2 punch to make it two CAC teams in Appleton last year. The Bobcats lost half their starters to graduation and head coach Guy Robertson will need to find some more magic to get back to Appleton. Back is Schneider (9-1, 1.85 ERA, 98 SO) to led the rotation and add his .339 batting average to the offense.
In just their third season, Marymount made the conference tournament along with Christopher Newport and Wesley. Marymount, with a program record 17 wins in 2015, will continue to see another season of growth with the likes of 1B/closer Ryan Blake (.346, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 4 SV, 2.57 ERA) and P Charlie DiGiulian (4-1, 5.08 ERA, 23 SO). Christopher Newport will challenge Marymount for a fourth place finish. They will need to develop their pitching from a staff where the returning pitchers were 6-8. At the dish Tommy Vitaletti (.396, 4 HR, 20 RBI in 2014) is expected to provide some offensive punch after missing the 2015 season with an injury.
York, St. Mary’s (Md.), Southern Virginia and Penn State-Harrisburg ended the season with double digit losses in conference and with the top of the conference loaded with talent, it will be hard for any team to duplicate Frostburg State’s 15-win improvement in 2015 and claim a CAC title.
Old Dominion Athletic Conference: Once the dominion of Bridgewater, adding No. 16 Shenandoah to the ODAC made the race for the top spot in the ODAC more competitive. Both teams will take a back seat to a different favorite. Randolph-Macon is expected to take the top spot in 2016 with Virginia Wesleyan a dark horse to win their first ODAC title since 2006. The competition for the final spots in the ODAC tournament will be as fierce as that for the top spot with Eastern Mennonite, Hampen-Sydney, Lynchburg, Roanoke and Washington and Lee all looking to make the ODAC postseason.
| The 2016 campaign for the Yellow Jackets will be highlighted with four teams that competed at the 2015 NCAA Regionals. Randolph-Macon athletics photo |
Randolph-Macon set a program record for wins in route to a third place finish in 2015 and are in the mix for a title run in 2016. To capture their first ODAC title since 2014, the Yellow Jackets will rely on a heavy upperclassmen line-up featuring C Mitchell Keeler (.389, 6 2B, 20 RBI) and DH Nick Maiolo (.368, 5 HR, 31 RBI). Not all the offensive punch will come from the older players. Randolph-Macon has the reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year in Rick Spiers (.329, 5 2B, 6 RBI). On the mound, James Walsh (7-1, 1.86 ERA, 85 SO), headlines a rotation that was 18-3 in 2015.
A top 25 ranking does not guarantee No. 16 Shenandoah a slot as the best in their conference. It will be a war of Bees (Hornets and Yellow Jackets) at the top of the ODAC standings. Key to the success will be P/OF Ryan Mossman, the 2015 team MVP. He starts (3-1, 2.25 ERA, 38 SO), closes the door (4 SV), and swings a hot bat (.370, 11 2B, 13 RBI). Mossman will be part of a strong pitching staff but part of an offense that saw a lot of losses to graduation. For an ODAC title, some of the role players in 2015 will need to become marquee stars.
Virginia Wesleyan ended a long string of winning seasons in 2011. It took four years to get back to .500 and they will start 2016 with the potential to continue their winning ways. A solid core from the 2015 offense will compliment a pitching staff headed by 2016 preseason All-American Sean Greiser (6-1, 2.34 ERA, 71 SO).
It was another down year for the Bridgewater (Va.) Eagles in 2015. Head coach Curt Kendall will have his team competing with the Roanoke Maroons for a fourth place finish that might be decided on the final series of the year as the Eagles end their season with a series against Roanoke. Kenner Berry (.324, 8 2B, 27 RBI) is the foundation of the Eagles offense for the next two years. A young staff will perform better this year with no starters graduating in 2015. The Eagles’ top pitcher, Ryan Leake (5-4, 2.02 ERA, 46 SO) led the team in nearly every pitching statistic category.
Roanoke was a surprise participant in the ODAC tournament, coming with in a win of their program record in 2015. Offensively, catcher Will Black (.376, 8 2B, 18 RBI), a first team all-conference performer, is back for his junior year. The question for head coach Matt McGuire will be how to replace key components of the pitching staff lost to graduation. If pitching comes around, look for the Maroons to make the conference tournament again.
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Eastern Mennonite's Joe Hall won the ODAC batting title as a sophomore. |
Eastern Mennonite edged out Lynchburg for the final playoff spot in 2015. EMU’s Ben Spotts earned ODAC Coach of the Year honors, leading the Royals to a .500 record, a high water mark for conference wins, and their first tournament appearance since 2002. The Royals should get stiff competition from the bottom of the 2015 ODAC standings. Foremost is Lynchburg who returns the ODAC’s best hitter in Jonathan Munn (.423, 10 2B, 31 RBI). Munn will be surrounded by four other hitters in the lineup that hit at .300 or better. Sophomore pitchers David Goulding (2-3, 3.63, 21 SO) and Gerald Taylor (2-0, 3.66, 7 SO) should improve in 2016 and give the Lynchburg fans a pitching core for the next three years.
Emory and Henry, Guilford, Hampden-Sydney and Washington and Lee round out the back end of the ODAC standings. Washington and Lee will look for their new head coach, Lucas Jones to get the Generals back on track. Guilford featured a young team last year and have the potential to slip into the conference tournament. Emory and Henry returns nine starters and are looking to improve on a 7-27 finish in 2015.
Southern Athletic Association: The SAA was represented by No. 8 Birmingham-Southern, No. 11 Rhodes and Millsaps in the NCAA Regionals and could see the same in 2016. Birmingham Southern and Rhodes will be looking to be the second team from the SAA to make the final round of eight (Millsaps was there in 2014). Rhodes is our pick to take the automatic bid with the Panthers looking for some love on selection Sunday.
| Rhodes' Bill Munson was the D-III statistical champion for stolen bases per game in 2015. Rhodes athletics photo |
Rhodes is coming off a stellar 2015 season that saw them take home the SAA Championship and earn a NCAA playoff berth. Rhodes return nearly their whole staff after compiling an D-III best 2.48 ERA in 2015. The Lynx will be led D3baseball.com preseason All-American Daniel Morris (10-0, 1.61 ERA, 43 SO) and Adam Putnam (9-3, 1.64 ERA, 77 SO). The Lynx also return a majority of their offense that hit .301 as a team a season ago. Junior shortstop Bill Munson (.356, 20 2B, 30 RBI) stole 80 bases over two years and is a player the opponents will have to deal with on or off the bases.
A perennial national contender, the Birmingham-Southern Panthers saw eight seniors hang up their spikes, including well decorated starting pitcher Blake Stevens. It is the pitching staff that will need to see an injection of youth. Head coach Jan Weisberg has a pitching heavy recruiting class that could see significant action in 2016. The offense will be in good shape with four All-SAA performers back in the gold and black. Senior starters are Taylor McCracken (.347, 8 2B, 22 RBI) and Matt Brown (.308, 11 2B, 30 RBI) and will fill key defensive roles this season.
Coming off another NCAA regional appearance, Millsaps are poised to try it again in 2016. Isaac Glenn (.436, 17 2B, 45 RBI), a D3baseball.com preseason All-American, is the only top four offensive stars to return in 2016. Just down the stats page are a group of sophomores and juniors, like Andy Page (.336, 5 2B, 19 RBI) and Lee Ogletree (.315, 9 2B, 36 RBI) that should put runs on board all season. Pitching will be a need for the Majors as 26 of 43 starts in 2015 were filled by graduating seniors. Head coach Jim Page will continue to rack up wins in 2016, adding to the 700-win mark he hit at the NCAA West Regional.
| The Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels have improved their win totals every year for the last four years. Oglethorpe athletics photo |
Oglethorpe has improved its win totals over the last four years, moving into a fourth place finish in 2015. Their top pitcher is 2015 Newcomer of the Year Matt Davis (7-2, 3.39, 50 SO) and will be adding to the win totals for the Storm Petrels years to come. Keith Dearden (.313, 4 HR, 27 RBI) is the top position player returning. Berry was just edged by the Storm Petrels in the conference standings In the conference tournament, Berry almost knocked off Birmingham Southern. The Vikings’ chances for a NCAA Regonal berth will ride on an upset bid in the SAA tournament.
Hendrix is on a roll. Former Warrior Collin Radack is working his way through the minor league system andbut it is not the offense that is setting records in Conway, Ark. For the third consecutive year, the Warriors set an program ERA record (3.70). While it is well behind Rhodes' leading ERA mark, players such as Will Nichol (4-3, 1.98, 53 SO) are working on making Hendrix a contender in the SCAC. Hendrix seniors took a third of the at-bats in 2015 so the Hendrix offense will be able to support the pitching staff in a bid to crack the trio of Birmingham Southern, Millsaps, and Rhodes. Centre saw two seniors graduate that played significant roles in 2015 and should improve on their 7-28 record last year. Sewanee used a lot of underclassmen in their offense but will need to score runs as half their pitching staff graduate in 2015.
USA South Athletic Conference: No. 23 Methodist represented the USA South in the South region in 2015 and is poised to repeat in 2016. With a mid-April date for their conference tournament, the USA South will be the first team to punch their ticket to the D-III World Series.
| Ray Lanners hit three home runs and drove in 40 runs in 2015 for the Monarchs. Methodist athletics photo |
Methodist head coach Tom Austin will start his 38th season as the Monacrhs are the favorite for the USA South title. It will be hard to duplicate their success in 2015 as they set the conference mark for wins in a season with 24 USA South triumphs. The mettle of the Monarchs will be tested early when national contenders Cortland State and Marietta come to campus in late February. Gone are all-conference Josh Howard and Chris Power but Ray Lanners (.376, 15 2B, 40 RBI) is ready to step into Power’s cleats and Travis Johnston (8-2), 3.05 ERA, 67 SO) is ready for ace duties.
Huntingdon was tabbed to finish runner-up to the Monarchs for another season. Huntingdon returns Anthony Spivey (.380, 7 HR, 48 RBI), an All-Region performer in 2015, to lead the Hawk’s offense. Leading the pitching corps is 2015 USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Jared Gonzalez (7-2, 4.98 ERA, 42 SO). The Hawks will start their season on the first weekend in February at the Firehouse Classic at Huntingdon’s Posey Field.
Piedmont is expected to finish the season in the third position. The Lions returns a veteran offense with four-year starter Evan Gresham (.378, 14 2B, 29 RBI) leading the way. They will need to quickly develop their pitching. At the top of the rotation is sophomore Seth George (3-4, 5.90 ERA, 30 SO) who is still developing his skills. The back-end is rosier with seniors Josh Thomas (4-1, 1.53 ERA, 32 SO, 6 SV) and Allen Tokarz (2-4, 1.74 ERA, 46 SO, 1 SV) providing Piedmont with a pair of veteran closers.
Averett, Ferrum, and Maryville are predicted to finish in the middle of the pack. Ferrum’s Jake Perkins (5-1, 2.74 ERA, 50 SO) is back for his final year of eligibility and if he can repeat the success of his sophomore season (8-1, 1.95 ERA, 85 SO), will give the Panther’s a boost in moving up to title contender.
| Caleb Boyce was tabbed as the USA South Rookie of the Year in 2015. Covenant athletics photo by Anna Dove |
Covenant, Greensboro, LaGrange, N.C. Wesleyan and William Peace round out the bottom five in the USA South preseason poll. Rebuilding in 2015, Covenant returns the USA South Rookie of the Year in Caleb Bloye (.347, 7 2B, 28 RBI).
Independent: No. 3 Emory has shown a toughness on the diamond in the last two years, taking the South Regional title two years running. The core of the Eagle’s team remains intact with their strength in the middle infielders, SS Philp Maldari (.364, 21 2B, 36 RBI) and 2B Dylan Eisner (.327, 7 2B, 9 RBI). The outfield will see the most changes with two All-UAA players graduating but the Eagles have reloaded with two quality freshmen in Jackson Greyson and Alec Granger. The pitching rotation will be led by 2016 D3baseball.com preseason All-American Jackson Weeg (12-1, 2.59 ERA, 98 SO) with Kyle Monk (4-2, 3.43 ERA, 11 SV) in the role of closer.