|
| Salisbury will be looking to be the fourth team to win a D-III College World Series title in back-to-back seasons. d3photography photo by Steve Frommell |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
It had been many years since the D-III College World Series Champion came out of the South and Salisbury finally broke through with their first baseball championship. The Sea Gulls have a long streak of playoff appearances and it is not rocket science to expect them back in 2022. Will they make it back-to-back titles? Time will tell as it has been very hard to repeat.
Joining as favorites for a playoff spot are the usual cast of characters and a few surprises. Birmingham-Southern, Shenandoah, and Christopher Newport should be in the mix with Salisbury. La Grange has been good recently and add them to the favorites list. Will one hit wonders like Lynchburg and NC Wesleyan show they have the staying power? We like Lynchburg's chances with the Hornets returning a lot of their roster but the Bishops were hit hard by graduation and despite a first place nod in the USA South poll might be staying home. Berry remains a team to keep an eye on. They were one of eight 30 win teams not invited to the playoffs. Lurking is William Peace who moved up the conference standings in 2021 and hired a new coach with a D-III College World Series title on his resume.
New Faces
|
| Kellen Greer will remain a coach in the Southern Athletic Conference, leaving Berry to become the new head coach at Oglethorpe. Berry athletics photo |
Berea: Frank Pufall is back as a head coach. Pufall comes to Berea most recently from Northland, where he served as an assistant baseball coach. Prior to his time at Northland, Pufall served as head baseball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for five seasons. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota – Duluth.
Greensboro: Greensboro named Chris Fenisey as the new head coach this summer. Fenisey is not new to the Greensboro College campus, as he served as the baseball team's hitting coach from 2016 through 2017. "I am humbled at the opportunity to come back and lead this program," Fanisey said. "I am really excited to get started. Greensboro has always felt like home for me since my first time here in 2016." "I always felt like we were doing something special and to come back to such a special place is an opportunity I could not pass up."
Oglethorpe: Kellen Greer comes to Oglethorpe with 18 years of coaching experience around the southeastern United States, most recently at Berry College in nearby Mount Berry, Georgia. "I'm very appreciative to all involved for this opportunity to lead the Oglethorpe University baseball program," said Greer. "Our goal is for Oglethorpe to be in a position to be at the top end of the Southern Athletic Association. We want the program to be a source of pride for our players, student body, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and community."
William Peace: The Pacers announced in mid-summer that veteran coach Charlie Long will take the helm of their program. Long boasts a decorated career in the USA South where he coached at NC Wesleyan College from 1991 to 2018 and holds a 16-9 NCAA Tournament record. Long is ecstatic to join the Pacers, stating, "I am very excited to be back in the USA South competing against some of the best teams in the country."
Key Games
Cortland at Salisbury: The Red Dragons come to call on February 18th and 20th. This will be an early challenge for the Sea Gulls and Cortland. These games match the two teams with the longest current playoff streaks in D-III.
Emory at Berry and Birmingham-Southern: Emory travels to Berry on March 1st and a week later to Birmingham-Southern, The UAA conference season is still weeks away but wins against the top teams in the region will be important when playoff bids are awarded and is Washington Univ is as good as they were in 2021, Emory might need an at-large bid to play into late May or early June.
La Grange at NC Wesleyan: This early season three game set on March 12-13 will be important to the teams that are picked to finish atop their respective divisions in the USA South. Both will have a dozen games on the books but it is time for the conference season to open and it is important to carry as much momentum into the final half of the season.
Shenandoah, Randolph-Macon at Salisbury: On March 20th, Shenadoah will take a trip to Maryland. This is the first of two games between the reigning champs and the top of the ODAC. Two weeks later Randolph-Macon visits on March 31st. Both of these top ODAC programs want to take down the reigning champs.
Shenandoah at Lynchburg: This is the weekend that the ODAC regular season title is decided. It will be Hornets against Hornets in Lynchburg when two of the top five winnings teams in 2021 meet in a doubleheader on April 23rd.
Berry at Birmingham-Southern: The final weekend of the SAA will see Berry traveling to Birmingham, Alabama for a three game set. A lot should be on the line in this series, a regular season title and the right to stay home for the SAA tournament.
Conference Previews
|
| Christopher Newport's Conner Clark is second all-time in runs scored at CNU and should become just the seventh player in program history to eclipse the 200-hit milestone. Christopher Newport athletics photo |
Coast to Coast Athletic Conference: Preseason number one Salisbury (34-4) will have the target on their backs as the defending champions but will have a friendly schedule to start the season. They start the season with only two away games in their first 31 games. Gone from the roster are the C2C Pitcher of the Year (Clayton Dwyer) and Player of the Year (Justin Meekins) but three first team All-C2C players are back. Infielders Sky Rahill (.368, 6 HR, 32 RBI) and Stephen Rice (.329, 27 RBI, 17 SB) will be bookending double plays and Xavier Marmol (3-0, 3.33 ERA, 41K) will be toeing the rubber. Last June, it was none of these players that showed up on the D-III College World Series All-tournament team. Three of four players earning a spot on the All-Championship team are back including the Most Outstanding Player, Jackson Balzan (9-1, 2.26 ERA, 87K). Expect the same brand of baseball we saw in 2021 from a team that is top heavy in leadership.
Christopher Newport (22-12) finished second in the C2C in 2021 but should provide competition for the conference title. Conner Clark (.317, 21 RBI, 17 SB) will patrol centerfield and continue his climb in the Captains' record book. Scott Crosson (.308, 20 RBI) and Alec Reilly (.289, 23 RBI) will flank Clark in the outfield. Joining them will be first baseman Jay Cassady (.354, 4 HR, 29 RBI) who earned the top C2C rookie award in 2021. In addition to leading the offense, Cassady (2-4, 4.23 ERA, 50K) was an ace on the mound. As the number two arm on the Captains' staff, he faced CNU's toughest competition and will be called on to do the same this year. While Salisbury is senior heavy, the bulk of the CNU squad will be around for more than 2022. If a conference title is not in the works this year, they will be well poised to take the top spot in 2023.
Mary Washington (11-17) rounds out a conference that is in danger of losing their automatic bid. It is unlikely to be a problem since the conference has sent two teams in two of the last three playoff years. Unfortunately this was not Mary Washington. The Eagles' chances of making it to the top of the conference lie with two sophomores in pitcher Brendan McComber (4-1, 6.12 ERA, 30K) and third baseman Ty Lowe (.355, 11 2b, 23 RBI). If not in 2022, these players will be around for the next two years as Mary Washington rebuilds around them.
FAVORITE: Salisbury
Old Dominion Athletic Conference: 2021 was a good year for Lynchburg (36-15). Mired at the back end of the standings since 2012, the Hornets were an after thought when looking for ODAC title contenders in 2021. No longer. Lynchburg shook off a 2-6 start to become one of the hottest teams at the end of the year but they will have to stay hot as they open their season in Birmingham, Alabama against three teams that ended their season in the Top 25. Brandon Pond (9-4, 2.812 ERA, 90K) earned 2021 ODAC Pitcher of the Year honors and would like it to be the first of two. He will have to pitch at this level in 2022 if Lynchburg is to advance to the D-III World Series. If the starters falter, a trio of seniors led by Grayson Thurman (5-3, 4 saves, 3.62 ERA, 88K) will be waiting to pick up the slack. An offense that batted .283 and slugged 31 home runs will be in good shape for many years with both Avery Neaves (.377, 10 HR, 69 RBI, 25 SB) and Gavin Collins (.302, 36 RBI, 9 SB) coming off their first years on the field.
|
| Colby Martin is the first Shenandoah player to be named pre-season All-America since Keegan Woolford was picked prior to the 2019 season. Shenandoah athletics photo |
No. 22 Shenandoah (31-11) finished a game behind the regular season champion Lynchburg but that was just good enough for fourth in the conference. Three regulars in the offense are back for a fifth year in Keegan Woolford (.329, 11 HR, 57 RBI), Henry Delavergne (.276, 6 HR, 17 RBI), and Matt Moon (.253, 12 RBI) but the stars on offense are all junior infielders. Second baseman, 2021 ODAC Player of the Year and D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Colby Martin (.482, 14 HR, 55 RBI) is the best of the returning juniors that include 1B Pearce Bucher (.375, 9 HR, 40 RBI) and SS Frankie Ritter (.370, 44 RBI). Tad Dean (6-1, 2.44 ERA, 20K) and Reilly Owen (7-1, 4.01 ERA, 24K) will anchor the pitching rotation with Martin (0-2, 3 saves, 7.04 ERA, 13K) and Kyle Lisa (1-0, 2 saves, 0.98 ERA, 21K) coming in from the bullpen. The Hornets will be playing on a new surface in 2022, replacing their grass turf with an artificial surface.
Randolph-Macon (23-11) finished tied with Lynchburg but never got past the quarterfinal round of the ODAC tournament, losing to Eastern Mennonite. The Yellow Jackets are reloading for 2022 as the final pieces of their 2018 playoff run graduated. Expect a slow start to the season but RMC always finishes strong. Roanoke (23-10) finished third in 2021 but also had an early exit at the hands of a school in the Harrisburg area. Head coach Zach Ullrich has a squad with talent in both upper and lower classmen. The Maroons return a solid offense with All-OCAC DH Carter Plunkett (.405, 6 HR, 37 RBI) and Will Smith (.297, 17 RBI, 27 BB, 10 SB). The ace of the staff will be Will Turner (7-0, 3.16 ERA, 31K) who is coming off a stellar sophomore season.
Jeff Kinne, head coach of the Hampden-Sydney Tigers (18-14) is betting on a solid core of pitchers to challenge for the ODAC title and possible more. Senior Nic Graziano (2-3, 5.48 ERA, 20K) and junior Justin Woodall (4-1, 3.00 ERA, 69K) will be the top of his rotation with a trio of junior relievers that combined for a 7-1 record and two saves for the late innings. Seniors Trey Karnes (.346, 18 HR, 8 SB) and Max Lipscomb (.359, 10 RBI) will provide leadership for a dozen new faces that will don a garnet and gray uniform. Bridgewater (14-15) finished the season a couple games south of the Tigers. The highlight of their 2021 season was an upset of third seeded Roanoke in the conference tournament but lost out to the eventual title winners, Lynchburg. The Eagles will quickly learn how their season will go with a competitive start against good regional competition before heading out to California to test their luck out west.
Washington and Lee (10-15) and Eastern Mennonite (9-15) were the final two teams to qualify for the 2021 ODAC tournament. The Generals 2022 squad features experienced position players complimented by strong first-year class of pitchers. While offense might not be a problem with five .300 or better hitters back, it will be how soon the pitching staff matures that determines their future. Look for Zach Perkins (.348, 21 RBI, 1-1, 1 save, 4.82 ERA, 20K) to provide a consistent bat and more time on the mound in 2022. The bottom of the ODAC was filled by the likes of Ferrum (10-21), Virginia Wesleyan (7-22), Emory and Henry (6-17), and Guilford (3-16). We say goodbye to Emory and Henry as they moved out of Division III to try their luck with scholarship players.
FAVORITE: Lynchburg
|
| Birmingham-Southern's Cole Steadman found his power stroke in 2021 with nine home runs. He had hit just one in his previous three years. Birmingham-Southern athletics photo |
Southern Athletic Association: No. 7 Birmingham-Southern (28-16) is a favorite with Rhodes for the SAA title. No matter who the Panthers lose, they always have a star in the wings. One player they will not have to replace is outfielder Cole Steadman (.328, 9 HR, 43 RBI) who is taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility. Steadman is just one of seven .300 hitters that will be swinging bats for Birmingham-Southern. Tristan Harvin (4-2, 2.22 ERA, 51 K) is another fifth-year senior and the ace of the Panther rotation. He will be joined with several young arms that by tournament time will be mature pitchers. The goal will be to advance past the regional round and super-regionals for a second trip to Cedar Rapids.
Rhodes (18-14) is a favorite for the conference title in 2022. With many returners on offense, a deep bench key, returning starters and plenty of help in the bullpen, there is a reason for joy for the Lynx-nation. Pitching looks promising as Jacob Drubs (2020 stats: 3-1, 3.26 ERA, 39K) returns from a injury last year and is joined by 2021 SAA Pitcher of the Year Nick Ferazzi (5-3, 2.63 ERA, 51K) and Jackson Cody (3-0, 5.66 ERA, 25K). The O will be paced by three seniors: infielder Peter York (.330, 26 RBI, 14 SB), first baseman Wood Kimbrough (.342, 23 RBI) and catcher Chris Penna (.393, 5 HR, 32 RBI). With their ninth win, head coach Jeff Cleanthes will reach the 500 win mark.
Berry (32-9) could not earn a break in 2021. A opening day loss in the SAA tournament could not be overcome and a regional bid was not in the cards. The best player, SAA Player of the Year Tyler Calvert and pitcher, Ben Coker, graduated but there is plenty left for another run at their first playoff bid. On the offensive side All-SAA performers 3B Levi Cloud (.333, 21 RBI) and DH Spence Johns (.402, 35 RBI) return for another year with SP Patrick O'Rourke (7-1, 4.50 ERA 47K) and RP Mason Carnes (2-0, 9 saves, 2.63 ERA, 17K) on the mound.
Centre (17-16) will be looking to continue their climb up the ladder in the SAA conference. After setting a school record for ERA in 2021, The Colonels will lean on pitching and defense as their backbone. On the mound, Carson Werrmann (2-1, 4.76 ERA, 22K) and Jess Miller (3-4, 2.65 ERA, 38K) will get the ball every week. The offense will be led by fifth years Patrick Hope (.317, 14 RBI) and Jordan Gunter (.304, 10 RBI), two lefties who can hit anywhere in the lineup.
Not making the 2021 tournament were Oglethorpe (13-22), Hendrix (11-21), Millsaps (10-24), and Sewanee (1-8). Oglethorpe will be looking for new head coach Kellen Greer to change their fortunes while Millsaps will rely on the dean of SAA coaches, Jim Page, to improve their chances. In Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix will try to surround 2021 SAA Newcomer of the Year, Drake Herrera (.346, 14 RBI, 23 SB) with the pieces to contend for a conference tournament spot.
FAVORITE: Birmingham-Southern
|
| Davie Morgan as named USA South Player of the week twice in 2021 for N.C Wesleyan. N.C. Wesleyan athletics photo courtesy of Callie Cline |
USA South Athletic Conference: The USA South continues to expand and next year will stretch into Mississippi with their newest member Belhaven but for this year it will be fifteen teams looking for that coveted conference championship. Last year it was No. 19 North Carolina Wesleyan (33-10) who grabbed the playoff bid and went 1-2 in the Highpoint Regional. Remaining intact is the Bishop's infield as they feature a mix of seniors and juniors in the starting four. They will feel the loss of their team MVP, catcher Brad Pennington but expect the Battling Bishops to score at the same rate as in 2021 (8+ runs/game) and play defense (.961 team fielding percentage). Their strength on the mound will also not suffer. Derrick Carter (8-2, 3.76 ERA, 84K), the 2021 Pitcher of the Year and Daniel Thompson (5-1, 3 saves, 3.43 ERA, 62K), the 2021 Rookie Pitcher of the Year and both back. The present, and future, are looking up for N.C Wesleyan.
LaGrange (24-10) is our favorite for tops in the West Division as well as in a poll of USA South coaches. This years conference championship game could very well be a repeat of the 2021 title tilt when La Gramge battled N.C. Wesleyan. The Panthers will be looking for a fifth straight playoff bid but will have to find answers for departing fifth-year seniors that led the 2021 squad. Shortstop Cael Chatham (.365, 8 HR, 37 RBI) and third baseman Joe Ruth (.355, 16 2B, 39 RBI), both 2021 D3baseball.com All-South Region honorees will highlight the returning offense. While new starters get use to their roles on the team, the pitching should continue to get better. Three of the four starters were underclassmen and compiled an overall 17-5 record and this should only improve under the guidance of head coach David Kelton.
William Peace (20-18) made the biggest splash in the coaching world with the hiring of Charlie Long. Long was a legend at conference rival N.C. Wesleyan, earning a Championship in 1999. There will be work to do for WPU. Tyshawn Barrett, the 2021 USA South Player of the Year graduated. Piedmont (21-16) will also have to deal with some big shoes to fill as 2021 All-American pitcher Sam Carpenter ended his long career in a Lion's uniform. Peyton Irvin (8-3, 3.71 ERA, 51K) will assume ace duties and if he falters, help will come from D3baseball.com Preseason All-American center fielder Carter Ballstadt (.331, 34 RBI, 14 SB, 0-1, 10 saves, 45K), one of the best two-way players in the country.
Pfeiffer (13-10), Methodist (15-17), Greensboro (15-18), Brevard (13-14), and Covenant (19-14) all finished in the middle of the pack in 2021. One team looking to make a move up the standings is the Brevard Tornados. Featuring 25 new players (21 freshmen and 4 transfers), there will be more depth on a team that returns 10 key starters at the plate and mound. Keep an eye on 2021 Rookie of the Year, Logan Clark (.360, 5 3B, 15 RBI), who showed much promise in his freshman year, and Jason Jucker (.352, 19 RBI) who will provide leadership with a young squad. Matthew Scavatto (3-4, 2.75 ERA, 27K) will get the ball and set the tone in every series.
Averett (9-22), Mary Baldwin (2-21), Maryville (Tenn.) (9-21) and Huntingdon (13-19) were conference cellar dwellers in 2021. Averett brought in some strong talent this year and are looking to improve on their 2021 campaign. The best player from this quartet returning in 2022 is Maryville outfielder Ian Campbell (.333, 5 HR, 27 RBI). New this year will be Berea (0-0) who did not play in either 2020 or 2021 and Southern Virginia (1-25) who debuts in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Knights will be betting on improving their fortunes on a strong freshman class.
FAVORITE: La Grange
Independent: Emory (7-5) this year will be a younger team that has the opportunity to prove itself. The offense will be led by sophomore Robby Wacker (.333, 11 RBI) and be part of the Eagles' infield defense. Pitching will be the strength of the Eagles. Seniors Joey Bock (4-0, 2.19 ERA, 27K), Jack Brodsky (2-0, 5.52 ERA, 11K) and Jack Moore (1-3, 6.23 ERA, 21K) will give Emory a change to win every time they take the mound. With their first win of their 2022 season, head coach Mike Twordoski will hit the 600 win mark. Bob Jones (8-26) went on a run to end the season in the Non Dual-Affiliated Regional Tournament as they finished their first of three provisional seasons as a new member of Division III.