The Royals improved to 16-17 with that road decision, giving them the most wins in a season since 2002.聽The team finished the season nine days later at 20-19 overall.

For perspective, the 2002 team, which ended the season 29-13, featured star senior Erik Kratz, a current player in the Toronto Blue Jays system behind the plate. In聽2013, Kratz was a starting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. While at 91短视频, Kratz was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Year twice and finished his 91短视频 career with the NCAA record 75 doubles.

The Royals have seen their win total rise over the past two years under the guidance of . 91短视频 won 15 games in 2013 after totaling 11 wins the previous three seasons (2010-12). The 20 wins earned this year are the most earned since the 2002 team collected 29 wins en route to a fourth-place finish in the ODAC.

Stand-out players during the April 10, 2014 game that tipped the season’s win-loss balance over .500:

• 聽(Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) wrapped up the scoring with a two-run single
• 聽(Miami, Fla./Doral Academy)聽batted 4-5
• 聽(Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) scored twice
• 聽(Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) had two doubles and two runs
• 聽(Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) smacked two doubles
• 聽(Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith) scored twice
• Starting pitcher聽聽(Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) threw 6.0+ scoreless innings to improve to 2-3
• 聽(New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) tossed scoreless ball for two innings

These and other players kept the momentum going the last few games of the season, and then .

Senior Ryan McAlister聽 was recognized as the Royals “Athlete of the Week” on April 21.

Learning to lead through hardship

McAlister was a consistent starter for the baseball team all four of his years at 91短视频. 聽He was a key player this spring in lifting the team above .500 to a winning record. McAlister played聽the best game of his career on Senior Saturday, April 12, when he batted 5-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs in an exciting 18-8 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College. (.)

鈥淸Coach Spotts] always tells us that he鈥檚 a winner and we can be winners, too,鈥� said Ryan. 聽鈥淚t was easy to get behind the coach and buy into the winning plan he brought to us, because he has a lot of knowledge, experience and success in the game.鈥�

Ryan admits that his first two years on the 91短视频 baseball team were tough – the team struggled with a losing record – but he says he would not trade that experience for anything. 聽Being a starter for his team for four years helped him play a more prominent role on his team and become a vocal leader, he says.

鈥淎s a freshman, I led by example. 聽I did things the right way. 聽I played the game hard,鈥� Ryan explained. 聽鈥淎nd as I started to gain more experience and the seniors started to graduate, I became more vocal.鈥�

With plans to finish classes in December, the sports and recreational leadership major says he really appreciates the small class sizes that 91短视频 offers and the relationships he has built with his professors.

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By Dustin Dopirak, Daily News Record

Junior Kamandua was putting on a clinic.

In a one-on-one, winner-stays-on drill in Thursday’s practice, the 91短视频 freshman soccer star was embarrassing people, stealing dribbles straight from their feet and crossing them up so bad on the other end, they were falling.

So it was up to senior captain Adam Shank to restore order. Though Kamandua nearly stole the ball after Shank dribbled out from his own goal, Shank fought and kept it, then dribbled past Kamandua and tucked the ball inside the left post of Kamandua’s goal.

Hailing the team leader, one of the Royals waiting for his turn yelled out, "EL CAPITAN!"

There was no posturing from Shank, who plays center midfielder, and no response to the cheer. It was the picture of quiet leadership by example, which has become the four-year starter’s trademark now that he’s the Royals’ captain.

"He’s not a very vocal person," 91短视频 coach said. "He doesn’t say much on the field, but when he does say something, it’s pretty important. I think his teammates realize that when he does speak his mind, he’s going to make a good point."

Recently, the former Eastern Mennonite High School star has given the Royals plenty of reasons to honor his example. Last week, he had a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win over Emory & Henry and an assist in a 1-1 tie with Washington & Lee to earn Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.

He’s fifth on the team in total points (eight) with two goals and a team-high four assists. The Royals (7-6-3 overall, 3-3-2 in the ODAC) are tied for sixth with Randolph-Macon in the 10-team conference with two regular-season games to go before the eight-team conference tournament.

Shank’s statistics have been consistent throughout his four-year career. Last year, he scored three goals and added two assists and had three assists the year before. His captaincy wasn’t based on numbers, however.

"In practice and in games, he just leaves everything on the field," senior goalie Tim Koehn said. "He just won’t stop running or working until the final whistle blows. That helps me out. Whenever I get tired, I just kind of look at Adam and see how hard he’s working, and that gets me pumped up as well."

Though Shank looks like a free spirit with his bushy, curly hair and growing facial stubble, Mast described him as introverted by nature. That complements his more vocal co-captain, Joel Shank. The two aren’t related but they’ve played soccer together since age 9, including their careers at EMHS. Even so, Adam Shank felt like he needed to be more vocal this season than in previous years.

He said he’s always been the type to allow older players to take control out of respect, even if he had more playing experience than they did. But, much like when he was voted co-captain with Joel in their senior year at EMHS, he realized that this year, he needed to make his voice heard.

"Having the guys vote you captain means a lot," he said. "It means people see you as a leader. ‘I’ve tried to be a little more outspoken this year than I usually am."

Of course, being captain and one of the older guys brings along with it the eventual end of a player’s career. For Shank, that will mean the end of a prolific eight-year run in Park View, which included four Virginia Independent Conference titles at EMHS.

An honors student with a 3.95 grade-point average as a dual major — and — Shank hopes to work with local Hispanic immigrants, teaching English as a second language after he graduates. He also wants to continue playing soccer recreationally, and perhaps coach some day. Even so, he isn’t looking forward to his last 91短视频 game.

"It’s definitely hard to think about every game you play you think, ‘Well, that’s the last time I’m going to play this team,’" Shank said. "It’s going to be sad because soccer’s been a big part of my life."

At least he’ll get to go out as "El Capitan."

Want to understand the difference between life in Division I and life in Division III? Just consider the story of Josh Kerr.

Coming into the season, the Eastern Mennonite University junior knew he was going to have to become the focus of the Royals