Yellow Jackets picked ninth

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Of the ten teams that participate in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Defiance College has been selected to finish ninth by the HCAC Head Coaches.

DC has been selected to improve its finish from last year, where the Yellow Jackets finished in 10th place with a 3-22 conference record.

The Yellow Jackets bring back a strong core of players from last season.  They bring back three All-HCAC players in Ryan Kohlhofer (Walbridge, Ohio/Lake), Ben Weber (Troy, Ohio/Lehman Catholic), and Ian Burkhart (Fremont, Ind./Fremont).

Kohlhofer was also named to the HCAC Preseason Players to Watch list along with Chris Donese (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) and Gary Levengood (Beverly Hills, Fla./Lecanto).

The three Yellow Jackets named to the HCAC Preseason list were vital to DC's offense last season, coming in the top 5 in several categories.

Kohlhofer led DC in doubles (9) and triples (3) along with being in the top five in runs scored (20), hits (40), RBIs (20), total bases (55), walks (12), and stolen bases (8).

Donese also finished in the top five in several categories for the Yellow Jackets.  They include; runs scored (18), hits (39), RBIs (14), home runs (1), and total bases (44).

Levengood had a strong season for DC as well, coming inside the top five in runs scored (24), doubles (4), walks (11), and stolen bases (7).

Head Coach Derek Woodley and his staff will look to lead the Yellow Jackets back to the HCAC Tournament this year after a year of absence from postseason play.