Greensboro, NC (02/08/02) -- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) baseball coaches picked Guilford fifth in its preseason poll, the league announced Friday. Defending league champion Bridgewater received seven of nine first-place votes and the top spot in the poll. Virginia Wesleyan, Lynchburg and Eastern Mennonite were also tabbed above Guilford.

Head coach Gene Baker opened his fifth season over the weekend by splitting two games at the Savannah College of Art & Design. The Quakers return 17 letter winners, including eight starters, from last year's 15-24 club that missed the four-team ODAC Tournament with a 4-12 conference mark. Nearly all of Guilford's top hitters from last season return, topped by second team All-ODAC selection Brad Franklin (Greensboro, NC/Southern Guilford). Franklin hit a team-leading .423 in 2001, the third-highest season average in school history. Sophomore outfielder A.J. McCauley (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum) also earned all-conference recognition for hitting .358 and with 14 stolen bases as a rookie.

Guilford struggled on the mound last season, as Quakers' hurlers posted an 8.57 earned run average. The return of senior right-hander Joe Dooley (Chantilly, VA/Chantilly) after a season at Division I George Mason, plus a solid group of first-year pitchers, should bolster the mound corps. Dooley compiled a 7-8 record with 105 strikeouts in 101.3 innings as a freshman and sophomore at Guilford. Senior right-hander Anthony Ramakis (Annandale, VA/Annandale) served as the Quakers' number-two starter and has a 7-10 career record.

The Quakers went 1-1 over the weekend and open their home season Wednesday (2/13) versus Averett. Guilford meets Greensboro Thursday (2/14) in the first of two meetings between the cross-town rivals. The Quakers begin league play March 10 with a home doubleheader against Eastern Mennonite.

1. Bridgewater (7)

2. Virginia Wesleyan

3. Lynchburg (2)

4. Eastern Mennonite

5. GUILFORD

6. Washington and Lee

7. Hampden-Sydney

8. Emory & Henry

9. Randolph-Macon