Baseball Release (2006) - Preseason Poll - Guilford College
GUILFORD BASEBALL TEAM TABBED SIXTH IN ODAC POLL
Greensboro, NC (2/3/06) -- Guilford's baseball squad was picked sixth by Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) baseball coaches in the league's preseason poll Friday. Bridgewater tops the poll with five of 10 first-place votes. Hampden-Sydney, the defending conference and Division III South Region champions, finished third in the balloting despite four first-place votes.
First-year head coach Nick Black returns with 22 letter winners from last season's group that went 24-17 and finished third in the league. Senior first baseman Rob Bittner and junior second baseman Chad Boone return as the Quakers' top offensive threats. Bittner hit .403 in 2005 with 10 homers, 45 runs batted in (RBI) and a .682 slugging percentage. Boone hit .333 with eight home runs, 45 RBI and a .573 slugging average. Junior starting pitchers Dave Whigham and Logan Collier combined for 12 of Guilford's 24 victories last season.
The Quakers play their season-opener Feb. 11 at Piedmont. Guilford's first home game is Feb. 15 versus Averett.
- Adam Lerner '06
2006 ODAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)
Place Team Points
1. Bridgewater 93 (5)
2. Lynchburg 83 (1)
3. Hampden-Sydney 80 (4)
4. Virginia Wesleyan 79
5. Washington and Lee 59
6. Guilford 52
7. Randolph-Macon 42
8. Roanoke 26
9. Eastern Mennonite 24
10. Emory & Henry 12