With six new position players in the lineup for the 2002 season, the Mary Washington College baseball team was expected to fate a rebuilding season. After MWC climbed into the national rankings en route to a 27-10-1 record, the effort was reconsidered to be a reloading season.

Under head coach Tom Sheridan, one of the most successful coaches in collegiate baseball history, the Eagles won their first five games in 2002, including doubleheader sweeps of Dickinson College and Messiah College, and a 7- 0 win at eventual Dixie conference champion Christopher Newport University. After a loss, the Eagles rebounded for wins against Franklin & Marshall and St. Mary's College.

Mary Washington dropped a pair of consecutive games, but then went on one of the longest unbeaten streaks in school history. The Eagles swept doubleheaders from SUNY-New Paltz and Gallaudet before taking wins from Shenandoah University and eventual CAC champion Salisbury University. A 1-1 tie with Salisbury followed, and then eight more wins, including two victories over Gettysburg College, three over the University of Scranton, and league wins over Catholic University and St. Mary's College. The 15-game unbeaten streak was second longest in school history.

The Eagles responded from a pair of losses with wins over Southern Virginia College and Bridgewater, the eventual ODAC champion, before dropping a pair of games to NCAA Tournament-bound teams. The Eagles' final preparation for the CAC Tournament was a 25-8 win at Catholic University. MWC downed Catholic in the first round of the tournament before falling in the semifinal round. After final exams, MWC completed the season just one win shy of the school record for victories, as the team won two of three games; including wins over North Carolina Wesleyan College and Washington & Lee University.

Several players made an immediate impact after being inserted into the starting lineup for the first time. Junior outfielder Aaron Altscher and sophomore first baseman Jay Quintana each earned All-South Region honors, as Altscher batted a team high .413, with two home runs and 32 RBI, and Quintana batted .391 with 27 RBI. Both were also named to the All-Capital Athletic Conference first team.

Junior centerfielder Mike Drummond also turned in an out­ standing campaign, batting .336 with nine doubles and tied for the team lead with three triples without committing an error all season long. Junior transfer Max Seaman hit .276 with three home runs and 29 RBI, and junior third baseman Matt Lemire added twenty RBI while batting in the ninth spot and providing solid defense at the hot corner.

Junior John Chiles, an all-conference caliber outfielder as a sophomore, moved to second base, and hit .3'45 with 24 RBI while stealing twenty bases. The two returning position players were All-CAC senior shortstop Mark McEathron (.364, 7 H R, 37 RBI, 27 29 SB) and junior right fielder Drew Robertson (7 doubles, 24 RBI, 33 hits).

The pitching staff was led by the veteran leadership of four seniors. Bronson Hall earned All-CAC and all-region honors after going 6-1 with a 2.85 ERA in fifteen appearances, with 70 strikeouts and 25 bases on balls. Ryan Grue finished 8-5 with a 4.06 ERA, striking out eighty batters and walking just eighteen. Rob Boese was effective as a starter and reliever, posting a 3-0 record in eleven appearances, and Reed Shabman went 3-3 in six starts, and pitched a complete game shutout over South Region champ Christopher Newport University.

Other pitchers who stepped to the forefront in 2002 were sophomores Brendan Orsinger (3-1, 3.54 ERA, .189 batting average against) and Stefan Schoen (2-0, 2.92 ERA, two saves in eleven appearances). Freshman Jim Wilkie and sophomores Cory Templeman and Marc Hernandez also provided solid relief pitching for the Eagles.

In all, the Eagles had one of their best seasons ever in 2002. With 27 wins, including victories over the ODAC, Dixie, and CAC champions, the Eagles again proved they are one of the elite programs in the South region. With the addition of a few top newcomers joining eight returning position players and several top returning pitchers for 2003, look for MWC to again challenge for conference, regional and national acclaim this Spring.