May 18, 2000
The Randolph-Macon College baseball team experienced a roller coaster
season. The team finished 9-20, but for the most part, remained competitive
despite its overall record. However, conference play did not help matters
any as the team went just 4-12 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)
play.
The season began on a high note for the Yellow Jackets as they won their
first three contests, all in the month of February, with an opening day
win over Catholic University, 5-3 on February 26 at home. Randolph-Macon
proceeded to sweep Muhlenberg College in a doubleheader the following
afternoon, starting the season at 3-0.
In March, R-MC posted a record of 5-12 and started the ODAC season with
three wins as the team was 3-5 at month's end. In that month, Randolph-Macon
would sweep Eastern Mennonite in conference play and split with Emory
& Henry, taking one game from the Wasps to reach its three conference
wins. The Yellow Jackets also came close to sweeping defending ODAC Champion
Bridgewater as the Eagles needed its last at bat in both games to come
from behind and steal two wins.
Randolph-Macon began the month of April with a record of 8-12 overall
and 3-5 in the ODAC. The team was in prime position to have a solid season
and advance to the ODAC Tournament, something they have only accomplished
twice since the current Tournament format of six teams and not since 1997.
However, the month of April was cruel to Randolph-Macon, beginning on
April Fool's Day when the Yellow Jackets were swept in a doubleheader
with Lynchburg.
The team posted a record of just 1-8 in April to end the season at 9-20
overall and 4-12 in the ODAC. The team did manage to salvage a split with
archrival Hampden-Sydney on the last day of the season as the Yellow Jackets
took a commanding 10-2 win in the final game of 2000.
This year's team was highlighted by the play of seniors Blair Brantley
(Richmond, Va./Godwin) and Brandon Ramsey (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox)
who were both named co-MVP's and winners of the annual Tad Dupriest Memorial
Award. Brantley led the team in home runs (5) and RBI (24) while batting
.319, which was good for fifth. Ramsey batted .301 and was fifth on the
team in hits (22), fourth in doubles (3) and second in triples.
The pitching staff was an area of concern this season for Randolph-Macon
as the team ERA was 8.97 to the opponents 5.28. Freshman Doug McCray
(Richmond, Va./Godwin) led the staff with three wins, posting a record
of 3-3 second in innings pitched (49.0) and strikeouts (30). McCray posted
a 6.61 ERA. The ace of the staff, senior Dan Krupansky (West Chester,
Pa./West Chester East) had the most appearances (13) for R-MC, starting
11 contests and posting a 2-6 with a 6.33 ERA. Krupansky also led the
team in innings pitched (64.0) and stikeouts (46).