The success of the Mary Washington College baseball program is well-documented. Four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in the '90s, three Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) titles, eight straight winning seasons, seven conference Players of the Year.
But head coach Tom Sheridan and his players are hungry to reach greater heights. MWC loses just a handful of players from last year's 22-10 team which had four position starters who were freshmen or sophomores. The Eagles scored 8.63 runs/game (13th nationally) and stole 114 bases (3.56/game; fourth nationally) in 144 attempts (.792). Last year, seven MWC players were selected to the All-CAC team, five of whom return. Several other starting position players return in '96 as well, but they will be challenged by possibly the most talented recruiting class in school history, according to Sheridan.
The most pleasant surprise for Sheridan in '96 was fleet outfielder Jin Wong (Sr./Vienna, VA), a First-Team All-CAC and All-State choice who finished fourth in NCAA Division III with 1.16 stolen bases/game (school-record total of 37). A Third-Team All-American, Wong paced the CAC in hitting (.425) and triples (six), while also leading the Eagles in on-base percentage (.510) and slugging percentage (.625).
Competition for the other outfield positions will be fierce, with veterans Marc Ruggiero (So./Chesire, CT), Tom Zarcone (Jr./Mechanicsburg, PA), Matt White (Jr./Forest, VA) and Ryan Kaye (So./Arlington, VA) battling a number of talented newcomers for starting berths. Ruggiero hit .345 with 10 RBI in 16 games in '96. Tim Deyesu (Jr./Fallston, MD), an All-CAC selection in '95, can play the outfield or catch. He hit .315 in '96.
Sheridan welcomes back two solid cornermen in first baseman Eric Guyton (So./Hagerstown, MD) and third baseman Adam Natysin (So./Vienna, VA). Guyton, a Second-Team All-CAC selection, hit .330 with 21 RBI and a team-high 24 walks. Natysin posted a .356 average with 10 RBI in 16 games, after battling mid-season injuries. Emilio Perez (So./Dumfries, VA), who hit .350 in 11 games, is a much-improved player who looks to challenge for substantial playing time at first or third base.
In the middle infield, competition for starting spots will be wide open. Senior second baseman John Guthinger (Scotia, NY), a strong fielder and team leader, returns, as does shortstop Chris Crabbe (So./ Arlington, VA). Several newcomers will figure prominently as well, according to Sheridan.
Anchoring the pitching staff will be two-time AllCAC southpaw Jeff Hootselle (Sr./Alpharetta, GA). The 1996 All-State selection went 5-3, with two saves and an ERA of 2.79. He struck out 67 in 67.2 innings. Donny Michael (So./Vienna, VA) went 5-2 with a 3.30 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 60 innings. Kevin Losty (Jr./Milford, CT) overcame a slow start and went 4-2 with a 3.95 ERA, and 39 K's in 43.3 innings. Aaron Mudry (Sr./Yorktown, VA) was 3-2 with a 4.06 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 37.7 innings. Steady Daryl Walls (Sr./ Smithfield, VA) went 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in spot starting and long relief. Other mound returnees are B.J. Belcher (So./Milford, VA), Jeff Sheldon (So./ Staten Island, NY) and Dan Arias (So./Kinnelon, NJ).
Handling the pitching staff will likely be Nathan Payne (Sr./Danville, VA), a starter since his freshman season. Payne, a First-Team All-CAC pick, ranked second in the CAC in RBI (37) and also in doubles (13). Payne hit .371 (seventh in the CAC), with 32 runs scored and a team-high four homers. Junior Jeff Roberts (Jr./Lynchburg, VA) is an experienced backup and a strong. defensive catcher. Chris Fines (So./ Fredericksburg, VA) and Brendan Swartz (So./Washington, DC) are capable receivers as well.