FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team has been picked to finish in a tie for fifth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season, ODAC officials announced Wednesday. The poll was voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.
Emory & Henry looks to continue their upward swing after winning 49 games over the past two seasons. Last year, the Wasps started the season with an 18-1 record and went 13-0 against non-conference opponents. E&H posted a 6-0 record at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Cape Coral, Florida to start the campaign and ended the year with a run in the ODAC Tournament to finish in third place.
The Wasps return 16 letterwinners and welcome six new players to the team. Head Coach Tommy Forrester, now in his third season, expects Emory & Henry's depth in the field to be a driving force to success in 2016.
"We have a deep roster with a lot of talent. This team loves each other and has put in a lot of hard work this offseason and preseason," said Forrester. "They have already accomplished goals that were set in the classroom and weight room. I can't wait to see what all we accomplish on the diamond."
Randolph-Macon College took the top spot in the poll with 78 points, earning six first-place votes. Virginia Wesleyan College is second (72 pts.) with three first-place votes while Lynchburg College is third with 69 points and the remaining top pick. Roanoke College is fourth (54 pts.) while Guilford College (44 pts.) shares fifth with Emory & Henry.
Emory & Henry is set to open the season on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21 when it travels to Maryville, Tennessee for a pair of tri-headers with Maryville (Tenn.) College and Centre College. The Wasps will face Centre on both days at 10 a.m., followed by a matchup with Maryville at noon.
E&H's first home games will take a similar format the next weekend with Marietta College and Case Western Reserve University making the trip to Wasps Field. Emory & Henry's first ODAC game is schedule for Saturday, March 19 at home against Randolph College.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15
2016 ODAC SOFTBALL
PRESEASON POLL
| (#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
| 1. Randolph-Macon (6) | 78 pts. |
| 2. Virginia Wesleyan (3) | 72 pts. |
| 3. Lynchburg (1) | 69 pts. |
| 4. Roanoke | 54 pts. |
| 5. Emory & Henry | 44 pts. |
| 5. Guilford | 44 pts. |
| 7. Eastern Mennonite | 33 pts. |
| 8. Randolph | 30 pts. |
| 9. Shenandoah | 17 pts. |
| 10. Bridgewater | 9 pts. |