The event, held at the north end of the parking lot beside University Commons, drew students, athletes, faculty, staff, members of the press, and officials from Varsity Travel. It included remarks from Buck Smith, associate athletics director of operations; Adam Posey, head baseball coach; Sophia Armato, senior field hockey player; and Carrie S Bert, director of athletics. 

After their remarks and a brief countdown, the plain white bus that had been blocking the crowd’s view pulled forward to reveal the new EMU athletics bus. As attendees got their first look at the bus’s bold new design, six pyrotechnic machines fired fountains of sparks into the air, cannons launched a flurry of blue and silver streamers overhead, and a snippet of Rascal Flatts’ “Life is a Highway” played through the speakers.

The bus wrap proudly proclaims “EMU ROYALS” and “HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA” lettering next to an image of the Royals’ lion mascot, which spans the full height of the bus from its tires to its roof. The design is set in front of a silhouette of Massanutten Mountain in varying shades of blue. The bus will serve as a moving billboard for EMU, promoting the values of the university wherever it goes.

“This bus is going to draw attention. It already did on our road trip to North Carolina this weekend,” said Armato, referencing her team’s recent travels to Meredith College in Raleigh. “It will create conversations and carry a Royal spirit wherever it goes.”

“EMU has a history of doing amazing, awesome work, of putting out tremendous people, graduates, staff, faculty, very quietly,” Bert said. “Well, guess what? It’s time for EMU to make a statement, to be recognized and remembered. As our teams travel, we won’t just arrive at our destinations, we will make an entrance.”

The bus is fully owned and operated by Winchester-based , and the new wrap is a generous perk of the university’s partnership with the charter service. According to its website, Varsity Travel also provides transportation for Shenandoah University Athletics, Hood College, and Hagerstown Community College Athletics.

EMU alumna and staff member Hannah Beck, senior admissions counselor, said the new bus will also be used to bring groups of local high school students to visit the campus. “I’m really excited for this,” she said. “It’s great to get more name recognition out there.”  

View the moment the bus was revealed in our video below:

 (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) was selected to the All-ODAC first team outfield after another stellar year at the plate and in the field. Lee adds the award to a vast collection of accolades, this selection being his second to an All-ODAC team after being selected to the third team in 2019.

Lee has been a force in the Royals’ lineup all season, grabbing the selection after boasting a .379 clip at the plate with seven home runs after the regular season and the first round of the playoffs. He was the top run producer for EMU throughout the year thus far, collecting a total of 28 RBIs.

In the field, Lee was perfect on the season, containing a 1.000 fielding percentage in center.

In the decisive third game of the quarterfinals, Lee hit a clutch home run in the fifth to help boost the Royals and move forward in the ODAC tournament.

The senior was also selected as Royals Athlete of the Week during the year after his tear against Washington and Lee where he banged two home runs and collected eight RBIs in a single game.

At the shortstop position,  (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) nabbed the second-team selection after his impressive year. This is the senior’s second selection to the team, after being selected his freshman year.

The shortstop was a staple in the lineup for the Royals in the third spot, collecting 26 RBIs in 22 games played. He has hit for a .375 average with a home run. He went 4-5 with three RBIs in the second game of the ODAC quarterfinals to help force the decisive rubber-match.  

The Diamond Royals’ right fielder,  (Saxe, Va./Randolph Henry), also grabbed an All-ODAC selection, his being to the third team. This is the junior’s second All-ODAC selection, after being selected to the second team in 2019.

From the leadoff spot for the Royals, Jones has hit .333 with three doubles, while scoring 23 runs. On the base paths, the outfielder has been a nuisance for opposing batteries, collecting 16 stolen bases on the year so far. The junior also has a .986 fielding percentage

In an impressive offensive performance against cross-town rival Bridgewater, Jones went 2-4, scoring three runs en route to a 16-7 win over the Eagles early in the season.

 (Shanks, W.V./Hampshire) added his first All-ODAC selection to his list of accolades, being selected to the third team as a utility player.

The senior, who took advantage of the NCAA ruling to allow players an extra year of eligibility, came back to help the Royals make a name for themselves in the ODAC and provided quality innings on the mound and performances at the plate.

Judy spent the year as one of the Royals’ go-to starters on the mound, accounting for 34.2 total innings pitched with six starts. The right-hander collected 30 strikeouts on the year to boast a 7.79 K/9.

Judy threw a complete game at Emory & Henry to earn an important win for the Royals, collecting seven strikeouts in the contest.

At the plate, Judy has hit for a .289 clip with four doubles and eight RBIs.

The four look to help the Royals continue their historic run. After defeating top-seeded Randolph-Macon in the quarterfinals, EMU heads to Winchester this weekend to take on the Hornets of Shenandoah University in the semifinals.  

In recent weeks, EMU’s social media handles have featured five faculty and staff sharing mental health support tips. Geared towards students, the posts have also been shared widely among faculty, staff and EMU friends.

From something as simple as getting your rest and staying hydrated to learning to say no and spending time with those who energize you, the tips are resonating with many in the campus community this fall. The campaign kicked off in the last week of October, continued through Election Week and will finish up next week, as students conclude their final days on campus and head home for winter break.

A summary of the ten tips is at the end of this article.

Here’s a bit more on this communications campaign, how it got started, and its goals with EMU’s social media manager Rebekah Budnikas.

Why this focus?

We know this semester has been particularly difficult for our students, whose lives have been upended in particularly dramatic ways by the pandemic, political and social divisions in our country, and the chaos of our recent political election.

We heard this firsthand in our Transitions classes for first-year students. Students were really encouraged in those classes to name what they were feeling and to be transparent as much as they were comfortable, to be honest about the challenges of this semester. They talked about this and our Transitions instructors relayed this.

From the first weeks of the semester, Student Life, Residence Life and Health Services have been very focused on supporting students in different ways, from quaranteams to the “fall pause day,” various activities planned by Campus Activities Council, and different student-led worship opportunities. 

An example of that extra focus is simply the huge effort put into care for our students around Election Week. There were 11 different spaces, in different formats — our Dean of Students Shannon Dycus calls them “brave spaces”  — for students to process what was happening on campus and in the country with support from faculty and staff from around campus.

Why social media?

Keeping our students, and all of us at EMU safe this semester, has been a real community effort. We have some amazing student leaders who have helped, but I think all of our students have really modeled care and concern for each other. That collective effort is evident by our low number of cases, healthy student population, and all of the precautions we’ve taken within the campus community. 

I think some of the success of our effort is the way we communicate with each other. Social media has been a really important way to relay information but also to show and build both support and supportive networks. 

We wanted to use social media to talk openly about the importance of mental and emotional health this semester as part of broader communication efforts to help students who are overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, or just simply struggling with what is going on. 

Allison Collazo, our director of counseling, shared with me in conversations around this social media campaign that it was important for students to hear from others recognition of both what they were feeling and how difficult it was for them.

 We want our students to know that we are all here for them and we’re all supportive of what they’re going through. You’d expect our director of counseling to talk about mental health but it was also important for us to hear from others, too, across campus. So in addition to Allison and Shannon, our other speakers were Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder, Head Baseball Coach Adam Posey, and Professor Laura Yoder, from our nursing department.

They were great on camera, and spoke from the heart. I think one of the reasons that the posts are being shared is their authenticity. Their care for students really shines through.

The tips! 

1. Be kind to yourself

2. Set boundaries

3. Take a break and limit exposure to stressors 

4. Name what you are feeling 

5. Stay hydrated and eat well 

6. learn when to say no 

7. Take time to rest (relax, nap, get 8 hours of sleep) 

8. Spend time with those who energize you 

9. You don’t have to answer the phone 

10. Participate in grounding activities 

With thanks to Allison Collazo, Director of Counseling

A straight talker with an evangelical flair that betrays his Southern Baptist roots, Posey shared some eye-opening strengths and weaknesses related to his own experience as a student at EMU, and urged the gathered community to answer the call to “meet students where they are.”

He ended with four practical questions related to faith formation — picture Posey saying “Go get ‘em,” as we all trot to the mound — that participants carried with them throughout the day’s panel sessions, presentations and worship.

Recognize and build on your strengths as related to faith formation. Evaluate and understand your weaknesses. Ask how you can more effectively merge your calling with your work. And finally, how can you better mentor young people to lives of faith?

EMU’s faculty-staff conferences are community gatherings at the beginning and end of the academic year. This spring’s event focused on “fostering faith among students but also among ourselves,” said Professor Marti Eads, who chaired the planning committee with Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder. “I hope you leave the day fed and hungry for more.”

Titled “Journey Companions: Fostering Faith Formation at EMU,” the theme enabled discussions and development of an objective in EMU’s strategic plan: to nurture spiritual growth and enhance formational engagement among faculty, staff and students.

“Undergraduate students in our faith mentoring survey a few years ago expressed eagerness to hear more from faculty and staff about their personal faith journeys and how they navigated doubt, challenge and opportunity,” said Burkholder. “This conference gives us a chance to hear from each other about how we’re doing that in our work on campus and how we might expand opportunities for fellowship and relationship-building into new places and spaces.”

More from Coach Posey

At a time when EMU’s student population is more diverse than ever – and that diversity includes culture, religion, race, ethnicity and political beliefs – Posey pointed out that being open and hospitable to different perspectives is very much a part of faith formation. It was deep relationships with a small number of influential faculty and staff that aided his own spiritual and intellectual development, he said.

Posey talked about the challenges of coming to EMU from Poquoson, a mostly white, upper middle-class community among the many military bases in the Hampton Roads area. A communications major, he said the first person he met outside of the baseball coaching staff was Professor Jerry Holsopple, an experience “which really should have counted as my cross-cultural,” he joked.

“Even among the baseball team, I heard in those first few months perspectives that differed from mine, and that was a culture shock for me, away from home for the first time, away from my girlfriend, trying to figure out some of the things that come with being at EMU,” he said.

What helped him become more comfortable and get through “a rocky first couple of years” was a tight relationship with head coach Jason Stuhlmiller (then a high school special education teacher and now area director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and connections with faculty members Holsopple and Deanna Durham — all mentors who got to know him “on my level, on my playing field, in my arena.”

Though he came primarily with an identity and purpose tied to his athletic experience, Posey said that changed over the years, and now he’s grateful that he chose to stay and “not miss out on experiences that have been really important to who I am today.” There are plenty of students today, ones he coaches and others he knows, who have had a similar difficulty adjusting to the EMU community.

“Whether you agree with why that student is here at EMU or not, you have four years to build a relationship with that person and talk to them about things you’re passionate about, whether it’s peacebuilding or social justice,” he said.

One beauty of these opportunities is how they remind us of what matters: in the midst of a losing streak, Posey said a player reached out to him to talk about how God was calling him but he felt unworthy. “I want to give my life over to Christ, but how do I reconcile that?”  he asked.

“It’s easy to get lost in our jobs and lost in what we’re doing and not remember why we’re here,” Posey said. “But we have to keep that in perspective. I would venture to say that we’re all here at EMU because we hope to impact young people in a way that contributes to the rest of their life.”

Bringing imagination to course design

In his keynote address via Zoom, , professor of education and director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning at Calvin College, challenged faculty to have imagination about their course designs. He told the story of different workers on a construction site, one of whom said he was cutting a stone block and the other which said he was building a cathedral: “What do my students think is happening when they sit in my classroom? What is it they think they are doing?” he asked, and, “What do we think we are teaching in our subject area? What does it contribute to the world? To the Kingdom of God?”

He recounted a call from a former student excited at having lent a willing ear to a German-speaking train rider after remembering what Smith had taught in German class, that the purpose of learning a language is less to speak it than it is to listen.

Pedagogical norms, he said, are simply how things are done in any given era, according to prevailing social norms. These norms often separate course content matter from reality’s ambiguities that merit curiosity and practicable empathy.

‘Examining assumptions’

After the annual recognition luncheon, five break-out sessions were offered on a variety of topics, including workshops on spiritual practices for mentors, exploring spirituality types in mentoring.

Panel discussions offered insights into faith formation in various programs, including the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and athletics.

Professor Ann Hershberger and interim director Don Clymer invited shared insights into making faith connections for and with students on travelling on EMU’s required cross-cultural trips.

“When we are forced out of our routines, we have to rethink many things and examine our assumptions,” Clymer said. That makes for many opportunities to plant seeds, Hershberger added.

Their own and session participants’ stories bore that out: the student whose host mother prayed for her hemoglobin deficiency, which then was resolved to a degree that without a blood transfusion is medically impossible; the group that found cohesion in protectively encircling a sick classmate who had become ill on a crowded street; the homesick and tired group that, by recounting how they had experienced the presence of God in the last three days, turned their “mumbling and grumbling to singing.”

The group also gathered ideas for trip leaders to further prepare for and build on faith building experiences, cultivating groups in which students have starkly different faith understandings, and establishing shared resources and activities that have proven effective.

A final 45-minute gathering, hosted by Burkholder and Professor Johonna Turner, invited reflection and sharing.

Christopher Clymer Kurtz contributed to this article.

The trip came about thanks to EMU coach , who traveled to southern California five times while serving as an assistant baseball coach for perennial power Bridgewater College. He enjoyed the trips immensely, and he learned what the region had to offer.

So when he became EMU’s head coach in 2013, he knew he wanted to give the Royals a similar opportunity.

“We went to Florida the last three years, and I figured we should do something different,” Spotts says. “It’s good baseball-wise, it’s good for the guys to get a look at another part of the country—someplace many of them might not see otherwise—and it helps with recruiting to do something that’s different.”

Baseball in California a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’

Spotts says the trip had to be lined up about a year in advance to get on the southern California teams’ schedules—much to the chagrin of last year’s seniors, who were hoping to head west. For the players who returned this year, though, it was worth the wait.

“Going on a big trip like this was priceless for me, because I don’t know when I would have had the chance to get out to the West Coast if it wasn’t for Coach Spotts putting this together,” says Brendon Salladay, a sophomore catcher from Chesapeake, Virginia. “The fundraising and hard work all year paid off big-time with this trip, because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Salladay says he thinks it also makes the EMU program stand out more, as well.

“This is a great way to bring in future athletes, because they will see that coming to EMU is a first-class experience all around,” he says. “No one would have guessed that a small school like EMU could go out to the West Coast and compete with California schools.”

A total of 46 people, including 42 players, made the trip. Spotts was able to rent a bus to accommodate the larger group. To cover the costs, players helped with parking at James Madison University football games for five Saturdays during the fall and sent letters to at least 10 family members, friends or neighbors asking for support.

“The goal was for the guys not to pay anything for it or very little,” Spotts says. “It was great to take kids who had worked so hard for it and do something special. It really worked out.”

Rainout doesn’t stop comraderie

The team played three games during their West Coast road trip, against Whittier College, the University of La Verne and Chapman College; a fourth scheduled game, against Claremont College, was rained out. Spotts also made sure they saw some of the area’s highlights, including the Rose Bowl, Dodger Stadium, Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, the Santa Monica Pier and “nosebleed” seats for a Los Angeles Lakers game.

“It was a great time to connect with one another, whether it was in the airport, on the plane, bus rides, touring the city and at the different schools we played on the trip,” says senior Nic Love, a first baseman from Bedford, Virginia. “Being able to experience a different brand of baseball from the West Coast was awesome, and taking in the beauty and excitement of the LA area was something I will always remember.”

Spotts says the team will return to its regular Florida spring break tour next spring, but he plans to keep California or similarly unique experiences in the rotation.

”At some point,” he says, “I want every class of kids to experience something like that.”

EMU fields varsity and junior varsity teams. The Royals finished sixth in the conference last spring with a record of 10-10, qualifying for the six-team ODAC Tournament for the first time since 2002.  They ended with an overall record of 16-18.

For more information about EMU athletics, visit

The theme this year was the question, “Why do I continue to ‘choose’ Jesus?”

The late February event features nightly faculty/staff sharing and conversation in residence halls, special gatherings for women and men, chapel events, retreats, and the much-loved tradition of meeting in the homes of faculty and staff for a meal and fellowship.

More than 100 students signed up for dinners hosted by 20 faculty and staff. “We have been trying to do this every semester,” said , undergraduate campus pastor and event coordinator, “but this semester, it was really successful.”

Speakers at the informal nightly discussions included , professor of English, and , professor of visual arts; head baseball coach and assistant coach Adam Posey; physical education professors and ; undergraduate dean and , office coordinator for the Applied Social Sciences Department.

Professors and led a women’s gathering, while Wes Wilder, a ministry intern, hosted the men’s luncheon.

spoke in chapel about her years-long journey with glaucoma, a reflection titled “,” which was widely read and shared after posting to EMU News and Facebook accounts. Schrock-Hurst teaches youth ministry, spiritual formation, and introduction to Bible courses in the department, in addition to overseeing the .

‘All their stories are sacred’

“I really enjoyed hearing the stories from the faculty and staff and their perspectives on following Jesus,” said Christina Hershey, a pastoral assistant for campus ministries. “It was interesting to go to multiple forums because everyone had very different stories, but all their stories are sacred, and it shows the diversity in the church.”

She added, “I really like the opportunity to hear the stories from the faculty and staff and to learn from their vast wealth of knowledge. Many of them do not get the chance to share about their faith in their classroom or other work contexts, and I enjoy hearing their perspectives on faith. I also attended both chapels and the faculty and staff meals.”

“I admired Adam and Ben’s willingness to open up and discuss their personal faith journeys,” said senior , who helped to host an evening forum and the women’s meal, which attracted about 50 participants to the West Dining Room. “Carl and Carolyn addressed the question, ‘What is the difference between living like Jesus and living in relationship with Jesus?’ [They] brought about a conversation that can be controversial and layered it in the love and grace of Jesus as they related it to attachment theory. They shared personal reflection laced with academic theory and profound passion for relationship with Jesus.”

Care ‘extends beyond the classroom’

, chair of the Department, opened Saturday evening’s meal with a smile and a Punjabi song to bless the spread of Pakistani dishes before him. He and his wife, Deb, provided curried foods including lentils, chicken, potato with cauliflower, and mustard greens. In addition, they served roti, a flour-based flatbread, achaar, mixed, pickled vegetables, and raita, a tart yogurt condiment with mint and cumin to cool down the spicy Thai dragon peppers.

The dinner was typical of what he and his wife often prepare for special guests. Since a great number of EMU students study abroad, Medley thought that the ethnic food would be very much appreciated.

“It’s a matter of identity,” Medley says. After living in Pakistan for 11 years, their lifestyle has become heavily influenced by the food and way of living. The influence of Pakistani culture is evident not only in the dishes served, but also in the artwork and ornaments that adorn their home.

In the past, Spiritual Life Week has often involved bringing a well-known speaker to campus. Now those resources are focused on facilitating conversation and relationships between students and their faculty and staff counterparts.

“This is what is means for faculty and staff to enter into conversation with students, and to talk about life and faith,” said Miller.

First year Grace Burkhart feels that “these meals highlight the fact that faculty care about students in a way that extends beyond the classroom.”

“We want to ask: How are faculty and staff making themselves available to students out of class?” said Miller. “As a community we can sometimes speak better into people’s lives than a big name speaker would. So now, when you see someone across campus, there is a chance you actually know something about them, but a speaker, you probably will only see once.”

Initially, when Medley received the invitation to host students as well as the indication that students wish to interact with the faculty more, he felt that it was important to open his home. He finds that encouraging community feeling on EMU’s campus is an important part of Spiritual Life Week. In the past, the Medleys have invited students and other faculty members in his classes and within the department for dinners and occasional seasonal events. However, Spiritual Life Week has made it easier to do so because of its efficient organization.

“I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some people I had seen on campus before but never had the opportunity to get to know,” said junior Maddie Gish. “It is amazing how much we can learn from everyone around us. I am so glad I participated!”

Portions of this coverage were reprinted with permission from the March 3, 2016, edition of the Weather Vane.

A crowd of about 200 enjoyed the game, cheering on both the Kingz and their opponents, a team made up of faculty, staff, alumni and students.

The event was billed as the EMU Charity Classic by the (BSU), which hosted the game and an after-party later that night. More than 150 tickets were sold, with the funds going towards an alternative spring break trip planned jointly by BSU, the EMU Gospel Choir, and .

“I really love how the game brought a lot of energy to EMU,” said sophomore Anna Messer. “It was a great time for students to get together with professors and with each other. It was a good community event for people to just let loose and have fun.”

Crowd-pleasing hoops

The Streetball Kingz is a group managed by Dewey Jackson, based in Delaware. The team plays across the U.S. for community and nonprofit events. Their flashy style of play incorporates crowd-pleasing dunks, top-notch ball handling, and supreme shooting.

The fundraiser was quickly put together and gained momentum after the Streetball Kingz, just weeks before, contacted , director of , about coming to EMU since they had already played at James Madison University and Bridgewater College. Lepley passed along the idea to BSU student advisor .

“We wanted to do something that would be fun and late night so that students would have an option of doing something that’s substance free,” said Thomas. “We thought it would bring a lot of energy to the campus and it was something new. I think we did well taking a risk and trying something different.”

“It always feels good to see hard work pay off,” said BSU event coordinator Richard Robinson, “especially for an event like this that has never happened on EMU’s campus.”

The fundraiser will help defray costs of an alternative spring break civil rights experiential learning trip to Alabama and Georgia.

“Instead of going to the beach, we’ll be going to Selma, Tuskegee and Atlanta doing a civil rights tour,” said Thomas. “It’s the 51st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, so we’ll walk across the Pettus Bridge, stop by national civil rights museums along the way, and go to some of the churches that they marched from. We’ll visit Martin Luther King Jr. father’s church, go to MLK’s church in Montgomery, and also where Rosa Parks got on the bus from her job and decided not to sit in the back of the bus.”

Team brings families and communities together

Streetball Kingz player Randy Gill, aka White Chocolate, splashed three three-pointers within the first five minutes of the game and they did not stop coming. A crowd pleaser, Gill interacted with the fans the entire time.

Following a collegiate career at Bowie State University, Gill started playing streetball and minor league basketball. He was eventually asked to play overseas, and since his return, has been playing for the Streetball Kingz.

Gill explained that the mission of his team is to support youth, and to bring families and communities together.

“It doesn’t matter if there are 20,000 people or even 100 people. We’re here to spread the love, bring the community together, and have a good time,” he said. “Whenever there’s a cause or a mission and we can help bring the people together that’s what it’s all about. We want young people to believe in themselves and let them know that they can do anything they want to if they practice their craft, whatever it may be. My mission is believe to achieve.”

More BSU events

This month, BSU will be hosting a Nov. 18 chapel with the theme of #BlackLivesMatter. On Dec. 11, BSU will be joining the Campus Activities Council to host the .

“We’re expecting about 150 people for the ball,” said Thomas. “We’ve contacted a band called Ebony Blue, and that will be another large event before we leave for winter break. When we come back we’ll have a week-long celebration for MLK in January, then in February we’ll have Kwanzaa for Black History Month, and finally the trip will be in March. We’re trying to expose the campus to different things. ”

A version of this article was first printed in Nov. 5, 2015, issue of The Weather Vane.

Posey earns a spot on the All-State First Team as a utility player. Starting as an outfielder and EMU’s No. 1 pitcher, Posey completed one of the finest all-around seasons in program history. He was a terror atop the batting order, hitting .424 with 41 runs and 23 RBIs. His 72 hits led the nation during the regular season and tied an EMU record set by current MLBer Erik Kratz.  Posey added 10 doubles, three triples and his first career homerun. He was the lone EMU regular with more walks than strikeouts (14 to 13) and he was second on the team with nine stolen bases.

On the hill, Posey was 4-4 with one complete game and a 4.57 ERA. He struck out 56 batters in 65.0 innings and walked only four. Posey was second in the nation with a 14.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and third nationally with 0.55 walks per nine innings. He was also named All-ODAC First Team and All-Region by two different organizations.

McAlister repeats his All-ODAC Second Team award with an All-State Second Team honor. A four-year starter at second base, he batted .365 with 29 runs and 23 RBIs. His .447 on-base percentage was second on the team only to Posey’s .471. McAlister led the ODAC with nine sacrifices and added 12 stolen bases. He also broke Eastern Mennonite’s record for career assists, finishing with 329.

Shenandoah University’s Michael Paul was named Player of the Year while teammate Darrell Thompson and Ferrum’s Jake Perkins shared Pitcher of the Year honors. Rounding out top honors was Randolph-Macon College’s Nick Maiolo as Rookie of the Year and Bridgewater’s Curt Kendall tabbed as Coach of the Year.

The Royals finished with a record of 20-19 this spring, notching their first winning record since the Kratz era ended in 2002. It was also just the third 20-win season in program history.

Posey started all 39 of the Royals’ games, spending most of his time either in the outfield or as the No. 1 pitcher. He also started a few games at first base. The left-handed batter hit .424 and led the nation with 72 hits during the regular season.

He had team highs with his batting average and hits, as well as a .471 on-base percentage, 41 runs and three triples. Posey added 10 doubles, 23 RBIs, 14 walks and nine stolen bases, also setting an EMU record with 170 at-bats.

A right-handed pitcher, he charted a record of 4-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 65.0 innings. Posey showed pin-point control on the hill, with his 14.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio being second in the nation. He had 56 strikeouts compared to just four walks, and also was third nationally in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.55.

Posey was one of 14 players from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference named to the ABCA’s three all-region teams. Click here to see the full list of honorees from the ABCA.

Earlier this spring, Posey was named All-South Region Second Team by D3baseball.com.

Eastern Mennonite’s baseball men were 20-19 this year, earning their most wins since 2002, when current MLB-player Erik Kratz was a senior.

The Royals improved to 16-17 with that road decision, giving them the most wins in a season since 2002. The team finished the season nine days later at 20-19 overall.

For perspective, the 2002 team, which ended the season 29-13, featured star senior Erik Kratz, a current player in the Toronto Blue Jays system behind the plate. In 2013, Kratz was a starting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. While at EMU, Kratz was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Year twice and finished his EMU career with the NCAA record 75 doubles.

The Royals have seen their win total rise over the past two years under the guidance of . EMU won 15 games in 2013 after totaling 11 wins the previous three seasons (2010-12). The 20 wins earned this year are the most earned since the 2002 team collected 29 wins en route to a fourth-place finish in the ODAC.

Stand-out players during the April 10, 2014 game that tipped the season’s win-loss balance over .500:

•  (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) wrapped up the scoring with a two-run single
•  (Miami, Fla./Doral Academy) batted 4-5
•  (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) scored twice
•  (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) had two doubles and two runs
•  (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) smacked two doubles
•  (Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith) scored twice
• Starting pitcher  (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) threw 6.0+ scoreless innings to improve to 2-3
•  (New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) tossed scoreless ball for two innings

These and other players kept the momentum going the last few games of the season, and then .

Senior Ryan McAlister  was recognized as the Royals “Athlete of the Week” on April 21.

Learning to lead through hardship

McAlister was a consistent starter for the baseball team all four of his years at EMU.  He was a key player this spring in lifting the team above .500 to a winning record. McAlister played the best game of his career on Senior Saturday, April 12, when he batted 5-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs in an exciting 18-8 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College. (.)

“[Coach Spotts] always tells us that he’s a winner and we can be winners, too,” said Ryan.  “It was easy to get behind the coach and buy into the winning plan he brought to us, because he has a lot of knowledge, experience and success in the game.”

Ryan admits that his first two years on the EMU baseball team were tough – the team struggled with a losing record – but he says he would not trade that experience for anything.  Being a starter for his team for four years helped him play a more prominent role on his team and become a vocal leader, he says.

“As a freshman, I led by example.  I did things the right way.  I played the game hard,” Ryan explained.  “And as I started to gain more experience and the seniors started to graduate, I became more vocal.”

With plans to finish classes in December, the sports and recreational leadership major says he really appreciates the small class sizes that EMU offers and the relationships he has built with his professors.

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EMU 6, MCLA 5
The Royals opened with an afternoon game against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and they scored single runs in each of the first four innings.  The Trailblazers put up three runs in the third, then took a 5-4 lead with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Neither team would score again until the eighth, when (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) hit a two-out RBI double to tie the score.  (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) then led off the top of the ninth with a double, was sacrificed to third, and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby).  MCLA managed a one-out walk in their final at-bat, but that was it.

The men had an 11-8 advantage in hitting, led by Posey’s 3-5 with two runs.  The senior also started on the mound and pitched 6.1 innings for a no decision.  Only three of the runs were earned and Posey struck out nine batters.  (Carroll, Va./Carroll) earned the win by giving up just the one walk with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

EMU 14, Clark 6
Next up, the Royals resumed a doubleheader with Clark University.  The Cougars had led 5-1 when the rains had ended play the day before.  EMU had the bases loaded at the time, however, and the rally resumed when play picked back up on Friday.

The men put on a clinic in the at-bat, sending 17 men to the plate with nine hits and four walks.  EMU scored 12 runs to surge in front 12-5, with Hedrick knocking a pair of two-run singles in the inning.  (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) also had a two-run triple.

The Royals overcame four errors in the game by getting 15 hits and six walks in the seven-inning contest.  (Miramar, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace) was 3-4 with three runs.  Hedrick was 2-4 with a walk and four RBIs, while (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) added three RBIs.  Every starter reached base at least twice for the men.

(Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) pitched four innings and was charged with five runs.  (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) pitched Clark’s half of the fifth inning before rains suspended the game and earned the win.  (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) then threw the final two frames, giving up an unearned run.

EMU 6, Clark 3
The bats kept rolling in the nightcap as Eastern Mennonite jumped to a 6-1 lead.  Armstrong had a two-run single in the first.  The Cougars brought home single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth, but neither team scored over the final two innings.

(new Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) and (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) combined to limit Clark to just three hits.  Henschel started and allowed all of the runs in 4.2 innings, although only one was earned.  Salladay struck out three in 2.1 innings of hitless relief.

Hedrick and Armstrong were each 2-4 with two RBIs.  Posey and McAlister each scored twice.  (Miami, Fla./Doral Academy) didn’t chart an official at-bat, but finished with three walks, a sacrifice fly, an RBI and a run scored.

As the Royals prepare for Christopher Newport on Tuesday, they will have a chance to see how they have improved in Ben Spotts’ second season as head coach and with his first full class of recruits.  Last year, EMU had the same number of wins as this year after their trip to Florida (at 11-8), but struggled through the ODAC season to a 15-24 final record.  Despite finishing with the most wins since 2002 last spring, the Royals will be looking for a better conference season this time around.

EMU 23, Mount Saint Vincent 10
The Royals scored three runs in their first at-bat, but broke open a tie game in the bottom of the second.  With two outs and just a runner on third, EMU took off.  (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) brought in three runs with a bases loaded single, and (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) roped a two-run triple.  Seven runs scored as the men jumped in front, 10-3.

The Royals scored twice in the third, and four more times in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from (Miami, Fla./Doral).

The men led 16-8 in the bottom of the sixth when to landed another seven-run frame.  (Roanoke, Va./Cave Springs) had his own two-run triple, and (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) hit a pinch-hit two-run single.

Although the game featured a combined 13 errors, Eastern Mennonite had 21 hits to go with seven walks.  Mathews finished 3-3 with four RBIs while Estrada was 2-3 with three RBIs, two walks and two runs.  (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) had three hits, scoring twice and knocking in two more.  Hedrick finished with four RBIs and two runs, while (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) scored three times.

(Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits to get his first win of the season.

EMU 8, Mount Saint Vincent 4 – 6 innings
While the nightcap never got flowing the way the first game did, the Royals took full advantage of CMSV’s three errors, as half of their runs were unearned.

The Dolphins led 1-0 when EMU took over in the bottom of the second.  Four runs scored, highlighted by ‘s (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) two-run single.  The visitors plated another single run in the third, but the Royals jumped the lead to 7-2 with three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame.

The final two innings were filled with tension, but little scoring, as EMU turned a double play to end the game after the top of the sixth on account of darkness.

Posey had four of the men’s 10 hits, going a perfect 4-4.  McAlister had two RBIs while Estrada reached base twice on walks.  (Rustburg, Va./Rustburg) singled in his only official at-bat, adding a walk, run and RBI to his totals.

(Front Royal, Va./Warren County) improved to 1-0 by scattering six hits over 5.0 innings.  (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) threw a scoreless sixth.

After sweeping all five games of their home-opening weekend, the Royals (6-1) are set to host Penn State-Harrisburg on Thursday.  EMU then welcome Emory & Henry on Saturday for their ODAC opener.

Softball

Senior (Mt. Solon, VA/Fort Defiance) leaves with her first-ever All-ODAC First Team honor, as she was EMU’s triple crown winner, leading the team in batting, homeruns and RBIs.  Overall, Allman led the Lady Royals in nine offensive categories, hitting .422, on 49 hits, with eight homeruns, 11 doubles and 17 walks.  She also tied a program record with 46 RBIs in a season.  The infielder closes her career with five EMU records: homeruns in season (9), RBIs in a season (46 – tied with Karla Alderfer), career homeruns (31), career RBIs (151) and career walks (52).  Allman earned a spot on the All-ODAC First Team in the utility spot, as she played games at first base, second base and designated player this year.  This is her third time on an All-ODAC team.

High school teammates (Elkton, VA/Spotswood) and (Elkton, VA/Spotswood) earned nods to the All-ODAC Second Team.  Hensley, EMU’s shortstop, led the women and was sixth in the ODAC with 40 runs this year.  She came two short of EMU’s record of 42.  Hensley was second on the team with 45 hits and added some pop as well, with a career high six homeruns to go with ten doubles and two triples.  She was also on the Second Team as a freshman and Third Team last year.  Smith took a spot on the Second Team as an outfielder after on the First Team in 2011.  She played her best in the ODAC part of the season and finished with a .348 batting average, with eight doubles and four homeruns.  Smith was second on the team with 28 RBIs.  She also had a 6-3 record with one save and a 3.91 ERA as a pitcher.

The Lady Royals also had three new players land on the All-ODAC Third Team.  Sophomore (Crimora, VA/Fort Defiance), a transfer from Lynchburg College, took over as EMU’s starting center fielder and lead-off hitter.  She was third on the team with 44 hits and batted .336 with a team-best eight stolen bases.  Freshmen (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) and (Elkton, VA/East Rockingham) rounded out EMU’s honorees.  Miller, as designated player, was second on the team with a .404 batting average, adding four homeruns and 17 RBIs.  She was also second in on-base percentage and third in slugging percentage.  Cash earned her spot as the third baseman, and had a team high seven sacrifices.  She tied for second on the team in stolen bases, going a perfect five-for-five.  Cash was also fourth with 25 runs scored.

Eastern Mennonite’s young team finished the 2013 season 21-19 overall and 9-11 in the ODAC.  They had a number of big wins during the year, including three over nationally ranked teams.  The Lady Royals swept Lynchburg to end the regular season, and also handed No. 1 Salisbury one of their two losses.

Baseball

The Royals had two players honored to 2013 All-ODAC teams, with both catcher (Miami, FL/Doral Academy) and first baseman (Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) named to the Third Team.  Both players are juniors at ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř.

Estrada, also an ODAC All-Academic Team member, led the Royals in a number of offensive categories, as well as catching for a pitching staff which shaved nearly two full runs off its team ERA this spring and led the ODAC in strikeouts per game (7.08).  Estrada had team highs with his 17 doubles (fourth-best season in EMU history), two homeruns, 34 RBIs and .500 slugging percentage.  He was also second with 50 hits and a .333 batting average.  Estrada was third in the ODAC in doubles, and fifth in both RBIs and sacrifice flies.

Posey responded very well to a big move this year.  After concentrating on pitching only his first two seasons, the junior added playing first and batting to his repertoire.  He hit from the leadoff spot all season and led EMU with a .367 batting average, 54 hits and 35 runs scored.  His .460 on-base percentage easily led EMU and was fifth in the ODAC.  Posey displayed a judicial eye at the plate, earning 19 walks compared to just eight strikeouts.  He also had a 4-3 record from the hill, with a 2.81 ERA in 10 starts.

Despite a cold spell to end the season, Eastern Mennonite finished with their most wins since 2002, coming in at 15-24.

EMU 8, Hampden-Sydney 3
The Royals scored the first run of the game in the top of the second, but HSC answered with single runs in the second and third to jump ahead, 2-1.

The men used small ball to take over in the sixth.  Two singles and a sacrifice put runners on the second and third, and (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) had the clutch two-out hit, scoring both runners to put EMU up 3-2.

(West Point, VA/Christchurch) had an RBI single in the seventh and (Miramar, FL/Pace) knocked in two more with a single in the eighth.  Back-to-back RBI doubles from (Miami, FL/Doral Academy) and (Greenville, VA/Riverheads) gave the Royals their final runs in the 8-3 win.

(Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) went the distance from the hill to improve to 4-0.  He scattered seven hits, struck out three and allowed two earned runs.

Five men each had two hits in EMU’s 13-hit attack.  Rodriguez was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run.  Estrada rapped a pair of doubles with a run and an RBI.  (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) singled twice and scored twice.  Mortimer was 2-5 with two RBIs and a run, while Posey also singled twice and scored.

EMU 7, Hampden-Sydney 0
Senior (Henrico, VA/Varina) was in control from the mound in game two, holding the Tigers to just five hits in a complete game shutout.  It was his third complete game shutout of the year, and his first of the nine-inning variety, as he improved to 4-2.

The offense took advantage of five Hampden-Sydney errors as five of the seven runs were unearned.  EMU played great small ball again in the game, as all eight of their hits were singles and they had four walks and two sacrifices.

Posey and Rodriguez each singled and walked and scored twice.

With the impressive wins, the Royals improve to 13-10 overall and 3-3 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.  Next up is a non-conference date with Averett on Tuesday in Harrisonburg.  Although there have been different start times mentioned, the correct first pitch will be at 4 p.m.

EMU 5, MCLA 2

Both teams played small ball to a 2-2 tie after four innings of play. The Royals finally broke through in their final at-bat of the seven-inning contest.

Austin Oliver (Gordonsville, VA/Orange County) led off with a single, and two batters later Ryan McAlister (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) hit a clutch two-run single to put EMU up 4-2. Kyle Armstrong (Greenville, VA/Riverheads) added an RBI single to provide the final 5-2 tally.

Adam Posey (Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to complete the win. He gave up one earned run on four hits to improve to 3-0.

Armstrong led the offense with a pair of singles and a walk. McAlister had the big two-run hit in the seventh and Justin Rodriguez (Miramar, FL/Pace) reached base twice with a single and a walk.

EMU 9, MCLA 0

The Royals methodically scored in four of their six at-bats in the second game of the twin bill to secure the shutout.

Daniel Stanley (Henrico, VA/Varina) was untouchable from the hill and struck out 10 while allowing only four hits. He didn’t walk a batter. The senior is now 3-2 on the year.

McAlister was 2-3 with a walk and two runs. B.J. Mortimer (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) had a pair of sacrifice flies and scored a run. Zach Bowles (Staunton, VA/Robert E. Lee) was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run while Oliver and Phillip Jordan (West Point, VA/Christchurch) each had a pair of RBIs as well. Rodriguez scored twice.

EMU 7, Wittenberg 5

The Royals also had a win over Wittenberg on Thursday, jumping to a 5-0 lead and holding on for the decision. Armstrong got the final out for the save while Casey Harlow (Louisa, VA/Louisa County) pitched the first 5.2 innings for the win. Harlow struck out six and allowed two runs on four hits.

Oliver led the offense with two hits and two RBIs. Jordan and Jonathan Estrada (Miami, FL/Doral Academy) each went 1-3 with an RBI.

After the drive back from Florida, Eastern Mennonite has a couple of days off before they take on new Old Dominion Athletic Conference opponent Shenandoah at home next Wednesday. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Harrisonburg.