Randolph-Macon baseball coach Ray Hedrick came into last season with a lot on his mind. He had a brand new stadium to play in and a deep, talented team with tons of potential. But things did not play out as he had planned. The Yellow Jackets struggled early and were erratic. But in true ‘It’s never too late’ fashion, finally began clicking at the end to take the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament title.

  This season Hedrick hopes to build on the 2011 closing momentum but doing so could be a challenge early. The Yellow Jackets enter 2012 with only 15 returning players and 17 incoming freshmen.

  There’s no question as to which Yellow Jacket will draw the most attention from opponents early in the season. Last year a change in the bat rule combined with the continued development of first baseman Jordan Walton to create the perfect storm on the baseball field. The Lee-Davis product shattered the single season NCAA doubles record (27) with 31, broke the ODAC single season hit record (77) with a nation-leading 84, drove in an ODAC best 57 runs and ranked 13th in the country with a .452 batting average. All of which added up to First Team All-American honors.

  Walton comes into his senior season as the first Yellow Jacket baseball player to ever earn preseason All-American recognition.

  “He does things the right way,” Hedrick said. “He works hard in the off season and all of his rewards are just rewards because he puts in the time and his attitude, effort and approach are phenomenal.”

  Somewhat overshadowed by Walton’s accomplishments senior outfielder Brian Jordan also had an outstanding season at the plate as the team’s second leading hitter. The Goochland product batted .339, tied Walton with a team high four home runs, had 59 hits and 49 runs scored.

  Also posting a break-out season was junior outfielder Jeb Weymouth. The Hanover product finished the season as the teams’ third leading hitter, batting .333 with 58 hits and 31 RBI.

  Hedrick describes the trio as three of the top six hitters in the ODAC. “Those three guys in the top four of the lineup are going to be tough to beat,” he said.

  However, it among the other six slots in the batting order that Hedrick will have to look for production from relative newcomers. “We’re going to have to rely on some of those young guys to interject and have some success for us to get back to where we were last year,” he said.

  After Walton, Jordan and Weymouth, R-MC returns only three of its next eight offensive producers from last season. Junior pitcher/infielder Michael Helbig batted .321 with 25 hits and 11 RBI. Junior outfielders Andrew Cheatham and Jake Fletcher are the only other returning players who made significant contributions at the plate last season. Cheatham batted .289 with 13 hits while Fletcher batted .243 with 18 hits and 9 RBI.

  One player who could have the biggest impact at the plate this season is Jon Witt, a sophomore out of Trinity Episcopal who will most likely see time as a designated hitter. At 6-3, 240 Witt presents an imposing figure when he steps into the box.

  “Talk about a guerilla bat,” Hedrick said. “He’s got some serious juice in his bat. Even with the new bats he’s a guy that could be a six to eight home run guy. Just by looking at him is going to be a little bit intimidating in the middle of your lineup.

  “I’ve really been pleased with him,” Hedrick said. “He’s a big boy. He’s dropped a tremendous amount of weight. He’s gotten himself in good playing shape.”

  Two freshmen who could also have a big impact this season are Hanover outfielders Zach Broaddus and Bryan Johansen. Hedrick describes Broaddus as a throwback player- raw and gritty but talented. “That kid’s uniform and jersey are dirty every day after practice,” the coach said. On the other hand Hedrick believes Johansen comes off as more refined from a spectator viewpoint.

  “I think both Hanover boys are going to have a chance to make an impact in some capacity before our season’s over,” Hedrick said. “If we win a championship this year, it will be because one or both of those guys made an impact over the course of the season.”

  After three seasons bidding his time behind All-Conference catcher Jay Lichter, redshirt junior Matt Musser is expected to step into a starting role behind the plate.

  Another player who could have a break-out season is Goochland product Kevin Carroll. Last season as a freshman Carroll saw limited time on the mound, but this year he could end up playing any role but pitcher. “He’s almost like a freak, he’s just got so much athletic ability to do so many things,” Hedrick said. “He could play second, he could play third, he could play short.”

  Hedrick believes that Carroll just needs a little more maturity from a control standpoint. “He’s one that I’m really excited about because I think he’s just got so much unlimited potential if he could just learn to be the player that he is,” Hedrick said.

  When it comes to pitching, R-MC lost two of their best weekday starters in Kyle Hicks and Josh Ellwood but return their two top weekenders in Helbig, a junior out of Midlothian and sophomore Jamie Hendrick from L.C. Bird. Helbig finished last season with an 8-2 record and a 3.21 ERA. He was closely followed by Hendrick’s 3.71 ERA and 6-3 record.

  Senior righty Kevin Soltis should also see more time this season. Last year Soltis made 12 appearances on the mound and finished with a 6.63 ERA.

  “Having Jamie and Michael back kind of solidifies the starting rotation,” Hedrick said. “Now we’re going to have to count on some young guys to throw some innings in the middle of the week and we’re going to have to count on some young guys to throw some innings on the backend of games.”

  Among those youngsters are freshman right-handers Brandon Beiler, J.T. Williamson and Freeman product Glenn McLaughlin. “He’s really, really got a high ceiling on the mound and might see some innings as a starter or a long reliever early in the year,” Hedrick said of McLaughlin.

  Redshirt freshman Matt Fischgrund underwent surgery last season and Hedrick believes the righty will be able to return to the mound by March. “He would be a tremendous shot in the arm to our pitching staff,” Hedrick said.

  Syd Harvey, Jake Bram and Benedictine product Brooks Snead will be freshmen left-handers that could contribute this season. Hedrick likes what he’s seen from Snead so far. “He’s got a really good changeup,” Hedrick pointed out but mentioned it will be a pitch Snead will need to rely upon. “That’s what he’s going to have to live on because his fast ball, he’s not going to fool a lot of people.”

  Other players Hedrick will look to are junior infielder Austin Carpenter and four freshmen, infielder Nate Meiners and pitcher James Overbeek as well as catchers Tim Benjamin and Ryan Dickt. “Those two are the future of our program,” Hedrick said of Benjamin and Dickt. “They’re going to see some innings in some capacity.”

  Goochland product Scott Ragland could also be in the mix at third.

  The Yellow Jackets lead off their season this weekend hosting three games against St. Mary’s, Maryland. R-MC plays a double header on Saturday, noon and 2:30 p.m., then closes out the weekend with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday.

  In a preseason poll by league coaches, Randolph-Macon finished second with three first place votes. Bridgewater topped the poll with seven first place votes followed by R-MC, Lynchburg, W&L and Hampden-Sydney.