Dec. 27, 2006
NORFOLK, VA.--- The Old Dominion University Baseball Monarchsreceived honorable mention votes in COLLEGIATE BASEBALL'S Newspapers pre-season top 40.
ODU was 39-17 last year, finishing second in the CAA regular season. TheMonarchs ranked as high as 15th nationally on April 3rd by BASEBALL AMERICAwhich was the highest since 1986.
The 2007 Monarchs return All-CAA and All-region outfielders Jimmy Miles(Orlando, FL.) and Mike Zahm (Elkhorn, NE.) along with CAA All-Rookie selection sophomore righthander Dan Hudson (Virginia Beach, Va.). Other starters returning are firstbaseman Bryan Cipolla (Plainview, NY.), catcher Tyler Belcher (Bristol, Va.), and secondbaseman Chris Keenan (Chesapeake, VA.).
Returning lettermen include: Ross Fetterly (RHP, Norfolk, Va.); Hunter Hall (RHP, Virginia Beach, Va.);Adam Hodge (RHP, Chesapeake, Va.), Joseph Johannes(RHP, Virginia Beach, VA.), John Malbon (1b, Virginia Beach, Va.), Anthony Shawler(RHP/OF, Chesapeake, Va.), Cameron Scott (Inf. Culpepper, VA.); Brooks Sinnen(Inf., Virginia Beach, VA.); David Wagner (LHP, Johnstown, PA.); and Matthew Walls(RHP, Falls Church, VA.).
Head coach Jerry Meyers and his staff brought in ten newcomers: Ryan Bergh (RHP, Reddick, FL.-Pensacola, JC.); Chris Buss (Shortstop, Rosemount, MN.-ECU), Brady Burchill (RHP, Hope ND-Iowa Western CC); David Burns (C,Jacksonville, Fl.-Lake Sumter CC); Dexter Carter (RHP, Murfreeesboro, NC.-Louisburg CC); Gerard Hall(Inf, Washington, DC -Gonzaga HS); Jake McAloose, (3b, Virginia Beach, Va.-Princess Anne HS); Cory Toth (LHP/OF, Chincoteague HS, VA.); Joe Velleggia (C, Monkton, MD., Calvert Hall HS);and Robbie Watkins (RHP/OF, Newport News, VA.-Menchville HS).The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper'sNCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll (As of Dec. 22, 2006)
Rank School ('06 Final Record)1. Rice (57-13)2. Clemson (53-16)3. South Carolina (41-25)4. Arkansas (39-21)5. North Carolina (54-15)6. Miami, Fla. (42-24)7. Texas (41-21)8. Vanderbilt (38-27)9. Nebraska (42-17)10. Virginia (47-15)11. Georgia Tech. (50-18)12. Cal. St. Fullerton (50-15)13. Florida St. (42-21)14. Arizona St. (37-21)15. Texas Christian (39-23)16. Tulane (43-21)17. Wichita St. (46-22)18. Tennessee (31-24)19. Pepperdine (42-21)20. Mississippi (44-22)21. Baylor (37-26)22. Georgia (47-23)23. Stanford (33-27)24. Oklahoma St. (41-20)25. Southern California (25-33)26. UCLA (33-25)27. Arizona (27-28)28. Evansville (43-22)29. Oral Roberts (41-16)30. Long Beach St. (29-27)31. Louisiana St. (35-24)32. Mississippi St. (37-23)33. Houston (39-22)34. Oklahoma (45-22)35. Troy (47-16)36. San Francisco (39-23)37. Winthrop (46-18)38. Michigan (43-21)39. Notre Dame (45-17-1)40. Ohio St. (37-21)
Other Teams Receiving Votes: Oregon St., Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Hawaii, McNeese St., Missouri St., Jacksonville, Maine, North Carolina St., Wake Forest, U.C. Irvine, Fresno St., San Jose St., Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Missouri, San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Stetson, North Florida, Washington, Washington St., California, Western Carolina, College of Charleston, Rhode Island, Louisville, Minnesota, Cal. Poly-SLO, U.C. Riverside, Old Dominion, Southern Mississippi, East Carolina, Memphis, Central Michigan, Kent St., Ball St., Creighton, San Diego St., Samford, Army.
This release can be viewed on Collegiate Baseball newspaper's web site: www.baseballnews.com