Ryan Henschel Archives - EMU News

For the record: Ryan Henschel ’15 solves for success

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:42:42 +0000

Editor’s Note: This profile is the fourth of six stories about students and alumni leading up to the 10th annual LovEMU Giving Day on April 1. For more information about the day and how to donate, visit .

Leading a new school comes with its own set of challenges, says Ryan Henschel ’15, co-principal of Rocktown High School in Harrisonburg.

For one thing, there isn’t much of a blueprint to follow. There’s no history to draw on or precedent for how things are done.

“We’re still developing the identity of the school,” Henschel said. “And we’re creating all the processes from scratch to keep things running smoothly.”

It’s a formidable task, but also one filled with excitement and possibility.

“There aren’t as many ‘bad habits’ we need to undo before setting the tone for the school,” he said. “In that way, it’s a little easier.”

Henschel, in his first year as co-principal, leads over 1,000 students and several EMU alumni on staff at Rocktown, which opened in fall 2024. He previously served as its assistant principal.

Originally from New Market, Henschel said the opportunity to play collegiate baseball drew him to EMU. During his four seasons on the team, the starting pitcher contributed to the Royals’ growing success. In 2015, as a team captain, he helped lead the squad to its first ODAC Tournament appearance since 2002, when former MLB catcher Erik Kratz ’02 was on the team.

Baseball helped him grow, teaching him to manage his time, strengthen his organizational skills, and develop as a leader. It may have been what brought him to campus, but the school’s close-knit community and small class sizes led him to stay.

“I got to know my professors,” he said. “As an athlete, I knew almost all the other athletes and coaches and would interact with them. That played a huge role in making me feel like I truly belong to this community.”

EMU is a Division III school, which means it cannot offer athletic scholarships. For Henschel, receiving the President’s Scholarship, which is awarded to EMU students who maintain a 3.0 GPA, made a real difference.

“That scholarship helped reduce the financial burden both during and after my time at EMU,” he said.

Henschel chose to major in math education because he “really enjoyed math.” “You don’t hear that a lot,” he said. “It came easier to me than other subjects, and I could help other students learn math, which gave me great joy.”

After graduating from EMU in 2015, Henschel taught math at Harrisonburg High School until 2023, when he was named assistant principal. When Rocktown opened the following year, he joined the new school as assistant principal. Henschel, who has a master’s degree in education from James Madison University, became Rocktown’s co-principal last fall.

His wife, Rachel Richard Henschel ’15, a teacher at Spotswood Elementary School, is also an alum of EMU’s acclaimed teacher education program. He credits the program, and its immediate, hands-on experiences, with preparing teachers to serve and lead in the classroom.

During his first semester at EMU, an introduction to teaching course placed him in a local school practicum, where he could quickly translate course theory into practice.

“That’s when I fell in love with teaching,” he said.

Since welcoming students two years ago, Rocktown has earned awards across a wide range of categories, from its innovative architecture and cardiac arrest preparedness to its music education and athletics programs.

“As a new school,” said Henschel, “we’re currently in the exciting phase of cultivating a culture of excellence and seeing our students reach their full potential.”

Your support helps students pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 10th annual LovEMU Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future EMU students. On April 1, let’s show that our generosity knows no bounds…for the record!

Making Royals baseball history: trio named to All-State team

John Galle — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:54:46 +0000

Three’s company, and when it comes to ��ݮ��’s all-state baseball selections, it’s also historic.

A scrappy sophomore with a reliable bat was a key piece of that puzzle.

Outfielder – a 5-foot-9, 170-pound Rustburg High School graduate – led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in hitting at .423 (47-for-111) and was one of three Royals named to the by Virginia’s sports information directors late last week.

Senior shortstop joined Hall on the first team, and senior relief pitcher made the second team. Players on non-Division I teams were eligible.

EMU had never had three VaSID all-state selections in the same season before.

“I’m not surprised all three of these guys were named all-state after the years they had for us,” third-year EMU coach said. “I think each of them had different paths to this point.”

But in terms of Hall’s path…

‘A role guy’ to much more

“To go from the start of his year this year as sort of a role guy, to a guy you couldn’t get out of the lineup to all-state first-team, it’s a big surprise,” Spotts said.

Hall was a part of Spotts’ first recruiting class and impressed people with how quickly he was able to contribute. After being brought in as a raw athlete, Hall hit .318 in 19 games (10 starts) as a freshman. Then, he surprised himself on March 3 in his first start in right field, throwing out two Mount Union runners – one at second base and one at home plate – during the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla.

“I felt like I knew I had the arm for it, but at that time I didn’t know where it would go,” Hall recalled. “I honestly didn’t know where it would go.”

Spotts envisioned Hall as a backup shortstop entering this year and expected him to become a key player as a junior and senior. However, one look at Hall’s speed during an impromptu relay race last winter was all Spotts needed to speed up the process of getting Hall onto the field.

“He always had the tools. It was just a matter if it could translate over,” Spotts said. “He never played outfield. We made him an outfielder. … It just became a matter where we couldn’t wait another year.”

Getting Hall into the lineup paid immediate dividends as the All-ODAC first-team outfielder averaged 1.52 hits per game and finished with a .492 on-base percentage this spring. Spotts credited Hall’s competitiveness and simplified approach at the plate for his strong batting average.

“His bat certainly gets him recognition, but if you watch him, [he’s got a big arm in the outfield],” Spotts said. “Heck, we put him on the mound because he competes so much.”

As a closer, Hall didn’t allow a run in seven innings of work with eight strikeouts, giving up just two hits (both singles) and four walks. But clearly it was his speed that initially separated Hall, who Spotts lauded for his ability to drag bunt, push bunt and hit the ball the other way.

“Even when he was a freshman, I was facing him in the fall and he got an infield single off me,” Marzullo said of Hall, who batted second behind fellow sophomore Griffin Stanley. “The way he hustles around the bases and just how hard he plays in the field, it was obvious he was going to make an impact on the program. … He plays harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Spotts said it’s still uncertain whether Hall will inherit Rodriguez’s role at shortstop – a place where Rodriguez “gave us calmness” for three years – or continue to man the outfield. Hall, for one, wasn’t too concerned where he’d play next season, whether it is outfield, shortstop or third base.

“I don’t feel like where I play in the field will affect my hitting any,” he said.

Marzullo tough to replace

As for Marzullo, a durable right-hander who led the Royals with 15 appearances? Finding a replacement to match his role might not be as easy.

“We’ll be searching for someone,” Spotts said. “It was good to know if our starter gave us five or six innings, we could turn it over to Austin. We’re certainly going to miss him because I’ve always said your pitching sets the tone.”

The 6-foot-5 Marzullo (2-2, 2.76 ERA) was a first-team All-ODAC selection who had four saves in 32 2/3 innings for EMU after being initially disappointed that he wouldn’t be in the starting rotation. After struggling with command issues as a spot starter and reliever in past seasons, Marzullo said he changed his mentality on the mound.

“The first thing, I just had more confidence in my pitches, to be able to throw them across the plate at any time and trust that they will work,” Marzullo said. “It was also a focus pitch-by-pitch rather than results.”

Marzullo went 1-0 with two saves over EMU’s final six conference games.

Program on the rise

Rodriguez and Marzullo are two of nine graduating seniors for the Royals, including former Riverheads High School standout Kyle Armstrong [see editor’s note] and former Stonewall Jackson star Ryan Henschel.

“I’m excited to see how it ended for those guys, guys that finished on a high note and got our program to where it hasn’t been in a long time,” Spotts said.

The Royals (16-18 overall, 10-10 in the ODAC) tied a program record for conference wins and snapped a 12-year playoff drought by securing a spot in the six-team ODAC tournament this spring.

Courtesy of the Daily News Record, June 23, 2015

Editor’s Note: Kyle Armstrong, listed in the original article as a graduating senior, has one more season of eligibility.

Senior day sweep jumps EMU into fifth in ODAC

James De Boer — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:15:12 +0000

Showing they could play two very different games, EMU’s baseball team picked up a clutch ODAC sweep of Roanoke on Senior Day.�� On the backs of defense and pitching, the Royals won the opener before out-scoring the Maroons in a wild nightcap.

With the wins, Eastern Mennonite jumps from seventh in the conference standings into a tie for fifth. The top six teams will make the ODAC Tournament, a feat EMU last accomplished in 2002.

The Royals are 9-9 in league play, tied with Roanoke at 8-8, although the men now hold the head-to-head tie-breaker between the two. Lynchburg sits just behind them at 7-8. EMU plays two more conference games, ending the season with a twin bill at second-place Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. Roanoke has four games left, including a game at Lynchburg, while LC still has five league games to play, with the final one next Sunday.

EMU 5, Roanoke 2
After pre-game Senior Recognition ceremonies, the day’s high spirits were dampened by an early confusing play. Just three batters in, Roanoke’s Craig Kiley lofted a ball deep to left, and��(Greenville, Va./Riverheads) crashed into the outfield fence trying to make the catch. Despite the great effort by Armstrong, he couldn’t make the play and it was discovered the ball somehow got over the fence.�� After some discussion, the umpires ruled it a homerun, giving the Maroons a 2-0 lead.

But the Royals quickly took the momentum back, starting their first inning with a walk and back-to-back singles to score a run.�� A sacrifice fly tied it at 2-2, and��(Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) knocked a clutch two-out, two-RBI single to left, flipping EMU in front, 4-2.

Starting pitcher��(Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) settled down on the mound and proceeded to allow just four more hits through 7.0 innings of work.

A Roanoke error in the fourth helped the men score, as Armstrong hit an RBI groundout to bump the lead to 5-2.

Brown handed the ball over to ��(Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) in the eighth, and the big righthander allowed just one baserunner as he struck out three to earn a two-inning save. The game fittingly ended on a great play in the outfield, as a diving catch by Armstrong in the left-center gap closed a 1-2-3 ninth.

Along with a couple of airborne catches in the outfield, Armstrong led at the plate as well, batting 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.��(Miramar, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace) was 2-3 with a walk and run, while Mathews and��(Bedford, Va./Staunton River) each had a pair of hits as well.

Brown struck out five and improved to 3-4 with the win, while Marzullo tied for the ODAC lead with his fourth save of the season.

EMU 11, Roanoke 9
The Royals looked destined for a sweep with a quick start in the second game. Rodriguez had three RBIs and Love sent a two-run bomb over the scoreboard in left field for the men’s first homerun of the season, as EMU led 5-0 after two.

Roanoke quickly tied it with a five spot in the third, however, doing the final damage with a three-run homer to left, chasing starter��(New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson).

EMU went back ahead thanks to a two-out error in the bottom of the frame, but the Maroons got a pair of two-out RBIs in the fourth to get in front.�� The teams traded single runs in the fifth, leaving the visitors on top 8-7.

��𱹱��(Sugar Creek, Ohio/Hiland) finally provided some stability on the mound, entering in the sixth and retiring six straight batters.�� Meanwhile RC’s reliever broke down in the bottom of the sixth, issuing back-to-back walks to start the inning.�� The Maroons botched a sacrifice play from the Royals, loading the bases with nobody out.�� One run scored on a wild pitch, another on a single from Mathews and a third on a sacrifice fly from��(Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford), as EMU regained control, 10-8.

Rodriguez ripped an RBI double in the seventh, making it 11-8.

Marzullo returned to the hill in the eighth, and allowed one run in his second appearance of the day.��(Gladys, Va./Rustburg) then entered in the ninth, and after a leadoff walk he got three straight outs to lock up the win and earn his second save.

Weaver picked up his first win in an EMU uniform with his big-time performance in the sixth and seventh innings.

The offense had 12 hits and six walks, with each position player either scoring or driving in a run. Rodriguez had a big game, going 3-4 with a walk and four RBIs. Carroll was 2-3 with a walk, scoring time times and knocking in another. Hall reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk while Love had two RBIs on his big homerun.

At 15-14 overall, the Royals step out of conference play for two games during the week. The men host The Apprentice School Tuesday at 4 p.m. in their final home game before playing at Messiah College at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Safe at home: Royals baseball coach Ben Spotts makes local recruiting a key contributor to success

Chris Yoder and Lauren Jefferson — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:14:36 +0000

��ݮ�� head baseball coach has a simple recruiting philosophy: Do not lose local athletes to other Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) schools. That’s a tough goal, considering the proximity of three recruiting rivals in the Valley: Shenandoah University, ranked 11^th in Division III; Bridgewater College; and Division I James Madison University, currently carrying six local players on its roster.

But EMU’s growing success, including a recent upset of Bridgewater’s highly touted team, suggests that Spotts’ recruiting philosophy—and his mission for the Royals program –is helping the Royals compete at a higher level.

Of the 42 players on the Royals roster, 12 are from the Shenandoah Valley.

The wealth of local talent has deep roots: a love of baseball has often been passed down through the generations of Valley families. And there’s the rich local history of the game: The , which dates to 1897, and the , dating to 1925, have offered both playing and spectating opportunities for decades (until becoming a collegiate league in 1961, the Valley League was open to any player).

Valley baseball players

“There’s not much else to do in the Valley but play ball,” jokes Martin Clark, a sophomore pitcher who graduated from Broadway High School.

Others from Rockingham County (and listed by their respective high schools) are freshman pitcher Logan Phelps, Spotswood, and sophomore catcher Ryan Hedrick, Turner Ashby.

From the northern Valley region come senior pitcher Ryan Henschel, Stonewall Jackson; freshman outfielder Julian Bussells and junior pitcher Ryan Tierney, Warren County; and sophomore catcher Aaron Cook, Luray.

The southern Valley is represented by freshman pitcher Tristan Childress, Waynesboro, and senior outfielder and pitcher Kyle Armstrong, Riverheads.

This group of mostly underclass local talent symbolizes Spotts’ recruiting strategy—and it’s one factor contributing to a significant turn-around in the program’s history.

When Spotts first started in 2013, the games were sparsely attended. Now on game days, cars line College Avenue, the small hillside behind the home dugouts is crowded with fans and their lawn chairs and blankets (and usually a few dogs, too), and the concession trailer does good business.

More and more wins

In 2011 and 2012, EMU managed only 11 wins. Most ODAC schools would look at their schedules before the season started and etch a “W” next to EMU’s name. In 2013, after Spotts arrived, EMU jumped to 15 wins. Last year, the Royals finished the season with a 20-19 record, notching their first winning record since 2002 (that year, the team was led by , currently a catcher for the Kansas City Royals). It was also just the third 20-win season in program history.

According to Spotts, who came to EMU after spending 14 seasons at Bridgewater College, the ODAC has improved in competition, commitment level and facilities in the past five to seven years. He speculated that the ODAC could be one of the top three Division III conferences in the country. In a , two teams in the 14-team conference, including Randolph-Macon at seventh, are ranked in top 20 (Bridgewater was ranked 19th until dropping out during the March 24 polling).

Ryan McAlister��’14 saw the struggling program turn around under Spotts’ guidance. He arrived at EMU in 2011 from nearby Turner Ashby High School and one of the state’s most consistently competitive baseball programs (TA teams have earned six AA state titles and several graduates have gone on to professional careers in Major League Baseball).

“Going from a very competitive school in high school, to my first year here – winning 11 games and losing 28 – it was a lot different than being on a winning program,” said McAlister, who currently coaches the junior varsity team at his alma mater.

Planned, disciplined practices

Then Spotts took over. McAlister, along with the other players, took a liking to their new coach. Practices felt productive, and team chemistry began to feel cohesive.

Under Spotts’ coaching, McAlister earned All-State and All-ODAC honors. In his final season, McAlister batted .365 and held a .447 on-base percentage. He tied for the team-high in runs scored with 35, and led the team in stolen bases with 13.

Spotts is “thorough and disciplined, and he’s got a plan,” says Dave McAlister, who hardly missed one of his son’s home games. “He’s organized. He’s a good fit for EMU, and EMU’s a good fit for him.”

Of his son’s progress on and off the field, McAlister says EMU was an excellent choice: “At EMU, Ryan picked up what we might call maturity things.”

Tristan Childress, a freshman pitcher, has entered the legacy that McAlister left behind. He was also recruited by Bridgewater, but Spotts proved to be a deciding factor, Childress said, adding that he found the energy Spotts brings to the field “convincing.” Perhaps more importantly, Childress said the senior leadership were just as positive about the program and the upcoming season.

Recruiting coachable, motivated students

When recruiting players, Spotts says he looks for coachable and motivated student-athletes “who want to be a part of the campus community and are committed to being a part of the academic and athletic community at EMU.”

“These players are committed to making our baseball program on of the top in the ODAC,” he said, “and they understand the hard work and year round commitment that is involved in competing in a college baseball program.�� I continually talk about our team and each player leaving their mark on our program in a positive way.”

In the previous two seasons, seven players have earned s and one player, Jonathan Estrada, was named to the .

As for future recruits, Spotts says he’s always on the lookout for local talent. A common misconception among prospective students, he says, is that EMU is only open to those of the Mennonite faith.

Like the game of baseball, EMU is “open to all faiths,” he says. “Come visit. You may not come here if you do visit, but you’ll think hard about it.”

EMU breaks record for all-academic honorees

James De Boer — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:57:18 +0000

��ݮ�� once again set a new high for student-athletes named to the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, as 96 Royals were honored.�� Last year a total of 80 Royals were named to the list, which had also been a high over the previous year’s total of 61.

All of EMU’s ODAC-sponsored sports were represented on the All-Academic Team.�� Men’s volleyball competes in the Continental Volleyball Conference and is not eligible for the ODAC team.

The ODAC All-Academic Team eclipsed 1,000 student-athletes for the eighth consecutive year and set a new high-water mark for conference honorees for the fifth year in a row.�� With representatives from each of the 17 ODAC institutions (including Catholic University for football only and Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University for swimming only), 1,558 student-athletes earned recognition on the 2013-14 ODAC All-Academic Team.

Eligibility for the ODAC All-Academic Team is open to any student-athlete that competes in a conference-sponsored sport, regardless of academic class.�� He or she must achieve at least a 3.25 grade point average for the year to be considered for an ODAC All-Academic Award.

For more information, visit the ODAC’s home on the Internet at��. ��Don’t forget to become a fan of the ODAC on��and follow��on Twitter.

The entire list of Royals named to the ODAC All-Academic Team is listed below.��

EMU’s ODAC All-Academic Team
Elizabeth Alderfer – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Kayley Argenbright – Women’s Volleyball
Jordan Aylor – Softball
Becky Barrett – Women’s Basketball
Trey Barrett – Men’s Basketball
Tyler Brenneman – Men’s Soccer
Carol Brinkley – Field Hockey
Jonathan Bush – Men’s Soccer, Track & Field
Lauren Campbell – Softball
McKenna Carter – Women’s Volleyball
Hannah Chappell-Dick – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Robert Cook – Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Melissa Cox – Field Hockey
Nicolette Cuevas – Softball
Hannah Daley – Field Hockey
Mary Beth Danaher – Field Hockey
Patty Danaher – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Paige DeBell – Field Hockey
Tyler Denlinger – Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Jenessa Derstine – Field Hockey
Erica Detweiler – Women’s Soccer
Katie Eckman – Women’s Cross Country
Mariah Foltz – Softball
Daniel Friesen – Men’s Soccer
Erica Garber – Women’s Track & Field
Carlos Garcia – Men’s Track & Field
Abi Gardner – Field Hockey
Jessica Goertzen – Women’s Volleyball
Naomi Good – Women’s Soccer
Joe Hall – Baseball
Rebecca Hardy – Women’s Volleyball
Derek Harnish – Men’s Soccer
Bethany Hench – Field Hockey
Ryan Henschel – Baseball
Brooke Hensley – Softball
Morgan Hill – Women’s Soccer
Jordan Hollinger – Men’s Soccer
David Hooley – Men’s Soccer
Brendan Jeschke – Men’s Soccer, Track & Field
Viktor Kaltenstein – Men’s Soccer
Brianna Kauffman – Field Hockey
Rachel Kennel – Women’s Volleyball
Louise Krall – Field Hockey
Lanae Kreider – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Jacob Landis – Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Jordan Leaman – Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Parker Leap – Men’s Soccer
Mollie Lehman – Field Hockey
Jake Lind – Men’s Soccer
Lexi Link – Women’s Volleyball
Mariah Martin – Field Hockey
Tim Martin – Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Dilmer Martinez – Men’s Soccer
Mark Mast – Men’s Soccer
Saralyn Mast – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Brad Matthias – Baseball
Brittany McDonaldson – Women’s Golf
Macson McGuigan – Men’s Soccer
Chris Miller – Men’s Track & Field
Katie Miller – Women’s Volleyball
Austin Mumaw – Men’s Soccer
Jonathan Nisly – Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Ian Norris – Baseball
Nora Osei – Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball
Jolee Paden – Women’s Cross Country
Jesse Parker – Men’s Cross Country
Hannah Patterson – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Dylan Polley – Men’s Soccer
Alicia Poplett – Women’s Soccer
D Probst – Women’s Volleyball
Casey Racer – Softball
Jess Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Steph Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Krista Rittenhouse – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Kyle Salladay – Baseball
Juni Schirch – Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field
Caleb Schlabach – Men’s Golf
Chanel Shands – Women’s Basketball
Jacob Shank – Men’s Soccer
Kayla Smeltzer – Women’s Volleyball
Molly Smith – Softball
Nicole Smith – Softball
Ashten Spencer – Women’s Soccer
Mandy Stowers – Field Hockey
Ryan Thomas – Men’s Soccer
Shannan Thompson – Women’s Basketball
John Toney – Men’s Golf
Londen Wheeler – Men’s Track & Field
Camille Williams – Field Hockey
Alex Wynn – Men’s Track & Field
Bianca Ygarza – Women’s Basketball
Alena Yoder – Women’s Volleyball
Andrew Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Chris Yoder – Men’s Basketball
Michelle Zook – Field Hockey
Marla zumFelde – Women’s Basketball

Royals finish 2014 baseball season with most wins in 12 years

James De Boer — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 18:46:58 +0000

When the dust settled after a flurry of action over the final two innings on April 10, EMU’s baseball men had taken down Southern Virginia 9-5 and logged a very important win.

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.

Freshman Ryan Hedrick (No. 9) and senior Jonathan Estrada (No. 24) were instrumental in EMU’s success this season. They are pictured here during an April 18 home game against Bridgewater College. (Photo by Sarah Carpenter)

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. (.)

EMU baseball coach Ben Spotts

“[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.

Learn more about EMU student-athletes

Become a student-athlete at EMU

Royals grab three wins in one day in Florida

James De Boer — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:35:33 +0000

The Royals baseball team finished their play at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with a bang on Friday, winning three games in less than the span of 12 hours.�� Eastern Mennonite won four of five in Florida, and returns home with an 11-5 record, just four wins from their win total from last spring.

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.

Royals Set New High For ODAC All-Academic Team

James De Boer — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:18:49 +0000

��ݮ�� set a new high for student-athletes named to the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, as 80 Royals were honored.�� Last year EMU landed 61 on the list.

All of EMU’s ODAC-sponsored sports were represented on the All-Academic Team.�� Men’s volleyball competes in the Continental Volleyball Conference and is not eligible for the ODAC team.

The ODAC All-Academic Team eclipsed 1,000 student-athletes for the seventh consecutive year and set a new high-water mark for conference honorees for the fourth year in a row.�� With representatives from each of the 17 ODAC institutions (including Catholic University for football only and Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University for swimming only), 1,459 student-athletes earned recognition on the 2012-13 ODAC All-Academic Team.

The entire list of Royals named to the ODAC All-Academic Team is listed below.

Nels Akerson – Cross Country, Track & Field
Elizabeth Alderfer – Cross Country, Track & Field
Sonja Anderson – Field Hockey
Kayley Argenbright – Women’s Basketball
Trey Barrett – Men’s Basketball
Ruthie Beck – Softball
Jennifer Blankenship – Women’s Basketball
Jessica Blanks – Field Hockey
Carol Brinkley – Field Hockey
Jonathan Bush – Men’s Soccer, Track & Field
Hannah Chappell-Dick – Cross Country, Track & Field
Hannah Clemmer – Cross Country, Track & Field
Melissa Cox – Field Hockey
Nicolette Cuevas – Softball
Mary Beth Danaher – Field Hockey
Patty Danaher – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jenessa Derstine – Field Hockey
Alli Eanes – Cross Country, Track & Field
Katie Eckman – Cross Country
Ryan Eshleman – Men’s Soccer
Jonathan Estrada – Baseball
Daniel Friesen – Men’s Soccer
Chantelle Garber – Field Hockey
Jessica Goertzen – Women’s Volleyball
Naomi Good – Women’s Soccer
Patrick Graber – Cross Country, Track & Field
Derek Harnish – Men’s Soccer
Bethany Hench – Field Hockey
Ryan Henschel – Baseball
Brooke Hensley – Softball
Jordan Hollinger – Men’s Soccer
David Hooley – Men’s Soccer
Holly Jensen – Women’s Soccer
Brianna Kauffman – Field Hockey
Janna Kaufman – Women’s Soccer
Rachel Kennel – Women’s Volleyball
Lanae Kreider – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jonathan Leaman – Men’s Golf
Parker Leap – Men’s Soccer
Mattie Lehman – Women’s Volleyball
Mollie Lehman – Field Hockey
Rachel Lehman – Women’s Volleyball
Lexi Link – Women’s Volleyball
Owen Longacre – Men’s Basketball
Karla Martin – Women’s Volleyball
Katie Martin – Women’s Volleyball
Phillip Martin – Track & Field
Ian Mast – Men’s Soccer
Mark Mast – Men’s Soccer
Saralyn Mast – Cross Country, Track & Field
Brittany McDonaldson – Women’s Golf
Thomas Millary – Cross Country
Katie Miller – Women’s Volleyball
Michelle Miller – Women’s Volleyball
Kaitlyn Morris – Softball
Austin Mumaw – Men’s Soccer
Joel Murray – Men’s Golf
Dan Nafziger – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jolee Paden – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jesse Parker – Cross Country, Track & Field
Hannah Patterson – Track & Field
Alicia Poplett – Women’s Soccer
Jess Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Steph Rheinheimer – Women’s Basketball
Sara Ritchie – Women’s Volleyball
Krista Rittenhouse – Cross Country, Track & Field
Adriana Santiago – Field Hockey
Meghan Schaefer – Cross Country
Juni Schirch – Cross Country, Track & Field
Jacob Shank – Men’s Soccer
Aaron Sloan – Track & Field
Kayla Smeltzer – Women’s Volleyball
Aaron Springer – Cross Country, Track & Field
Andre Swartzentruber – Men’s Golf
John Toney – Men’s Golf
Alena Yoder – Women’s Volleyball
Andrew Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Kegan Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Tyler Yoder – Men’s Soccer
Michelle Zook – Field Hockey

Baseball Royals Earn Split to Open Season

James De Boer — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:10:49 +0000

The Eastern Mennonite baseball team opened the 2012 season Saturday, playing a doubleheader at North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount, NC.�� Despite temperatures in the low 50s, cloudy skies and a blustery wind made for a chilly day. The men had a successful start, capped by a 9-1 outburst to earn a split.

NC Wesleyan 5, EMU 2
In game one, the Royals jumped on the board in their first at-bat of the year.�� Freshman (Lansdale, PA/Christopher Dock) led off with a double to right.�� He took third when (Sterling, PA/Park View) reach on a two-out error.�� Smith was subsequently picked off first base, but he stayed in the pickle long enough for Melendez to touch home.

The Battling Bishops took the lead in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs.�� But EMU came right back in the third.

(Miami, FL/Pace) led off with a walk and scored when Melendez smacked his second double.�� (Crozet, VA/Western Albemarle) sacrificed Melendez to third, but a pair of infield outs ended the frame with the score tied at 2-2.

North Carolina Wesleyan strung together three hits in the fifth to plate three runs and go back on top.�� The men then got two runners on in the sixth, but a pair of fly balls ended the threat.

Melendez walked to lead off the Royal’s final chance in the seventh, but a double play emptied the bases and cut down the rally.

(Louisa, VA/Louisa County) took the opening day start and took the loss.�� He gave up only six hits, but allowed five runs (four earned) while striking out four.�� Freshman (Shippensburg, PA/Shippensburg) struck out two in his one inning.

Melendez had a successful debut, reaching base in all four of his trips to the plate and factoring in both of EMU’s runs.�� He finished with two doubles and two walks, scoring one run and driving in the other.�� Smith and (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) had the other two of the men’s four hits.

EMU 9, NC Wesleyan 1
The Royals were in control in the nine-inning nightcap.�� (Miramar, FL/Pace) laced a two-run, two-out single in the men’s first at-bat, then brought in the first run of a three-run rally in the third by getting hit with a pitch.

The Battling Bishops scored their lone run on a two-out single in the fifth, but EMU put up back-to-back two-spots in the 6^th and 7^th.�� Melendez shot a two-run long ball to right to provide the final runs on the team’s first homerun of the year.

Eastern Mennonite had 10 hits in the second game, and junior transfer (Varina, VA/Varina) scattered five hits over seven innings in his EMU debut.�� He struck out six.�� (New Market, VA/Stonewall Jackson) provided two inning of scoreless relief.

Melendez finished 2-5 with three runs and a pair of RBIs from his homer.�� Smith had three hits including one double.

Justin Rodriguez finished with a pair of hits and four RBIs.�� Sophomore (Miami, FL/Doral Academy) scored three runs.

The Royals, now 1-1, return to Harrisonburg for their home opener on Wednesday.�� Mary Washington will come in for a single game at 3:00pm.