鈥淚 had to stay on him sometimes, but to his credit, he always listened,鈥� Spotts said. 鈥淗e was definitely a people person, and people are drawn to him because of his personality.鈥�

That amiable nature has contributed to Hooven鈥檚 current success in the business world 鈥� he now works in financial sales with a growing company in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

But in a recent interview outside the company鈥檚 Kennesaw corporate headquarters, Hooven will admit his polish took some 鈥渉oning.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 the kind of guy who knows no stranger,鈥� he said, which is why he remembers his speech class at 91短视频 as particularly valuable. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e an extrovert like I am, the speech class teaches you to rein it in. Even now, sometimes I鈥檒l just stop myself and tell myself to listen. You learn just as much by listening well and asking questions as you do by talking.鈥�

HR, mediation classes provided important preparation

As a recreation leadership and sports promotion major, Hooven was always interested in business. 鈥淚 like to talk to people, and business is always about how you speak and how you handle yourself in conversation.鈥� So he looked for work that involved people and would play to his socially oriented strengths.

And he found that his classes at 91短视频 had prepared him in important ways.

鈥淭he courses in human resources and mediation really teach you how to have intelligent conversations and to be able to pick up on where people are coming from,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ssentially it is how to deal with conflict 鈥� and we deal with conflict every day. That conflict doesn鈥檛 have to be negative or violent, but there is always a problem to be solved, and we have to talk to people to solve it. You have to be able to pick up on things in the conversation to move the process forward.鈥�

The ability to speak and articulate well in high-pressure situations and under scrutiny is under-estimated, Hooven said. His baseball experiences 鈥� he was primarily a reliever on the mound 鈥� have contributed to some comfort level in situations where others might be distracted or uneasy. Working in a commission-based model appeals to him, he said, in part because it takes the same mettle he learned in athletics.

High-achieving sales associates in the company were at one point routinely asked to provide a motivational speech for their colleagues. When he had earned the honor, Hooven shared something he鈥檇 learned while playing under Spotts at 91短视频.聽聽

鈥淒o everything with a purpose,鈥� he said. 鈥淏en taught us that. Even if you鈥檙e playing catch and warming up, hit the guy in the chest every time. So I took that idea and adapted it [to sales]. The river and the flood are both fast-moving water with a current, but the flood lacks vision and focus. The river cuts through the land and is purposeful and so makes a deep impact. We get in flood mentality sometimes, we rush through things and leave a lot of damage behind us. We need to be purposeful and focused in everything we do.鈥�

Athletics experience helps job search

Hooven鈥檚 sports experience also helped him find a place in the workforce. After graduation in May 2016, Spotts connected him with a summer internship at LakePoint Sports, a large mixed-use development in suburban Atlanta that caters to youth sports tournaments and related travel experiences. That internship was where he met his future wife (they married in September 2018) and where he was offered a full-time position as the marketing director.

After a year there, Hooven attended a networking event where an acquaintance suggested he look into financial sales. 鈥淚 see myself doing this for a while,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 love Atlanta, it鈥檚 a booming place, and there鈥檚 a lot of opportunity here.

Frazier spurred 91短视频 to a pair of ODAC wins last week, batting .583 with six runs and six RBIs in just three games. He hit a pair of home runs in an 8-3 win at Washington and Lee and finished the week 7-for-12 with four extra base hits, for a slash line of .583/.643/1.250.

After graduating early from D-II Concord University where he played two seasons of baseball, Frazier was still eligible to play for the Royals as a graduate student. The transition from Concord to Eastern Mennonite was very smooth due to 91短视频鈥檚 welcoming community, he said.

鈥淭he coaching staff and players have been very welcoming and allowed me to come in and helped me to understand the culture of 91短视频 baseball,鈥� he said.

Frazier also steadies 91短视频鈥檚 defense, recently filling in at shortstop when he isn鈥檛 pitching.

鈥淚 do not find defense challenging because you have eight other guys on the field with you,鈥� said Frazier. 鈥淚 believe that all of our skill sets combined makes each of us versatile in our own ways. When I am at short I try to communicate with everyone on the field as much as possible, telling them tendencies I’ve seen from hitters or shifting position based on pitch location.鈥�

鈥淲hat Damon has done on the field certainly speaks for itself,鈥� Coach聽Ben Spotts聽said. 鈥淗ow he has produced for us on the mound and at the plate, and his versatility to play anywhere in the infield has been very important for our team this year and is a constant you can always count on.鈥�

However, playing postgraduate hasn鈥檛 been without its challenges.

鈥淟ast year the team was chock full of older guys who laid the stepping stones for the program, and this year all around we are a very young team who is trying to learn those stepping stones and run with them,鈥� Frazier said. 鈥淚 believe part of the challenge is trying to bring the energy and motivation for everyone on the team to keep pushing themselves to get better.鈥�

As one of the older players on the team, Spotts states that Frazier鈥檚 prior experience playing college baseball has helped him to become a strong leader on the team.

鈥淒amon as a leader does two things very well for a very young roster that we have,鈥� said Spotts. 鈥淔irst he remains very calm during parts of the game that are stressful. Whether he is pitching, playing the field, or hitting he is very calm in his approach, which allows for the moment to never be too big for him. This is a calming influence that he helps provide for our team. He also does a great job talking to his teammates about situations and how to approach them during a game or explaining to them what things to consider next time they are in the situation. He has a lot of experience in college baseball and wants to help his teammates learn from what he has experienced.鈥�

Frazier said that while he might not always be the most vocal leader on the team, he tries to make a difference by leading by example. He hopes that his young team members appreciate the time they have playing for 91短视频.

鈥淐herish every moment of your athletic career and always put the extra work in. I know it is clich茅 and everyone says it, but four years at college goes by in the blink of an eye.鈥�

During the off season, Frazier says that he put in extra effort in strength training, throwing and hitting. He hopes that his last season playing college baseball is his best one yet, and聽that he and the team’s other seniors can leave the program with fond memories and a stronger work ethic.

鈥淚 want these guys to remember the work we put in and the values that we instilled and hopefully they keep building on that work ethic and those values,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he program has a bright future and I would love nothing more than to be part of the next stepping stone in that future.鈥�

Frazier is pursuing a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on organizational leadership, and after graduating hopes to start a career in marketing.

Outfielder (Gladys, Va./Rustburg) earned an All-State First Team nod for the second time, matching his award from 2015. He won the ODAC Batting Title both years, hitting .423 as a sophomore before ending his career this spring with a .447 clip. He was 11th in D-III in hitting, while his 71 hits led the nation during the regular season. Hall had 40 runs, 32 RBIs, 15 extra-base hits and three homeruns. He also broke the 91短视频 season record with 25 stolen bases. A judicious eye aided Hall’s pesky presence at the plate, as he led the nation with just two strikeouts in 159 at-bats.

(Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) claimed a First Team spot at first base. The four-year starter finished with career marks across the board, including a .405 batting average, 35 runs, 34 RBIs and 13 doubles. Mathews had a massive power streak with six homeruns in seven games, leading him to a .673 slugging percentage. He was second in the ODAC in both batting and slugging and ended his career on a 24-game hitting streak. Defensively he was also outstanding, holding a .990 fielding percentage.

Both Hall and Mathews .

(Waynesboro, Va./Wilson Memorial) made an immediate impact after coming to 91短视频 as a graduate transfer from D-II Concord University. He was voted All-State Second Team to the utility spot. Frazier became the instant ace of the pitching staff, earning a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.92 in 67.2 innings. The right-hander was 11th in the ODAC with 6.65 strikeouts per nine innings. Splitting time at first base, Frazier also had a .352 batting average with 30 RBIs and 20 runs, adding a .985 fielding percentage.

All three of the Royals named to the All-State Teams .

91短视频 finished 19-20 on the season, earning the second-most wins since 2002. The Royals now have a combined eight All-State honorees in Coach Ben Spotts‘ five seasons.

VaSID聽names 27聽All-State聽teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic聽All-State聽squad and an聽all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in聽VaSID聽is open to聽all聽media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the聽state聽of Virginia.

The Royals won the opener in walk-off fashion before dropping the nightcap by a slim margin. Eastern Mennonite settled at 16-16 overall and 4-10 in the ODAC. With six conference games left, all on the road, the Royals sit two full games behind Roanoke (6-8) for the sixth and final spot in the ODAC Tournament.

After hosting a rescheduled game against Southern Monday afternoon, the Royals will get back to work in conference, playing at Shenandoah and Bridgewater, along with doubleheaders at Hampden-Sydney and Lynchburg to close the year.

91短视频 6, No. 13 Randolph-Macon 5
After lengthy pregame Senior Day ceremonies honoring all 12 of 91短视频’s seniors, the visiting Yellow Jackets made a quick first sting with a two-out RBI single in the top of the first.

(Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) hit a leadoff triple in the second and scored on a single from (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge), and Matthews scored an unearned run in the fourth on ‘s (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) two-out single, putting 91短视频 in front, 2-1.

A leadoff double in R-MC’s next at-bat turned into a two-run frame which flipped the Yellow Jackets back in the lead, but Mathews crushed a shot to left center in the sixth to tie things up at 3-3.

Then starting in the bottom of the seventh, the two teams started an epic streak of scoring.

(Waynesboro, Va./Wilson Memorial_ hit a two-out RBI single to give the Royals the lead before R-MC tied it with back-to-back leadoff hits in the eighth. (Martinsville, Va./Franklin County) replaced Frazier on the hill and worked out of the jam, leaving two runners on base.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Salladay scored all the way from first on a single from (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield), touching home before Lowery was cut down trying to get back to first base.

Randolph-Macon got a leadoff single in the ninth and tied it once again with a two-out hit. The Royals kept coming, however, as (Gladys, Va./Rustburg) punched a one-out single to get things rolling. Finally with the bases loaded, Hedrick dumped a hit into left as his fellow senior sprinted in for the walk-off win.

Mathews was one of five men to have two hits, as the first baseman also had two RBIs and two runs. (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring), Hall, (Stuarts Draft, Va./Riverheads) and Hedrick each had two hits as well, as all nine of 91短视频’s batter reached base safely.

Frazier pitched seven strong innings, striking out seven in a no-decision. Brewer earned his first win of the year with two innings in relief.

No. 13 Randolph-Macon 9, 91短视频 7
The nightcap turned into another wild affair, even with Randolph-Macon leading much of the game.

Eastern Mennonite scored first on an RBI groundout from (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) in the second. The Yellow Jackets capitalized on their three hits to plate four runs in the third, but the Royals came marching back. Mathews and Salladay each had RBIs in the fourth, before Hall pulled his third homerun of the season down the left field line to tie the score at 4-4 in the fifth.

Randolph-Macon got a pair of two-out RBI singles in the sixth to get back in front, 6-4.

In the seventh, Lowery led off with a walk, worked his way to third, and came in when Roberts singled, cutting the margin in half.

But the Yellow Jackets took charge in the ninth, started by a leadoff single. A three-run homer later, the visitors had a 9-5 cushion.

Eastern Mennonite rallied in the bottom of the ninth, scoring twice with two away, but the margin was too much to overcome.

The Royals out-hit R-MC 13-8 in the game, but issued six costly walks along with a couple of hit batters. (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing only five hits but six runs and four walks. (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro) had an effective 1.2 of relief.

Hall and Hedrick each batted 3-5 and combined to account for five runs. Roberts finished 2-4 with a walk, scoring a run and driving in another. Mathews also had a pair of hits.

Senior Recognition
The Royals celebrated their huge senior class of 12, a group which was Coach Ben Spotts first recruiting class and quickly helped change the culture of 91短视频 baseball. As sophomore in 2015, the group spearheaded the Royals’ return to the ODAC Tournament for the first time in 13 years.

The group also forms the core of this year’s team: (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield), Stanley, (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem), Hedrick, Hall, Mathews, Brown, (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem), Meehan, (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes), Salladay and (Nathalie, Va./Rustburg).

Now entering his fifth season at 91短视频, it’s been a long time coming for baseball coach Ben Spotts to finally see this first in his program 鈥� the senior season of players he recruited and brought in as freshmen. The Royals have 12 seniors on the roster, easily the largest graduating class in the recent history of the program, and Spotts has watched the group accomplish a lot in their three previous seasons.

“I’m very grateful to this senior class for coming in here when we were in the bottom and buying into us, and moving us forward,” Spotts explained. “They have helped move our program forward from the bottom of the ODAC to really have a legitimate shot every year to make the ODAC Tournament.”

The seniors have already helped the Royals return to places the program hasn’t been since the Erik Kratz era. In their freshman season of 2014, Eastern Mennonite won 20 games for just the third time ever. In 2015, the Royals advanced to the ODAC Tournament. Neither feat had been accomplished since Kratz, a current big leaguer, was a senior in 2002.

Now Spotts will push his players to use those experiences to reach even higher in 2017.

“I have a lot of bats back and positional experience,” explained Spotts, “guys that have proven they can play well, particularly offensively, but also from a defensive standpoint. And we can build around that. Our goal is to make the ODAC Tournament. They made it two years ago and realize it’s a possibility and expectation. And hopefully we’ll be playing our best baseball that weekend.”

The main losses from last year surround Kyle Armstrong, a two-time All-ODAC player who pitched, played in the outfield, and batted in the middle of the order. Aaron Hooven leaves shoes to be filled as a flexible pitcher, while the leadership of players like Nic Love, Pat Love and Ryan Tierney will be missed, although Nic Love and Tierney maintain their presence as coaches this year.

Even with the losses, the batting order will be plastered with familiar talent as 91短视频 returns 16 of the 19 players who played in eight or more games last spring. As a result, Spotts expects the offense to continue the pattern it started in his first season, as the Royals have been one of the best-hitting teams in the ODAC in each of his previous years.

“Those guys are another year older and added another year of experience,” he said. “The guys should be able to handle the bat against top-notch arms, and those three years of experience should give us the ability to compete and adjust against high-quality arms.”

(Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) and (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) both landed on the All-ODAC Third Team as juniors, giving them the most recent hardware from a very balanced batting order.

Stanley, 91短视频’s leadoff batter, had 47 hits and 16 walks to finish eighth in the ODAC with a .446 on-base percentage. He scored a team-best 35 runs while adding elite-level speed in center field. Salladay split his time between catcher and third base, batting .326 with a team-best 21 walks. (Gladys, Va./Rustburg) was an All-ODAC First Team selection when he won the batting crown with a .423 batting average as a sophomore. He had a “down year” last spring, batting .347 with a .431 on-base percentage, good for 11th in the conference.

Catcher/outfielder (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) batted .322 last year and led 91短视频 with 30 RBIs. As a three-year starter, Hedrick brings a career .321 batting clip and 83 RBIs into his final campaign. Outfielders (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) (.380) and (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) (.309) are also part of the large senior class.

The only underclassmen to earn major roles last spring also return in starting shortstop (Stuarts Draft, Va./Riverheads) (.311, 22 RBIs) and first baseman (Woodstock, Va./Miller School) (.329, 20 RBIs), giving Spotts eight returning regulars who batted better than .300.

Other seniors who are expected to play key roles this year are (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem), (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) and (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) as well as newcomer .

Flexibility is also a key piece to a Spotts-coached team, as only Roberts and Stanley hold down spots not likely to change from game-to-game, guided by pitching matchups.

That flexibility and overall speed should aid a defense which struggled at times last spring.

“Defensively, I’m hoping that we’re veteran enough and athletic enough that some of the mistakes we made early in the year last year will be behind us,” explained Spotts. “I think we have two of the best catchers in the league in and . And once got in as shortstop last year, we stabilized the position and he learned on the run, and it paid off by the end of the season.”

Pitching has always been the hardest part of the program for Spotts to rebuild, and make matters worse, the staff slumped last year to the lowest team ERA in the coach’s four years, 6.36. As a result, this year’s class of recruits and transfers is flooded with pitchers.

Frazier is expected to quickly become a familiar face on the mound as the Royals’ No. 1 pitcher. He is enrolled in a graduate program at 91短视频 after graduating early from D-II Concord University, and still has two years of eligibility remaining because of a medical redshirt from his first year at Concord. The right-hander also has experience in the Valley League and Spotts hopes Frazier can anchor his staff and be a good weekend starter.

Sophomore (Martinsville, Va./Franklin County) (3-2, 4.81), transfer-sophomore (Luray, Va./Luray) and senior (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) (1-6, 10.02 ERA) expect to round out the top four starter spots, with freshmen (Daleville, Va./James River) and (Chester, Va./Matoaca) playing swing roles, coming out of the bullpen while also picking up an occasional start. will likely work as the closer once again after nailing down five saves with a 1.46 ERA last year.

Lefty (Raphine, Va./Riverheads), (Staunton, Va./Buffalo Gap) and (Sugar Creek, Ohio/Hiland) each made big improvements over the summer and freshman (Woodbridge, Va./C.D. Hylton) will make a contribution. Spotts also said returners like (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes), (Nathalie, Va./Rustburg) and (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro) will be in the mix, along with newcomers (Luray, Va./Page County) and (Shanks, W.V./Hampshire), getting a chance to prove themselves in appearances before the ODAC season starts in the middle of March.

“We’re talented, but we’re also unproven and lack experience,” explained Spotts. “So while we have limited experience, we’re deeper and have more talent than we’ve had in my five years.”

Whereas last season Spotts rarely had fully rested arms and couldn’t have as much patience, he feels the depth of his 2017 staff will give him more leeway in his pitching decisions throughout a game.

“Having what we feel like is four to six quality starters will allow our bullpen to not be stretched so thin,” he said, “allowing us to get more defined and proper roles instead of just seeing ‘what do you have today?'”

91短视频 has home doubleheaders each of the next three Saturdays, as well as one mid-week game, as they start the year with seven straight at home.

鈥淭he best thing about this, besides the baseball and the talent and skill of the players, is the connection with the community,鈥� says rising junior Brendon Salladay. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just parents and friends coming to games. I talk to people around town and they all have their story about how they connect to County League. It鈥檚 a real part of this community.鈥�

The RCBL is a wooden-bat amateur league comprised mostly of current and former collegiate players, with a sprinkling of former minor leaguers and high school players added to the mix. Supported by a cadre of dedicated volunteers, the all-amateur league has been in existence since 1924. Nine teams play a 26-game schedule with playoffs currently in progress.

The Montezuma Braves have seven 91短视频 players, including Zach Roberts, Brendon Salladay, Kyle Mathews, Cody Gibson, Ryan Hedrick, Kyle Salladay (now playing in the all-collegiate, NCAA-sanctioned Valley League), and 2016 graduate Kyle Armstrong.

Seven others are divided among four teams: Tyler Wilcher and Tristan Childress with the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks; Clay Atkins and John Dudley with the Luray Cavemen; Adam Marston and Julian Bussells with the New Market Shockers; and Jimmy Miller with the Grottoes Cardinals.

91短视频 coaches are former players

91短视频 head coach Ben Spotts helps connect players with managers. Spotts played several seasons in the RCBL before coaching responsibilities ended his playing days, as did assistant coaches (and former ODAC All-State honorees) Ryan McAlister and Adam Posey.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to get reps, learn from older guys and stay in shape for the fall, when you鈥檙e expected to come back and prove yourself, even if you had a starting spot last season,鈥� says Armstrong, who has played at Montezuma for four seasons.

For players, though, the atmosphere is loose, the crowds are impressive, and the roster鈥� well, let鈥檚 just say that鈥檚 a little loose, too. Guys play out of their normal positions. Pitchers hit for themselves. It鈥檚 an amateur approach by necessity some nights depending on who shows up 鈥� a bit of anarchy among the more traditional (and markedly more successful) utilization of personnel during the college season.

Summer 鈥榬eps鈥� valuable

On a regular basis this summer, starting catcher Brendon Salladay has been reminding Montezuma manager Ronnie Brunk that he wants to pitch. This reminder is accomplished by using the universal sign of a player begging to go to the mound, a quick subtle gesture mimicking a throw, which is also usually accompanied by some words designed to encourage the manager that one is well and truly an undiscovered Stephen Strasburg.

So when he got his chance in a July 22 blowout, entering the final inning with one out, Salladay proved his worth, inducing a ground-out and striking out one. This means, of course, that his ERA is a fabulous 0.00 and that he鈥檒l return to 91短视频 this fall and try to convince his coach that the best use of his talents will be as the Royals No. 1 closer.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to hear about it from Ben, I鈥檓 sure,鈥� says Brunk.

Joking aside, Salladay says his time with Montezuma has proven to be a valuable experience. He鈥檚 appreciated the time behind the plate, spelled occasionally by teammate Ryan Hedrick, a local in his sixth season with Montezuma.

Playing time redefined

Playing time has been a bonus, too, for Cody Gibson, a pitcher at 91短视频. In college, the designated hitter rule usually means pitchers don鈥檛 hit for themselves. With Montezuma, however, Gibson is Montezuma鈥檚 starting third baseman. The former high school shortstop is hitting .254 and hoping to press his case for an infield position next season.

鈥淗e鈥檚 done well for us there,鈥� says Brunk. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 blame him at all for wanting to see if he can do the job there at 91短视频. That鈥檚 another one I鈥檒l hear about from Ben.鈥�

One player who is right where he鈥檚 supposed to be is shortstop Zach Roberts, a sophomore in his second season with the Braves. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really fortunate I found this team because I鈥檝e played a lot and benefited from being around Kyle Armstrong and learning from him. It helped me prepare for my first season at 91短视频, and then being asked to move from second base to shortstop at 91短视频, playing here has given me reps and a different mindset with the expectation that I鈥檒l play every game in that position.鈥�

The Braves are in the running for a semi-final spot. Brunk says the team has a good chance of advancement, giving a nod to his 91短视频 contingent for their consistent attendance and skilled contributions.

鈥淗aving this group of guys here this season has made a big difference,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a lot of fun and a good bunch of ballplayers.鈥�

鈥淥h, he could fly,鈥� says 91短视频 head baseball coach , who saw Lambert play at Fort Defiance High School and years later was his teammate in the (RCBL). 鈥淗e could run, throw, catch, hit and hit for power. He was that five-tool player everyone talks about. He just wasn鈥檛 physically where the scouts wanted him to be until he was older.鈥�

Kratz and Lambert, both inducted into 91短视频鈥檚 Athletic , are the only baseball players to have their jerseys retired.

Another accolade is coming for Lambert: induction into the . On June 25, he will be honored with 12 other men who have made significant contributions to the amateur league, in existence since 1924. He is one of two honorees 鈥� the other, inducted last year, is 鈥� to be connected to 91短视频.

Lambert鈥檚 RCBL recognition is primarily for his nine standout seasons from 1988-1996 with the Grottoes Cardinals, during which he won three Most Valuable Player awards. But the honor, which also considers civic engagement and service, highlights Lambert鈥檚 contribution to youth athletics and baseball in the Valley: For 22 years, until he stepped out last season on the heels of retiring head coach , he coached baseball at Fort Defiance High School.

鈥�91短视频鈥檚 own Ken Griffey, Jr.鈥�

While this article really should talk more about Lambert in the County League 鈥� and we鈥檒l get to that 鈥� it鈥檚 irresistible not to share that Lambert鈥檚 athleticism and enthusiasm for both the game and his college experience changed the tenor and tone of the EMC baseball program, an observation confirmed by several sources.

In 1988, the team was 3-22. Their biggest margin of loss was an ugly 33-0 shutout to Bridgewater. The team photo includes 12 players, which might work but only if all of them can pitch well. (The 鈥�88 yearbook entry, written by a player, promises that next year鈥檚 team will 鈥渟eek respectability.鈥�)

In the fall of 1988, Daryl Lambert arrives, along with a few local players including his good friend and county league teammate Bobby Swink. In the spring, the team loses its final game by 10 runs to Washington and Lee, but that鈥檚 the worst it gets, and they win five of 19 games.

In 1990, Lambert convinces Dale Glass and Larry Sorrells to join, “huge additions to an already fairly talented team,” he remembers.

The Royals beat Bridgewater for the first time, 7-6. Lambert, in centerfield, catches the final out, and adds another ball to his collection of game-ending, game-winning catches (in case you鈥檙e curious, he has a total of nine balls in this collection). The team loses twice to Bridgewater in one-run games.

The team plays home games at Harrisonburg High School鈥檚 Memorial Stadium, because the new field is being built on campus. 鈥淧eople who would never think of going to a baseball game go because they played at Memorial Stadium, under the lights,鈥� said , a classmate of Lambert鈥檚 and now 91短视频鈥檚 head men鈥檚 basketball coach. 鈥淐rowds of people would go. The team was fun to watch, there were good local athletes on the team and Daryl especially was good, making catches, hitting, stealing bases.鈥�

The team still needs more pitching and they are light on the bench, but they compete well enough to make the semi-finals of the ODAC tournament. Lambert is an All-ODAC first team selection.

In 1991, Lambert convinces a few more local players to come out: Kevin Kirschner, Scott 鈥淧istol鈥� Hensley. 鈥淚 would see ballplayers who I knew could play the game and I鈥檇 tell them to come to EMC,鈥� Lambert said.

They beat Bridgewater again. They also beat Messiah, Virginia Wesleyan, Washington and Lee and several other teams that had previously offered a drubbing. There鈥檚 no tournament qualification, but Lambert is All-ODAC again.

In 1992, the team is 10-11-3, again making the ODAC tournament. There鈥檚 still only 16 players on the team, but many of them are talented local players recruited by Lambert, who is All-ODAC First Team, Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State team and DIII South Region All-American 鈥� a constellation of honors never collected before by any Royals player. He ended with a career batting average of .381 and a slugging average of .496. He had 136 hits, 49 RBI, and was successful in 41 out of 45 stolen base attempts.

鈥淗e could run, hit, throw, hit for power and chase down fly balls all over the outfield,鈥� Dean is quoted as saying when Lambert went into the 91短视频 Hall of Honor. 鈥淚t was like having our own version of Ken Griffey Jr. playing at 91短视频.鈥�

Playing for Grottoes

During Lambert鈥檚 County League career, he put on size, weight and confidence. Though he tried out for major league scouts, once locally and then by invite in Florida, by that time, at 24, he was middle-aged by baseball standards.

So Lambert settled in with the Grottoes Cardinals and played his heart out. Though the team never won a pennant or a series championship, that didn鈥檛 matter to Lambert. He evoked 鈥渨inning fanaticism鈥� among the Grottoes fans, while making a name for himself as a 鈥渞elentless nuisance鈥� with opponents, according to a newspaper article.

One former player from the Bridgewater Reds said that if an infielder fielded a ball hit by Lambert, 鈥淚 always wanted to tell the player to just hold the ball and let Daryl run to first base, because he was going to get there fast anyway. He might as well have been on first already.鈥�

At one of his first games with Grottoes, then-rookie Ben Spotts remembers that Lambert, a County League veteran, made an impression: 鈥淗e hits a single to left, steals second, steals third, scores. The next at-bat, he lays a drag bunt down, beats it out, steals second. Next at-bat, he hits a home run. I was just in awe. There was no one like him in the County League.鈥�

For his own part, Lambert described himself as 鈥渁 hustler, a scrapper.鈥� His motto: 鈥淚f it鈥檚 in the air, I鈥檓 gonna get it.鈥�

Lambert, still a resident of Mount Sidney where he grew up, now works for Virginia Department of Transportation. He remembers his days at EMC with fondness, he said. He鈥檚 still good friends with Kirby Dean and also , head women鈥檚 basketball coach.

Though they no longer see each other on a daily basis in the spring, he keeps in touch both with the elder Spotts and the younger Spotts. And among his mentors, he names 91短视频 men鈥檚 basketball assistant coach , who was a football and basketball coach at Fort when Lambert was a three-sport athlete.

鈥淭he friends I made at 91短视频 were friends who were in my wedding and who I remain close to,鈥� Lambert said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I really took away was those close friendships.鈥�

Editor’s note: * 91短视频 alumnus Larry Sheets, who was drafted in 1978 out of R.E. Lee High School and attended 91短视频 in his off-seasons, played basketball. He was not eligible to play baseball because of his pro career. He was an assistant baseball coach under Roland Landes in 1983, and was called up to the major leagues in 1984, where he played nine years as an outfielder and designated hitter.

The Rockingham County Baseball League Hall of Fame induction ceremony is Saturday, June 25, at the Weyers Cave Community Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The program begins at 6 p.m. with a dinner. Tickets are $25. Please reserve a seat by calling (540) 236-8128.

Eastern Mennonite sits just behind Randolph-Macon and Roanoke, who are tied for fifth in the ODAC standings at 7-5. Hampden-Sydney is seventh at 6-6. (91短视频 and Guilford were the only conference teams to play on Saturday, with poor weather moving the rest of the ODAC’s games to Sunday.) Only the top six teams make the postseason tournament.

The men have non-conference games during the upcoming week, hosting Ferrum Tuesday and traveling to Hood Wednesday, before hosting the ODAC’s 10th-place team, Lynchburg, next Saturday.

91短视频 7, Guilford 2
The Quakers scored first, turning a leadoff walk in the second to a 1-0 lead.

pushed the men ahead with a two-run single in the fourth. The then Royals bumped the lead to 3-1 in the seventh, triggered by (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) leading off with a single and moving to third on a wild throw on a pickoff attempt. (Woodstock, Va./Miller School) later singled him in.

GC’s back-to-back singles to start the eighth resulted in an early move to closer (Gladys, Va./Rustburg). One of the runners came in on a sacrifice fly before Hall stranded two Quakers to hold the lead.

The men got some insurance in the ninth. (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) led off with a triple and (Stuarts Draft, Va./Riverheads) followed by drawing a walk. The Royals botched a squeeze play, but the Quakers returned the favor by missing the tag on Stanley in the resulting rundown, allowing Roberts to move up to second. (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) quickly cashed in on the mistake by shooting the next pitch up the middle and both runners came home. Salladay eventually scored on a groundout and (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) added a two-out RBI single for the fourth run of the frame.

Hall allowed just a single in Guilford’s last chance for the two-inning save.

The offense earned 11 hits and seven walks, as each starter reached base safely at least once. Armstrong was 2-3 with a walk, scoring twice. Meehan was 2-4 with a walk and RBI, while Marston also had a pair of singles and RBI.

Armstrong also pitched 7.0 strong innings, giving up just one run to improve to 3-2. Hall got his fifth save, tied for second in the ODAC.

91短视频 6, Guilford 5 鈥� 12 innings
The second game proved to be even more dramatic than the first. Not only did the nightcap go into extra innings, but all 11 of the runs scored during the affair came across with two outs.

Roberts gave 91短视频 the first lead with an RBI double in the third. After Guilford jumped ahead with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth, Roberts brought home two unearned runs with a two-out single in the fifth. (Bedford, Va./Staunton River) laced a two-run double in the sixth, pushing the lead to 5-2.

The Quakers struck back quickly with four hits in the bottom of the frame, touching home three times to knot things up at 5-5.

After the scoring outburst, neither team dented home again until six innings later. During that spell Guilford had the best scoring chances, loading the bases with no one out in the eighth before putting runners on second and third in the ninth. The Royals, meanwhile, couldn’t get a runner past second base.

Until the 12th.

Roberts led off the frame with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice from Salladay. After taking third on a groundout, the freshman raced the 90 feet to home on a wild pitch. The Royals ended up getting two more hits in the inning, but had to settle for the one-run lead.

(Port Republic, Va./Spotswood), who had taken over on the mound the previous inning, left a little drama by giving up a two-out single. But he worked a great at-bat to close the game on a strikeout looking.

Roberts was the offensive hero of the game, accounting for four of 91短视频’s six scores. He batted 4-6 with three RBIs while notching the game-winning run. was also 4-6. Love finished 2-4 with two RBIs and a run.

After getting the save in the opener, Hall pitched three scoreless innings to get the men into extra innings. Miller threw the final two frames scorelessly for his first win.

It was the first extra-inning game of the year for Eastern Mennonite.

The trip came about thanks to 91短视频 coach , who traveled to southern California five times while serving as an assistant baseball coach for perennial power Bridgewater College. He enjoyed the trips immensely, and he learned what the region had to offer.

So when he became 91短视频鈥檚 head coach in 2013, he knew he wanted to give the Royals a similar opportunity.

鈥淲e went to Florida the last three years, and I figured we should do something different,鈥� Spotts says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good baseball-wise, it鈥檚 good for the guys to get a look at another part of the country鈥攕omeplace many of them might not see otherwise鈥攁nd it helps with recruiting to do something that鈥檚 different.鈥�

Baseball in California a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’

Spotts says the trip had to be lined up about a year in advance to get on the southern California teams鈥� schedules鈥攎uch to the chagrin of last year鈥檚 seniors, who were hoping to head west. For the players who returned this year, though, it was worth the wait.

鈥淕oing on a big trip like this was priceless for me, because I don鈥檛 know when I would have had the chance to get out to the West Coast if it wasn鈥檛 for Coach Spotts putting this together,鈥� says Brendon Salladay, a sophomore catcher from Chesapeake, Virginia. 鈥淭he fundraising and hard work all year paid off big-time with this trip, because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.鈥�

Salladay says he thinks it also makes the 91短视频 program stand out more, as well.

鈥淭his is a great way to bring in future athletes, because they will see that coming to 91短视频 is a first-class experience all around,鈥� he says. 鈥淣o one would have guessed that a small school like 91短视频 could go out to the West Coast and compete with California schools.鈥�

A total of 46 people, including 42 players, made the trip. Spotts was able to rent a bus to accommodate the larger group. To cover the costs, players helped with parking at James Madison University football games for five Saturdays during the fall and sent letters to at least 10 family members, friends or neighbors asking for support.

鈥淭he goal was for the guys not to pay anything for it or very little,鈥� Spotts says. 鈥淚t was great to take kids who had worked so hard for it and do something special. It really worked out.鈥�

Rainout doesn’t stop comraderie

The team played three games during their West Coast road trip, against Whittier College, the University of La Verne and Chapman College; a fourth scheduled game, against Claremont College, was rained out. Spotts also made sure they saw some of the area鈥檚 highlights, including the Rose Bowl, Dodger Stadium, Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, the Santa Monica Pier and 鈥渘osebleed鈥� seats for a Los Angeles Lakers game.

鈥淚t was a great time to connect with one another, whether it was in the airport, on the plane, bus rides, touring the city and at the different schools we played on the trip,鈥� says senior Nic Love, a first baseman from Bedford, Virginia. 鈥淏eing able to experience a different brand of baseball from the West Coast was awesome, and taking in the beauty and excitement of the LA area was something I will always remember.鈥�

Spotts says the team will return to its regular Florida spring break tour next spring, but he plans to keep California or similarly unique experiences in the rotation.

鈥滱t some point,鈥� he says, 鈥淚 want every class of kids to experience something like that.鈥�

91短视频 fields varsity and junior varsity teams. The Royals finished sixth in the conference last spring with a record of 10-10, qualifying for the six-team ODAC Tournament for the first time since 2002.聽 They ended with an overall record of 16-18.

For more information about 91短视频 athletics, visit

The theme this year was the question, 鈥淲hy do I continue to 鈥榗hoose鈥� Jesus?鈥�

The late February event features nightly faculty/staff sharing and conversation in residence halls, special gatherings for women and men, chapel events, retreats, and the much-loved tradition of meeting in the homes of faculty and staff for a meal and fellowship.

More than 100 students signed up for dinners hosted by 20 faculty and staff. 鈥淲e have been trying to do this every semester,鈥� said , undergraduate campus pastor and event coordinator, 鈥渂ut this semester, it was really successful.鈥�

Speakers at the informal nightly discussions included , professor of English, and , professor of visual arts; head baseball coach and assistant coach Adam Posey; physical education professors and ; undergraduate dean and , office coordinator for the Applied Social Sciences Department.

Professors and led a women鈥檚 gathering, while Wes Wilder, a ministry intern, hosted the men鈥檚 luncheon.

spoke in chapel about her years-long journey with glaucoma, a reflection titled “,” which was widely read and shared after posting to 91短视频 News and Facebook accounts. Schrock-Hurst teaches youth ministry, spiritual formation, and introduction to Bible courses in the department, in addition to overseeing the .

‘All their stories are sacred’

鈥淚 really enjoyed hearing the stories from the faculty and staff and their perspectives on following Jesus,鈥� said Christina Hershey, a pastoral assistant for campus ministries. 鈥淚t was interesting to go to multiple forums because everyone had very different stories, but all their stories are sacred, and it shows the diversity in the church.鈥�

She added, 鈥淚 really like the opportunity to hear the stories from the faculty and staff and to learn from their vast wealth of knowledge. Many of them do not get the chance to share about their faith in their classroom or other work contexts, and I enjoy hearing their perspectives on faith. I also attended both chapels and the faculty and staff meals.鈥�

鈥淚 admired Adam and Ben鈥檚 willingness to open up and discuss their personal faith journeys,鈥� said senior , who helped to host an evening forum and the women鈥檚 meal, which attracted about 50 participants to the West Dining Room. 鈥淐arl and Carolyn addressed the question, 鈥榃hat is the difference between living like Jesus and living in relationship with Jesus?鈥� [They] brought about a conversation that can be controversial and layered it in the love and grace of Jesus as they related it to attachment theory. They shared personal reflection laced with academic theory and profound passion for relationship with Jesus.鈥�

Care ‘extends beyond the classroom’

, chair of the Department, opened Saturday evening鈥檚 meal with a smile and a Punjabi song to bless the spread of Pakistani dishes before him. He and his wife, Deb, provided curried foods including lentils, chicken, potato with cauliflower, and mustard greens. In addition, they served roti, a flour-based flatbread, achaar, mixed, pickled vegetables, and raita, a tart yogurt condiment with mint and cumin to cool down the spicy Thai dragon peppers.

The dinner was typical of what he and his wife often prepare for special guests. Since a great number of 91短视频 students study abroad, Medley thought that the ethnic food would be very much appreciated.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a matter of identity,鈥� Medley says. After living in Pakistan for 11 years, their lifestyle has become heavily influenced by the food and way of living. The influence of Pakistani culture is evident not only in the dishes served, but also in the artwork and ornaments that adorn their home.

In the past, Spiritual Life Week has often involved bringing a well-known speaker to campus. Now those resources are focused on facilitating conversation and relationships between students and their faculty and staff counterparts.

鈥淭his is what is means for faculty and staff to enter into conversation with students, and to talk about life and faith,鈥� said Miller.

First year Grace Burkhart feels that 鈥渢hese meals highlight the fact that faculty care about students in a way that extends beyond the classroom.鈥�

鈥淲e want to ask: How are faculty and staff making themselves available to students out of class?鈥� said Miller. 鈥淎s a community we can sometimes speak better into people鈥檚 lives than a big name speaker would. So now, when you see someone across campus, there is a chance you actually know something about them, but a speaker, you probably will only see once.鈥�

Initially, when Medley received the invitation to host students as well as the indication that students wish to interact with the faculty more, he felt that it was important to open his home. He finds that encouraging community feeling on 91短视频鈥檚 campus is an important part of Spiritual Life Week. In the past, the Medleys have invited students and other faculty members in his classes and within the department for dinners and occasional seasonal events. However, Spiritual Life Week has made it easier to do so because of its efficient organization.

鈥淚 thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some people I had seen on campus before but never had the opportunity to get to know,鈥� said junior Maddie Gish. 鈥淚t is amazing how much we can learn from everyone around us. I am so glad I participated!鈥�

Portions of this coverage were reprinted with permission from the March 3, 2016, edition of the Weather Vane.

鈥淢y first three years were about changing the culture and getting the team to believe that we could win,鈥� said Coach . 鈥淭his is no longer a rebuilding year. Now that our guys know that we can get to the tournament, it鈥檚 time to take that next step and compete in the tournament.鈥�

The Royals have had a hot start to their season going 5-1 and Griffin has been a huge contributor. In the men鈥檚 doubleheader against Juniata, Stanley did his job by triggering 91短视频鈥檚 21-3 blowout by batting 3-5 with three runs and two stolen bases. For the week, Stanley hit .368 with four walks.

Last season, the outfielder had a total of six stolen bases; early this year, Stanley is second in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) with four stolen bases and fourth with nine runs.

Being a part of Spotts鈥� first recruiting class, the 5-10 junior has some experience under his belt. For the first at-bat of every home game, 鈥淜ashmir鈥� by Led Zeppelin plays through the speakers, which is not a typical song at a baseball game.

鈥淚鈥檓 a 70’s and 80鈥檚 rock music kind of guy,鈥� Stanley admits. 鈥淪ophomore year I used to get a little nervous to bat, but after the first game this year, it was smooth sailing and this song calms me down.鈥�

So as the Led Zeppelin fan walks up to home plate, his veteran experience keeps him cool, calm and collected.聽 His only focus?聽 Get on a base.

鈥淗e runs so well,鈥� Spotts explains as to why he chose Stanley to be his lead batter for the past two years. 聽鈥淗e鈥檚 the fastest guy on our team.聽 He puts the ball into play, doesn鈥檛 strike out often, can bunt and steals bases well.聽 He proved himself sophomore year.鈥�

Stanley brings a consistency to his team not only by his continuous high level of effort day in and day out, or his coachable nature, but also with his easy going personality.聽 His coach even referred to him as 鈥渜uiet鈥� at times.聽 But just for the record, the major says differently.

鈥淚n the classroom I am kind of quiet, but outside of class I come out a little bit.聽 I have a wild side,鈥� joked Stanley.

When it comes to Stanley鈥檚 personality, the two may not always be on the same page, but one thing that Stanley and Coach Spotts can surely agree upon is that the expectations this year have increased.

鈥淭his season my job is to build off last season,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淭here is a bunch of stuff I can improve on, which I need to do to help the team in any way possible. As a team, I want us to win some games, make the tournament and compete for an ODAC championship.鈥�

Although the season is still young, the mindset of this growing team is maturing.聽 For a team to succeed it takes every single player on the team to buy into that idea. With Stanley鈥檚 hard work and consistency on and off the field the Royals have a great chance of making back-to-back trips to the ODAC Tournament.

鈥淕riffin is very focused when it comes time to practice and play games.聽 He consistently works hard and is always trying to get better,鈥� said Spotts. 鈥淚 have never felt like he didn鈥檛 bring his all to a game or practice.聽 This year his role is the same as last year, just this year we expect more from him.鈥�

Maybe it鈥檚 time to turn the volume up a notch on that Led Zeppelin.

Coach Ben Spotts was named the conference Coach of the Year, and three players were named to the All-State Team.

The Royals were picked eighth in the recently released ODAC preseason poll.

One of their three All-ODAC First Team members returns this season, outfielder (Gladys, Va./Rustburg).聽 In a breakout sophomore season, Hall won the OADC batting title with a .423 clip.聽 He led the team with 47 hits, 26 runs and nine stolen bases.

91短视频 also gets fifth-year senior (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) back for one more season.聽 The outfielder/pitcher has a .321 career batting average with a total of 68 RBIs and was All-ODAC Third Team in 2014.

Their 40-game slate starts Saturday against Penn State-Altoona with games at noon and 3 p.m.

A unique 11-game home stand kicks off the , including 10 in February.聽91短视频 will welcome in a number of northern teams during the month, playing mostly weekend seven-inning doubleheaders.

After opening their Old Dominion Athletic Conference contests with a twinbill at Roanoke on March 5, the Royals begin another unique aspect to their schedule 鈥� a Spring Break trip to California.聽 The men will play games at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Whittier and Chapman on March 7-9.聽The three schools sit within 30 miles of each other in the valley east of Los Angeles.

91短视频 has usually traveled to North Carolina for a handful of games on opening weekend before heading to the RussMatt Invitational in Florida over Spring Break.

Along with home doubleheaders against ODAC opponents Emory & Henry, Hampden-Sydney, Lynchburg and Virginia Wesleyan, the Royals continue their home-and-home splits with more local conference rivals Bridgewater, Shenandoah and Washington and Lee.

Among their 25 home games this spring, the men also host non-conference dates with John Jay (doubleheader) and Ferrum.

The ODAC doubleheader with Virginia Wesleyan on Apr. 23 marks the end of the regular season with the ODAC Tournament running Apr. 28 through May 1 at City Stadium in Lynchburg.

With the surging roster size led by Spotts’ recruiting efforts, Eastern Mennonite is also adding a junior varsity team this year, playing a slate of around 10 games.

, including preview capsules for each of the conference’s baseball programs.

Weaver Irrigation is currently installing a system that will use non-potable storm water collected by a nearby cistern to evenly and efficiently water the infield and outfield, according to athletic director .

The upgrades, which cost approximately聽$22,000,聽will save both聽time and water, said head coach . Previously, just the infield and dirt basepaths were watered by one sprinkler head, while manually deployed garden hoses and sprinklers were used for the rest of the field, resulting in uneven growth and surfaces.

These methods provided less control over how the field is watered and maintained. The current system enables more efficient use of water during the early morning or late evening when less evaporation occurs.

More improvements planned

Spotts expects the outfield to benefit from the irrigation system, which will support continued overseeding and fertilization to improve quality of the soil. Additionally, the Bermuda grass that was added to the infield last year can now also be propagated and maintained in the outfield.

The irrigation improvements are the first step in a larger renovation project of 91短视频鈥檚 baseball facilities, to include new dugouts, backstop, press box, hitting pavilion, and additional seating behind home plate.

The start date for this project hasn鈥檛 been announced yet, but King says that the baseball program鈥檚 recent growth and improvement has been among several recent highlights of the 91短视频 athletic program. In 2014, in just his second year at the head of the program, Spotts led the Royals to the in program history.

鈥淲hile we know recruits are drawn to Coach Spotts and the program he is developing, we think the upgrades to our current baseball facility will help us attract more top players,鈥� said King.

Sustainable practices link to cistern project

The 鈥済reening鈥� of the baseball field fits another 91短视频 commitment鈥攖o that of sustainable practices, said , director of the physical plant.

Kurtz acknowledges that use of water for irrigation of recreational fields during a time of growing water shortages across the country may be questioned by some.

鈥淚n my view, sustainability is often a matter of balancing competing priorities and managing maintenance best practices as knowledge and technology change,鈥� he added.

In this case, Kurtz points to the need for healthy turf to keep athletes safe and to support the athletic programs, while at the same time 鈥渋ncreasing the acreage managed as meadows, use of artificial turf and storm water for irrigation, and turf management practices that limits use of chemicals and how short the grass is cut.鈥�

The 100,000-gallon cistern, built next to the physical plant in 2012, irrigates approximately 6.5 acres, including the south soccer fields, softball fields and Bomberger Field. It collects runoff from 15 acres of campus and helps return water to the water table through irrigation. The year it was built, the cistern project won .

When the cistern is dry, irrigation is supplied by the city of Harrisonburg. Additional improvements may extend the irrigation system to the front of campus as well as add a well to provide water during prolonged dry periods.