The Roanoke College softball team will open the season this weekend with an appearance in the “Mountain Mash” event at the James I. Moyer Complex. The Maroons will play Geneva at 4 and 6 p.m. Friday, then take on Susquehanna at 10 a.m. Saturday and Pitt-Bradford at noon.
The Mountain Mash is hosted by Virginia Wesleyan, the two-time defending NCAA Division III champions. Not surprisingly, Virginia Wesleyan was picked as the top team in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason poll of coaches.
The Marlins received 10 first place votes on the way to an even 100 points, while Randolph-Macon College joined VWU in separating themselves from the remaining nine squads in the poll with one top nod and 90 total markers. Emory & Henry College and the University of Lynchburg are separated by just one point for third.
ODAC rosters are stocked full of returning All-ODAC honorees with 28 of the 40 awards winners from a season ago back in the fold. Virginia Wesleyan leads the way with two-time NFCA National Player of the Year pitcher Hanna Hull and by ODAC Player of the Year Madison Glaubke, joined by utility player Beth Ford on the first team. Randolph-Macon boasts five returning all-conference honorees including arguably the best 1-2 pitching tandem in first team choice Candace Whittemore and Madie Rhoads, who was tabbed to the second team in addition to earning ODAC Rookie of the Year honors.
Roanoke College, picked sixth in the preseason by the ODAC coaches, welcomes back two all-conference standouts, both pitchers. Teresa Wagner was named to the 2018 second team, while Emily Salsberry was a third team selection.
