FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team has been picked to finish 11th in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season, ODAC officials announced Thursday. The poll is voted on by the head coaches of the league's baseball programs.

E&H stumbled during the 2013 season, posting a 9-27 record with a 3-17 mark in ODAC play after finishing third in the league in 2012. Though the Wasps are picked to finish last in the conference this year, a strong core of returners mixed with increased depth on the mound could prove to be enough to send them back to the ODAC Tournament for the second time in three years.

Emory & Henry will be without All-ODAC and All-South Region second-teamer Eric Houff, who graduated last spring. Houff set the school record for career hits (175) and doubles (35) and finished second with 94 career runs and third with 93 RBI. The Wasps will also be without Jessup Lambert, who anchored the pitching rotation, and was named the team's MVP after posting a 3.74 ERA and earning the team's first shutout in almost 11 years.

Returning for E&H is second-team all-league catcher Connor Wise (Cookeville, Tenn.) who batted .311 with a team-high six home runs, 18 walks and 12 hit by pitches. Joining him is junior third baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) (.353, 49 hits, 7 doubles, 18 RBI) and junior shortstop Jordan Woullard (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) (.324, 46 hits, 8 doubles, 17 walks).

Back on the hill for Emory & Henry is sophomore Matthew McInaw (Honey Brook, Pa.) who is the leading returner in innings pitched (50.2) and strikeouts (28). Sophomore Ty Hill (Knoxville, Tenn.) threw 43.0 innings during the 2013 campaign and projected to move to a weekend starting position.

Highlighting the newcomers for E&H this year are junior pitcher/infielder Aaron Sparks (Troutman, N.C.) and freshman pitcher Caelan Canady (Browns Summit, N.C.). Both players will give the Wasps depth on mound as left-handed pitchers while Sparks, a transfer from Catawba Valley Community College, will see some time at first base and in the batter's box.

Emory & Henry will begin the 2014 season on Wednesday, February 12 at Maryville (Tenn.) College at 3:00 p.m. The Wasps will have their first home game on Wednesday, February 19 as they host the Buffaloes of Milligan College at 2:00 p.m., and will enter ODAC play on Saturday, March 1 when they travel to Harrisonburg, Va. for a two-game set with the Eastern Mennonite University Royals.

2014 ODAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll

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-photo courtesy of Dave Grace