Long known as one of the top NCAA Division III baseball programs in the ultra-competitive South region, the University of Mary Washington continues to add to its reputation on the national level. The Eagles, who boast one of the winningest programs in all of college baseball since its inception in 1988, turned in another season for the record books in 2004 en route to its ninth NCAA Division III Tournament in the past fourteen years. In addition to winning the 400th game in the program 's history, UMW ran its all-time mark against number one-ranked teams to 4-2, with a 7-5 victory at Johns Hopkins University in May.
Sophomore Kevin Foeman and senior Stefan Schoen led one of the top pitching staffs in the nation, as the pair were both named first team All-Capital Athletic Conference after leading UMW to an 8-2 regular season conference mark. Foeman, who won twelve games and struck out 145 batters (both ranking among the top three totals in the nation), broke school records for season victories and strikeouts, and tied the school record with 17 strikeouts in the Eagles' win at #1 Johns Hopkins. Foeman pitched the Eagles to a 6-1 win over Virginia Wesleyan College in the NCAA Tournament, and was subsequently named the region's Co-Pitcher of the Year, as well as third team All-America and to the NCAA South Regional All-Tournament team. Schoen won seven games en route to his second straight all region selection and closed his outstanding career with an 18-5 career mark.
Another highlight came in the Eagles' win at Johns Hopkins, as senior first baseman Jay Quintana became the Eagles' all-time career hits hitter, collecting his 172nd career hit, breaking the previous record of 171 held by Joe Kruper and Don Purcell. Quintana would go on to bat .368 for the season, which ranked third on the team, behind only senior third baseman Marc Logan (.413) and freshman centerfielder Eric Fitzgerald, who won CAC Rookie of the Year after also batting .413.
Others that led the Eagle youth movement in 2004 included freshmen Ray Moore, Tom McDermott, and Dylan White. McDermott and Moore formed the Eagles' double play combination, and performed admirably for a young duo, as Moore batted .344 for the season, while McDermott start ed every game, balled .295, and made just three errors all season in 177 chances. White emerged as a lop starter in 2004, as he went 3-3 in eleven appearances, and held Salisbury University to just one hit through six and two-thirds innings in the CAC Championship game. He struck out 48 while walking just 18 in 47.2 innings of work. White, along with rising sophomores Steve Grodek (1.46 ERA in four appearances), Eric Wilkins (3-0, 2.08 ERA) and Tyler Harris, as well as rising juniors Zach Darden and Jim Wilkie, will look to bolster the staff in 2005. An exceptional incoming group of pitchers will push for quality innings as well.
Among position players, Moore and McDermott will be joined by AII-CAC selection Brandon Cole (.349) and a host of newcomers who will challenge for starting berths. Rising redshirt junior Lee Rubin will see time at designated hitter and catcher in 2005, as his breakout 2004 season included a .350 average, with six doubles, three triples, and one home run, which led to a dramatic come from behind victory over Catholic University at Dickinson Stadium in April. Sophomore Jacob Davidson batted .429 in limited action behind the plate, and will also look to succeed all-region backstop Robbie Wright, lost to graduation.
A host of young outfielders emerged in 2004, including freshmen Mike O'Donnell and Ben James, and junior Tim Stoner. O'Donnell hit a clutch two-run homer at the NCAA Regionals and played solid defensively, while Stoner hit .272 with nine doubles and a team high six triples.
The Eagles opened the season ranked # 23 in the nation and remained in the national poll for the majority of the season. UMW started strong, winning eleven of its first twelve games, including important regional wins over Bridgewater College and Washington & Lee University, as well as a CAC win over St. Mary's College. After dropping a pair of games, the Eagles responded with five straight wins, in which they outscored their opponents, 66-15. Consecutive wins over Bridgewater College and Shenandoah University preceded a big Capital Athletic Conference home win against Salisbury. This kick-started a run that saw Mary Washington win seven of eight conference games, placing the Eagles as the top seed in the CAC Tournament. After wins over Catholic University and York College of PA (in which Schoen threw a nine inning four-hit shutout), the Eagles fell in the championship round of the tournament, but bounced back with four wins, including the record-breaking win at Johns Hopkins University, to earn its ninth selection to the NCAA Tournament since 1991.
Foeman paced the Eagles to a 6-1 win over Virginia Wesleyan College in the first day of the regional tournament, which provided the program with its 400th win all time, closing yet another successful chapter in University of Mary Washington baseball history. With another outstanding recruiting effort, UMW baseball will look to maintain its reputation as one of the top Division Ill programs in the nation, as evidenced by the eight players who have gone on to play professional baseball from the program.