Yellow Jackets picked to finish sixth in HCAC
GREENWOOD, Ind. - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets were picked to finish sixth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in the preseason coaches' poll. Five Defiance College players were also named to the preseason players to watch list.
GREENWOOD, Ind. - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets were picked to finish sixth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in the preseason coaches' poll. Five Defiance College players were also named to the preseason players to watch list.
| # | Teams | Points |
| 1. | Anderson | 88(4) |
| 2. | Manchester | 87(3) |
| 3. | Franklin | 81(3) |
| 4. | Transylvania | 68 |
| 5. | Rose-Hulman | 61 |
| 6. | Defiance | 51 |
| 7. | Earlham | 38 |
| 8. | Bluffton | 35 |
| 9. | Hanover | 31 |
| 10. | Mount St. Joseph | 10 |
The Yellow Jackets, who totaled 51 points, were stuck in the middle of the poll, 10 points behind Rose-Hulman in fifth place and 13 points ahead of Earlham in seventh place.
Anderson was picked to win the conference, edging out Manchester by just one point in the vote. Anderson received 88 points, including four first-place votes. Manchester took second, receiving 87 points and three first-place votes. The final three first-place votes went to Franklin, who took third in the preseason poll with 81 points.
Transylvania was selected fourth with 68 points. Bluffton (35), Hanover (31), and Mount St. Joseph (10) were picked as the bottom three in the poll.
Three seniors, a junior and a sophomore were named to the pre-season HCAC Player to Watch List.
Seniors Darin Waterman, Aaron Helland, and Pat Masopust were named to the list.
Waterman (Celina, Ohio/Celina), a pitcher, first baseman, and designated hitter for the Yellow Jackets comes into the 2014 season after playing in every game last season. Waterman hit .309 with three home runs and 33 RBIs. He had 17 extra base hits, including 13 doubles and had an on base percentage of .406.
Helland (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance), an outfielder for the Purple and Gold, returns after hitting .271 and an on base percentage of .358 in 35 games in 2013. Helland led the team with 20 walks and 28 stolen bases on the season and finished with 16 RBIs.
Masopust (Royal Oak, Mich./Shrine Catholic) hit .333 in 30 games last season and had a team high .466 on base percentage. The first baseman 19 walks and 14 RBIs. He also finished the season with just one error, leading the team defensively with a .992 fielding percentage.
The middle infield pairing of Chris Donese (SS) and Ryan Kohlhofer (2B) also made the preseason watch list.
Donese (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont), a junior on Woodley's Yellow Jacket squad, started in all 36 games for DC last season, hitting .297 with 18 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He also had 13 walks and nine stolen bases and carried an on base percentage of .366.
Kohlhofer (Walbridge, Ohio/Lake) played in 34 games in 2013 with 32 starts. The sophomore had a .281 batting average with 16 runs scored on the season.
The Yellow Jackets will start off the 2014 season on Feb. 28 in Danville, Ky. against Calvin College. The conference slate will begin March 21 at Earlham.