Hornets are the Conference Champions
Shenandoah University clinched its first-ever USA South Conference regular season baseball title with an 11-3 victory over Averett, April 10.
Shenandoah University clinched its first-ever USA South Conference regular season baseball title with an 11-3 victory over Averett yesterday, April 10. Shenandoah (27-2, 11-1 USA South) wasted little time in jumping on the Cougars; the Hornets scored six runs in the first inning on four hits and three crucial Averett errors. The three miscues led to five of the six runs being unearned for the Hornets.
Hornets are led by Head Coach Kevin Anderson, who came to Shenandoah in 2003. Under his tutelage, the team improved every season and by 2009, the Hornets set a new school record for wins in a season, was ranked in the nation for the first time since 2000 and made an appearance in the USA South Conference Tournament championship game. Shenandoah continued that run by winning the Salisbury Regional in mid-May, earning its first-ever trip to Appleton, Wis., for an appearance in the 2009 NCAA Championships. Anderson was named the ABCA South Region Coach of the Year.
In 2010, the Hornets backed up their stellar 2009 campaign by winning the USA South Conference Tournament and sweeping through the Fayetteville (South) Regional to make a return trip to Appleton. Shenandoah was also ranked in the nation's Top 25 all season in both the ABCA and D3baseball.com polls. Anderson was again named the ABCA South Region Coach of the Year. He is the first Shenandoah coach to earn any Coach of the Year honor in consecutive seasons.
Shenandoah plays Eastern Mennonite today at home at Bridgeforth Field; first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. but could be moved up to 4 p.m. based on the weather.