ODU hits its way into the national spotlight
Monarchs ranked 24th, are among top teams in HRs
NORFOLK — After a red-hot start to the season, Old Dominion has finally cracked one of the national college baseball polls.
The Monarchs are currently ranked No. 24 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s poll and were as high as No. 19 in the RPI this week.
ODU sits at 18-3 after falling to Liberty on Wednesday night, but is primed for its first home Sun Belt Conference series with Marshall starting tonight.
“Well, winning 18 out of [20] games is hard,” ODU coach Chris Finwood said Tuesday. “You wouldn’t expect that certainly in baseball. We’ve won in a lot of different ways. We’ve won some close games and won some blowouts. We’ve been blown out once and lost a close game once. Into the second third of the season, basically, still learning about ourselves and trying to get better.”
Finwood said he puts more stock in the team’s RPI ranking than anything because the NCAA Tournament selection committee does the same, but he knows his team sees the rankings.
“We always do better when we’re chasing, not feeling like we’re chased,” Finwood said. “It’s just a blue-collar program and we need to always feel that way. In fact, that’s the first thing we’re gonna talk about [Tuesday] because, you know, they can read the internet.”
Junior Hunter Fitz-Gerald said the vibes in the clubhouse are great and that the team has come together early in the season.
“We do have the expectation to be a high national seed throughout the year,” Fitz-Gerald said. “I think we’re definitely capable of it. And I think that once people see that and we get more recognition for it, we’ll stay there and we’ll hold our own.”
Fitz-Gerald’s .381 batting average leads ODU, and his 11 home runs lead the Sun Belt and rank among the top five in the country.
His slugging percentage of .784 is the highest on the team, and his OPS is second only to Jake Ticer, his fellow power-hitting co-star.
“Fitz is a really good hitter,” Finwood said. “He’s more of a professional type of hitter. He can hit the ball all over the ballpark, doesn’t strike out a lot and has really good at-bats. We knew he had a chance to be special, and he’s certainly gotten off to a great start.”
A transfer from Florida Southwestern State College, Fitz-Gerald has earned Player of the Week honors from the Sun Belt and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Fitz-Gerald said. “I had a couple of goals this year and [I’m] on the way to achieving some of them, and it’s just cool to see all your hard work pay off and be recognized nationally for it.”
Old Dominion’s lineup has been power-heavy so far this season. The Monarchs have 48 home runs, which ranks No. 1 in the conference and tied for third in the country.
While the home runs have gotten most of the attention, Old Dominion’s pitching staff has been able to fly under the radar.
The Monarchs’ 3.62 team ERA is the best in the conference, and the staff is allowing opponents to hit only .249.
Last week in five games against Princeton and Louisiana Monroe, Old Dominion gave up only six total runs.
“If you only give up 1.2 runs per game, you’re going to win most of the time,” Finwood said. “That was the best week I can remember, pitching-wise, here probably since I’ve been here, for five games. We’ve got some young guys that are starting to come around.”
Junior Sam Armstrong has led the charge on the mound for the Monarchs with a team-best 1.61 ERA, a 4-0 record and a 1.04 WHIP.
“He’s just a steady person,” Finwood said. “You can always count on him. He’s very dependable, he’s consistent, his work habits are fantastic. So he’s certainly the leader of our pitching staff. He really was up and down last year in his first year here, and he’s taken a big step up this year. So I’m really proud.”
ODU’s lights-out offense has been nice for pitchers like Armstrong, who can fly under the radar and get support from their offense night in and night out.
“We don’t have the stats or recognition that the hitters get, but we’re also really good at the same time,” Armstrong said. “So if it helps us stay under the radar and keep winning, I’ll take it.”