Posted: Feb 08, 2010
Roanoke was picked ninth in the 2010 ODAC Baseball Pre-Season Poll announced this weekend. Lynchburg topped the annual survey with 90 points and four first-place votes. The Maroons had 26 votes.
Virginia Wesleyan College and Randolph-Macon College sit tight in second and third with 81 and 80 points, respectively. The Yellow Jackets earned three top nods. As can be seen from looking at the poll results, determining the predicted order of teams at the top of the standings proved difficult as first place votes were spread all the way to the sixth place squad. Outside of Lynchburg and Randolph-Macon receiving multiple No. 1 votes, the fourth, fifth and sixth-ranked teams each received one first place tally.
Coming off a 10-21 campaign in 2009, the Maroons return All-ODAC performers Graham Thacker (Forest, VA, Jefferson Forest)and Alan Moore (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)and Chris Caputo (Dunwoody, GA, Dunwoody), who was an ESPN Second-Team Academic All-District selecton. They were 5-13 against ODAC competition and 6-7 at home last year. There are 11 seniors on this years' roster, which is the most in the nine-year history in the modern era of the Roanoke baseball program.
Thacker, named honorable mention All-ODAC for a second-straight season, led the Maroons last spring in at bats (124), hits (42), runs (26) and assists with 99. He was second in doubles (9), total bases (54) and stolen bases with four. For his career, Thacker has ranked among the best players to play at Roanoke. He is ranked seventh in hits (104), runs (51), runs batted in (59) and fifth in doubles (23).
Moore, a 2007 Second-Team All-ODAC selection, led the Maroons in batting (.392), slugging percentage (.588) and total bases (60) while second in home runs (3) and doubles (9). Moore enters his final campaign currently holding school records in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, home runs and doubles.
Caputo, from Dunwoody, Ga. went 3-2 in his third year with the Maroons along with 21 strikeouts in 11 appearances, making six starts. He pitched 37 innings along with six starts and ranks among the best at Roanoke in wins (4th), saves (4th), innings pitched (7th) and strikeouts (6th).
Noah Davidson (Salem, VA, Salem), a three-year starter in the outfield for Roanoke, led team in doubles (10), walks (10) and second in batting average (.366), runs (23), hits (41), total bases (53) and on base percentage (.418). He enters the 2010 season ranked among the top-10 in every batting category and holds the career walks record with 41 base on balls.
Jay Laramore (Pfafftown, NC, Guilford)made an immediate impact for the Maroons as a transfer from ODAC-rival Guilford last season. A power-hitter, Laramore led the team in home runs (4), runs batted in (22) and was second in doubles (9) and slugging percentage (.560). He finished with 30 hits, 16 runs, 51 total bases and drew eight walks in 2009.
Roanoke will begin its season later than expected due to the winter weather conditions. The Maroons are scheduled to play at Averett in the USA-South/ODAC Challenge Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.
Roanoke will begin its season later than expected due to the winter weather conditions. The Maroons are scheduled to play at Averett in the USA-South/ODAC Challenge Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.
Listed below is the complete 2010 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll. For more information on ODAC baseball, visit any of the participating schools' websites or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.
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2010 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll
(#) denotes first place votes |
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1. Lynchburg (4)
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90 pts.
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2. Virginia Wesleyan
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81 pts.
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3. Randolph-Macon (3)
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80 pts.
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4. Bridgewater (1)
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78 pts.
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5. Washington and Lee (1)
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57 pts.
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6. Hampden-Sydney (1)
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56 pts.
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7. Guilford
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39 pts.
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8. Eastern Mennonite
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31 pts.
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9. Roanoke
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26 pts.
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10. Emory & Henry
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12 pts.
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