In just its fifth year of existence, Mary Washington College baseball has established itself as one of the finest programs in NCAA Division III. The Eagles have advanced to postseason play in three straight seasons, including a first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1991 with a 24-9 campaign. Mary Washington returns 19 players, including eight position starters, from a team that hit .341 and ranked fifth in scoring at 9.6 runs/game, which helped MWC to a final regular season ranking of 11th in the country. The 1991 Eagles led the nation in fielding with a .969 percentage, with the defensive anchor being a veteran infield which features four seniors.
The All-Region tandem of second baseman Joe Kruper (1991) and Ray Stapleton (1990) teams with All-American centerfielder Don Purcell (1991) to give MWC outstanding strength up the middle. Purcell (Jr./Devon, PA) hit .425 including a school-record 29-game hitting streak to become MWC's first All-American; he was one of just six sophomores named to the Division III squad. Purcell was also an All-Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), All-Region, All-State and All-ECAC South First Team Selection. Kruper (Sr./ Milton, PA) and Stapleton (Sr./Staunton, VA), both stellar fielders and steady hitters, were named to the All-CAC team, as was slick-fielding third baseman Marty McConagha (Sr./Fredericksburg, VA), who is 100 percent after overcoming a serious knee injury suffered in his sophomore season. Steady Rob Menefee (Sr./Fairfax, VA), who hit .500 in the '91 fall season and who had 29 RBI last spring, will swing between first base and outfield duty. Freshman Chad Hicks (Newport News, VA) should also see action at first base. Sophomores Brian Stigall (So./Richmond, VA) and Chris Sincavage (So./Plains, PA) are solid infield backups. Brian Lillis (Fr./Wilmington, DE), Steve Keiser (Fr./Kingwood, TX), J.J. Vogltanz (So./Richardsville, VA) and J.J. Williams (Fr./Middletown, PA) are infielders with promise as well.
In the outfield, Purcell will likely be flanked by Jay Glover (Jr./Subic Bay, Philippines) in left field and Jeff Tidwell (So./Georgetown, DE) in right. Both were AllCAC performers, while Glover - one of the nation's top hitters with a .450 average - stole 23 bases in 26 attempts en route to All-South Region honors. Scott Stanton (So./Woodbridge, VA) will push for outfield time as well.
A deep pitching staff will be anchored by starters Mark Matthews (Belmont, MA), an All-CAC performer who was 5-1 as a freshman in 1991, and junior Alan Hall (Basking Ridge, NJ), a transfer from Wake Forest University who went 2-0 in the fall. Junior Dave Williams (Falls Church, VA) went 5-2 last spring, and possesses alive arm, as does freshman Chris Campbell (State College, PA), 2-0 in the fall with the team's first ever no-hitter. Mark Bouck (Jr./Annandale, VA), Tim Rice (Jr./New Market, VA) and Mike Greiner (So./ Flanders, NJ) are also proven veterans.
In the fall of 1991, Eagle pitchers allowed just 60 hits in 93 innings with a 1.64 ERA, and head coach Tom Sheridan considers this staff "the deepest ever at MWC." Short relievers Joe Kruper, Brian McRoberts (So./Turbotville, PA) and Rob Menefee and middle reliever/spot starters Sal Failla (So./Piscataway, NJ) and Chad Hicks should also contribute.
Forming a strong catching corps are veterans Doug Sheldon (Jr./Westfield, NJ), Tim Madden (Jr./ Teaneck, NJ) and Brian Abel (So./Marion, VA), a much-improved receiver. Sheldon should see time at the DH slot as well.