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The Breeze Spring Sports Preview 2026

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The Breeze is bringing the heat with its 2026 spring sports special section. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to know about JMU baseball, softball and lacrosse.

The Diamond Dukes are looking to bounce back after both finishing below .500 in SunBelt play last season.

JMU baseball head coach Marlin Ikenberry is back for his 11th season at the helm of the Dukes. Last season, they finished 17-38 with just a 10-20 conference record, and missed the SBC Tournament after ending second-to-last in the conference standings. The Dukes return key

Letter from the sports editors WHAT’S INSIDE

pitchers in seniors Max Kuhle and Jaden Kinsler, as well as productive bats in sophomore infielder Reece Moody and junior outfielder Kyle Langley.

JMU softball, however, ended its 2025 season on a strong note. Despite finishing 28-26 and 11-13 in conference play, the Dukes got hot to start the SBC Tournament and fought all the way to the championship. Despite its efforts, JMU fell to Coastal Carolina in the conference championship. The dynamic-pitching duo of junior Kirsten Fleet and redshirtjunior Payton List return to the circle, while List also hit 14 home runs last year.

JMU lacrosse head coach Shelley Klaes enters her 19th season at the program’s helm and looks to build off the success of 2025. Last season, the Dukes won the American Conference and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament, but fell short in the first round to Duke. Despite losing key pieces such as Maddie Epke and Savannah Derey, JMU was picked to win the conference again in the 2026 American Conference Coaches Poll. Thank you for reading this special edition of The Breeze. Stay tuned for our spring sports coverage.

Sincerely,

Preston Comer

Tommy Gurganous

Sports Editors

Preview | JMU baseball enters the 2026 season with revamped roster

JMU baseball will look markedly different in 2026, as head coach Marlin Ikenberry navigates another year of turnover. The Dukes enter the season with a reshaped lineup and pitching staff, alongside a handful of familiar names anchoring the team.

“It’s going to be a very different team than last year,” Ikenberry said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces coming in.”

One of JMU’s biggest offseason losses occurred when junior right-handed pitcher Jackson Logar announced his decision to transfer to Mississippi State last June. Logar served as the team’s primary weekend starter in 2025 and led the squad in innings pitched, games started, earned-run average and walks and hits allowed per innings pitched.

Additionally, JMU will be without three of its top four hitters by on-base plus slugging percentage from last season in 2026. First baseman Coleman Calabrese and designated hitter Ryan Dooley graduated, while now-senior third baseman Wyatt Peifer transferred to NC State.

Despite significant roster turnover this season, JMU returns several everyday starters from 2025, including junior outfielders Ike Schmidly and Kyle Langley. Schmidly enters 2026 after a strong summer league campaign where he batted .309, and Langley has started nearly every game since arriving at JMU as a freshman in 2023.

“Being an upperclassman definitely puts me in more of a leadership role,” Langley said. “I’ve got more experience under my belt, so I know what to expect in any situation that can happen throughout the season.”

Sophomore infielder Reece Moody and senior catcher Jack Cannizzaro are also set to return following their inaugural seasons as starters in 2025.

Junior outfielder Kyle Langley will return for the 2026 season. Photos by Landon Shackleford / The Breeze

Also in the mix to start are senior infielder Maddux Fleck and sophomore infielder Jack Anderson, as well as senior infielder Jack Guerrero. Anderson appears to be the early favorite to replace Peifer’s production at third base, but all will likely see playing time.

On the mound, JMU brings back senior pitcher Max Kuhle, who saw time as both a starter and a reliever last season. Kuhle says he expects to begin the season as a reliever before jumping back into a starting role once conference play begins.

Kuhle showcased his dominance last year by recording two of the finest pitching performances in recent JMU history within the same week. The first was a seven-inning shutout against national finalist Coastal Carolina. Soon after, he delivered JMU’s first nine-inning complete game in five years, triumphing over Georgia Southern.

In the bullpen, JMU retained two of its top arms: sophomore right-handed pitcher Adam Horvath and senior southpaw Jaden Kinsler. Horvath pitched to a 3.58 ERA over 27.2 innings as a freshman in 2025. Kinsler, meanwhile, missed much of the season due to injury but still turned in three consecutive scoreless performances during the season’s final month.

“We’re really excited to have [Kinsler] back out of the bullpen,” Ikenberry said.

However, Ikenberry noted that some of the team’s injuries last year — like Kinsler’s — helped better prepare younger guys like Horvath for this season.

Joining Kinsler and Horvath will be senior transfer righthanded pitcher Patrick Bauer, a DII All-American last season after posting a 9-1 record with a 2.20 ERA over 12 starts. Bauer stands at 6-foot-8 and will see “a ton” of innings, per Ikenberry.

The Dukes will likely field transfer starters at shortstop, first base and center field. William & Mary junior transfer Josiah Seguin is the team’s likely shortstop. Seguin has spent the last two years playing every day at the position while slashing .284/.403/.441.

Another potential transfer starter is senior first baseman Wyatt Campbell, who comes off a season at Florida Southern in which he posted an impressive .290/.400/.410 slash line over 44 games. Additionally, in the Valley League over the summer, Campbell seemed to find his power stroke, blasting 10 home runs in just 34 games.

Finally, redshirt sophomore Clay Thompson looks to slot in as the Dukes’ new centerfielder. Thompson was an NJCAA Division II national champion and All-American last season at Pasco-Hernando State College, setting six different singleseason school records.

“We have a legit chance to score a lot of runs this year with some of the power we’ve added,” Ikenberry said. “Last year, we bunted and hit and ran a lot … [This year] it’ll be a hybrid dynamic offense.”

JMU looks to have talent on paper, but they’ll be thrown into the fire early. The Dukes open the season against No. 16 Florida State, a perennial powerhouse that swept JMU’s first series of 2025.

“It will be a challenge,” Ikenberry said. “But if you don’t play them, you can’t beat them. Two years ago, we went down to [No. 3 Arkansas] and got a win … which helped us make a regional.”

That opening test is only the beginning. JMU also faces a loaded Sun Belt conference that includes two teams that contended for the national championship last year — Coastal Carolina and Southern Mississippi. Louisiana dominated the conference in the regular season two years ago, going 23-7, and it looks to reload this year. Troy and Marshall are among others who are consistently competitive.

“[The Sun Belt] is one of the top major conferences, especially for baseball,” Kuhle said. “It’s a privilege to play against that kind of talent.”

Ikenberry thinks the Dukes have what it takes to compete with — and beat — those top teams this year.

“Every year we deal with adversity and challenge ourselves,” Ikenberry said. “[But] our goal is to win a championship and play in June.”

CONTACT Luke Faircloth at faircllr@dukes.jmu.edu. For more baseball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Head coach Marlin Ikenberry said JMU can compete with top Sun Belt teams. Breeze file photo
Junior pitcher Max Kuhle struck out 62 batters through 52 inning last season. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze

Preview | JMU lacrosse is off to a ‘fresh start’ after key player departures

JMU lacrosse, the defending American Conference champions, is looking toward a “fresh start” after seven players graduating. Two players departing JMU this past season were attackers Maddie Epke and Savannah Derey, both of whom made the 2025 American All-Conference First Team.

Epke transferred to No. 2 Northwestern for her senior year. She set records for JMU by being first in all-time draw controls and tied for ninth for all-time assists, goals and points. In addition to her achievements for the Dukes, Epke was ranked No. 1 in the country in draws per game last season and was named an All-American by the IWLCA, ILWomen and USA Lacrosse Magazine.

“It’s difficult to lose a first-team AllAmerican athlete. We’re considering it a graduation,” head coach Shelley Klaes said. “I think our team dynamics have never been better. Everyone on this team understands that we don’t have one go-to player.”

Klaes noted that with these departures, “the opportunities are wide open” for the rest of the roster. Klaes added that “anybody can step up and show that they’re capable of producing [alongside] this team.”

JMU is no stranger to adjusting with a young roster, however. Last season, the team adjusted to the graduation of USA Lacrosse First Team All-American Isabella Peterson with several fresh faces, including a new assistant coach, Kiley Anderson.

“Not only were we heavy [on] freshmen last year with a couple of upperclassmen, we also had a new assistant head coach [Anderson]. We have more options going into this first game,” Klaes said.

Among those freshmen last year was defender Reese Cuviello. Cuviello was

recognized on the American Conference’s First Team All-Conference Defense and was named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice last season.

Looking toward this season, one of Cuiviello’s goals is to “continue working hard” and to also “be named Defensive Player of the Year for the conference,” Cuviello said.

With fresh faces in practice, Cuviello is looking forward to seeing freshmen midfielders Jolie Schiavo and Juliana Cerasi on the field this season.

“[Schiavo] is super gritty on the field,” Cuivello said. “Will hunt every loose ball, and just work super hard.”

Even with the new players and transfers, Cuviello said that the “team chemistry is so much better.”

The team is also seeing new leadership from senior captain midfielders Brianna Mennella and Josie Pell. Both girls started in all but one game last season, and Mennella made the American Conference all-tournament team.

As a captain, Mennella said she has “shifted [her] role more towards leadership and setting standards.” These traits are emulated by one of Mennella’s role models, last season’s senior captain attacker, Savannah Derey.

“She was always confident and always had a positive attitude, and she always brought other players along with her,” Menella said of Derey.

The Dukes’ season starts with a familiar opponent in the NCAA’s reigning champions, UNC. Last season, JMU lost 14-2 to the Tar Heels, only tallying 11 shots and giving up 28 turnovers.

“I think [UNC] was ready to compete against JMU, and our young team did not handle the pressure and the game well,” Klaes said.

The team is focusing on “fine-tuning some of the smaller skills” and “focusing on the details,” to rematch against UNC in the season opener, Cuviello said.

Junior defender Ava Beckley caused 22 turnovers last season.
Junior defender Maddie Weybrecht led JMU with 30 ground balls picked up last season, the most picked up last season. Photos by Annabel Dewey / The Breeze

“We look forward to all these hard games opening up with UNC,” Cuviello said. “We’re not scared of competition, and we’re looking for those harder games.”

Despite falling to Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, JMU is looking to return to the competition.

The Dukes’ out-of-conference schedule is full of NCAA Tournament competitors from last season, such as Johns Hopkins, UVA and Liberty.

“Playing against top 20 teams really makes us ready for the other games during the season and to make it further in the [NCAA] tournament,” Mennella said.

Another familiar foe for the Dukes will be Maryland, which JMU plays on March 7. Redshirt sophomore midfielder transfer Avery Bickell is joining the Dukes from Maryland’s roster after spending two seasons there.

“[Bickell’s] perspective is really strong, and she’s adding to that speed factor to the team and giving us steps in the midfield that are going to keep that position really competitive,” Klaes said.

The Dukes will start the season facing No. 1 UNC at home on Feb. 7 at noon.

CONTACT Libby Mercer at mercerlm@dukes.jmu.edu. For more women’s lacrosse coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Freshman midfielder Grace Marchetti competed as an Under Armor 150 All-Star team member.
Sophomore defender Olivia Ritter caused two turnovers against Liberty last season.
The season begins on Feb. 7 at noon with a home game against No. 1 UNC.

Preview | JMU softball enters 2026 campaign with a ‘bring it’ mentality

JMU softball returns to the field on Friday to start its 2026 season. The Dukes will be traveling to the Elon Softball Classic, battling UNC, Saint Joseph’s, Elon and UConn throughout the weekend.

Starting the season off strong with competitive tournaments is nothing new for JMU, as it started its 2025 campaign battling teams such as UCF, Georgia and Ole Miss.

Before returning to Harrisonburg to open at home, JMU will also head to Clearwater, Florida to play Power Five teams such as Tennessee, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. The Dukes will also face FAU.

“I think it’s a good opening weekend for us,” head coach Loren Laporte said. “Some of our players that are returning have been [to this tournament], so there’s a little bit of comfortability going into Clearwater.”

Texas Tech is coming off a historical season, in which the program earned its first ever Big 12 Championship, and it advanced to the College World Series Championship. The Red Raiders are led by senior pitcher NiJaree Canady, who earned a laundry list of accolades in the 2025 season, and is the backbone of her team’s defense.

Similarly, Texas A&M finished second in the SEC, while Tennessee finished fourth.

The Dukes defense shines heavy in the circle, with junior right-handed pitcher Kirsten Fleet and redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Payton List leading the forefront. As a sophomore, Fleet recorded her first shutout in five innings against Georgetown and was named to the All-Tournament team for the Sun Belt Championship

List dominated not only at the plate, striking out 74 batters in a career-high 107 innings pitched, but also in the box, with career highs in batting average (.380) and home runs (14).

Going into this season List said she wants “to grow more as a pitcher.”

“I feel like my hitting side was a little more dominant,” List said, “so this year, we’ve been really focused on being a consistent pitcher.”

After missing the 2025 season due to injury, redshirt junior catcher Bella Henzler returns to the field for JMU.

“I’m really, really excited to get to compete,” Henzler said. “Being able to get to put on a uniform again and represent this school just means a lot.”

In the 2024 season, Henzler was First Team All-Sun Belt, starting fifty one games and hitting .347 with 11 home runs. While Henzler’s excitement to return shows, the rest of the program is just as thrilled.

“Bella is just the leader in so many ways,” LaPorte said. “People gravitate to her energy. Her spirit is always so high, even when she’s having a bad game. She’s just big in a lot of different ways — not just how good of a ballplayer she is.”

Another prominent force going into the season is sophomore utility player Cali Legzdin. In her freshman year, Legzdin recorded a .348 average and eighty total bases. Defensively, she tied the program record with four stolen bases in a game and finished second in the Sun Belt with twenty four stolen bases.

“Everything she does is so hard, and I love that,” LaPorte said. “Cali is one of those athletes that she just has things you can’t teach.”

During the offseason, JMU had six freshmen come in, as well as four transfers through the portal.

“I think [they] help a lot,” List said. “They look at the game a little bit differently, and having that and almost like looking at it as, like, as a younger kid, compared to seniors or juniors — I think it’s really cool.”

After dropping to Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship in May, JMU looks to put it all on the field this upcoming season. In preseason rankings, the Dukes land seventh out of twelve, with Texas State leading the pack, and reigning champions Coastal Carolina placing fourth.

The Dukes are known for being a team in which off the field relationships are a core part of the program. Everyone thinks of each other as family, rather than just teammates and coaching staff.

“We spent a great deal of time this fall working on relationships and getting to know each other off the field, and I feel like the connection is a lot better,” LaPorte said. “Hopefully, you know, when they step on the field this weekend, you’ll feel that and see that.”

This on-and-off-the field bond is what JMU feels will bring the program success this year.

“We talked about the ‘bring it’ mentality,” Fleet said. “I think our goal is just to embrace that throughout the season.”

CONTACT Madi Perini at perinimir@dukes.jmu.edu. For more softball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Junior pitcher Kirsten Fleet pitched to a 3.53 earned run average and struck out 92 batters in 139 innings in 2025. Breeze file photo
JMU redshirt junior utility player Payton List led the Dukes in batting average (.380), home runs (14) and runs batted in (34) in 2025. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
JMU sophomore utility player Cali Legzdin hit .348 with seven home runs and knocked in 31 runs batted in 2025. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze

Spring sports

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• Started 48 games as a freshman last season, appearing in 53 games overall.

• Led JMU with 16 stolen bases last season and was only caught stealing twice.

• Hit for a .245 average with 17 RBIs and eight extra-base hits last season.

1

• Named to the All-Sun Belt Tournament Team during last year’s conference championship.

• Pitched eight complete games in 22 starts, adding on four saves.

• Finished last season with a 3.53 ERA, also striking out 92 batters with just 32 walks.

5

• First Team All-American Conference defender last season as a sophomore.

• Started 14 of 17 games last season, causing 22 turnovers.

• Finished seven games with multiple caused turnovers.

• Made 39 starts as a true freshman and started all 52 regular-season games as a sophomore.

• Finished with a slash line of .247/.341/.341 last season.

• Hit two home runs, nine doubles and one triple last season for a total of 12 extra-base hits.

3

• Named to First Team All-Sun Belt last season after starting all 54 games as either a pitcher, designated player, first baseman or right fielder.

• Finished last season with a 12-8 record with three complete games, pitching to a 3.07 ERA.

• Hit .380 for 14 home runs with a .709 slugging percentage.

6

• Named to the Second Team All-American Conference last season.

• Played every game last season, finishing with 16 goals and three assists.

• Recorded three games with multiple ground balls and caused turnovers.

Reece Moody | So. | INF, Baseball
Kirsten Fleet | Jr. | RHP, Softball
Kyle Langley | Jr. | OF, Baseball
Payton List | R-Jr. | RHP/UTL, Softball
Ava Bleckley | Jr. | DEF, Lacrosse
Chloe Bleckley | So. | MID, Lacrosse

names to know

• Made a total of 46 appearances through three seasons, including 13 starts.

• Finished with an ERA of 4.13 in 2024 and 4.02 last season.

• Struck out 62 batters in 52 innings last season, walking just 21 batters.

• Missed all of the 2025 season with an injury.

• Started 51 games in 2024 and 47 games in 2023.

• Hit for a .347 average in 2024 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs.

• Named to the Second Team All-American Conference last season as a freshman.

• Won two American Conference Freshman of the Week awards last year.

• Scored 31 goals and 13 assists in 19 games.

• Made six appearances in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury.

• Appeared in 25 games from 2023-24 and made four starts in 2024.

• Struck out 20 batters through just 17 innings before getting injured last season.

• Played in 53 games with 48 starts at first base and shortstop as a freshman.

• Set a JMU freshman single-season record for stolen bases with 24. The previous record was 18.

• Hit for a .348 average with seven home runs and 31 RBIs.

• Appeared in 19 games last season, starting in 18.

• Tallied 38 total points, with 25 goals and 13 assists.

• Caused five turnovers and finished with eight ground balls last season.

Olivia Matthews | So. | ATT, Lacrosse
Max Kuhle | Sr. | LHP, Baseball
Bella Henzler | R-Jr. | C, Softball
Cali Legzdin | So. | UTL, Softball
Jaden Kinsler | Sr. | LHP, Baseball
Brianna Mennella | Sr. | MID, Lacrosse

DOMINO’S EAT DOMINO’S DUKES DUKES

THE WHARF PARKING LOT: REIMAGINED Exhibition from February 6 - 22, 2026

Project proposals by JMU Architectural Design students

Opening Reception | Saturday, February 7 | 4:00-6:00 pm

Community Workshops | Saturdays, February 14 & 21 | 1:00-3:00 pm

These events are free and open to the public.

Staunton Augusta Art Center | 20 S New St | Staunton, VA

LEWIS CREEK
Map by B. McGregor

Dooley provides ‘a refreshing voice’ for JMU coaching staff

As former JMU baseball outfielder Ryan Dooley enters a new chapter, he remains a Duke and shifts his attention toward coaching in his new role as the Director of Player Development.

Dooley was a member of the Dukes’ 2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional campaign, starting all 61 games and slashing a line of .303/.404/.459 with 70 hits and 19 multi-hit games.

As a new group of players has arrived in Harrisonburg, some of them will ask about their special 2024 season.

“That team was what it was because those dudes would do anything for each other,” Dooley said. “The best team I’ve ever been on happened to be the closest team I’ve ever been on.”

Coming off a hot senior season, JMU baseball head coach Marlin Ikenberry spoke with Dooley about getting him onto the coaching staff.

Dooley knew he could help. So, Ikenberry called him back a few weeks after their last talk to tell him that he’d be joining the staff as the director of player development.

Dooley has been helping JMU since June, and Ikenberry said, “he did a great job helping our guys with their summer grind.”

“Having great mentors throughout my life as coaches had a big part in why I wanted to get into coaching,” Dooley said.

Aside from the inspirational effect Dooley’s mentors have had on him in previous years, he said the decision to embrace a coaching career seemed like the logical route.

“When you think about it, I know more about baseball than I do about anything else in this world,” Dooley said.

JMU players recognize Dooley’s extensive baseball knowledge. Senior pitcher Max Kuhle said he and other players see he’s “super hard working” and “gives everything to this game.”

Ikenberry, who’s coached the Dukes since the 2016 season, sees similarities between Dooley and himself as coaches.

“A coach knows when his player will succeed at coaching,” Ikenberry said.

When Ikenberry was around the same age as Dooley, he had a similar conversation with his coach at the time, Chris Finwood, who’s now the head coach for Old Dominion. Finwood told Ikenberry he would make an amazing coach.

“I got into this industry to help young adults and turn boys into men,” Ikenberry said.

Ikenberry has a vast number of former players and coaches still in the business — Travis Beazley, Brendan O’Donnell, Jonathan Hadra and Tom Slater.

We repair instruments

The director of player development position was created in 2019 for former JMU baseball pitcher Matt Marsili after he finished his playing career with the intention to pursue coaching.

However, Dooley’s coaching aspirations are deep-rooted. When he played Little League, he was coached by his dad, who was a wrestler and never played baseball in his life.

“We learned the game together, but he might tell you something different,” Dooley jokingly said.

Those childhood experiences are still very memorable for Dooley and are the root of his inspiration to coach.

With JMU baseball’s season-opener against Florida State slated for Feb. 13, Dooley’s regular-season coaching career is right around the corner from starting.

“I’m doing what I want to do, where I want to be,” Dooley said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

CONTACT Jacob Wissot at wissotjr@dukes. jmu.edu. For more baseball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Ryan Dooley was a member of JMU’s 2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional team. Photos by Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
Dooley was announced as JMU baseball’s Director of Player Development on

JMU set to face No. 16 Florida State for fourth time in 5 years

JMU baseball will kick off its season on Feb. 13 against No. 16 Florida State. This matchup will be the first in a three-game series spanning from Feb. 13 - 15.

“It’s exciting,” junior outfielder Kyle Langley said. “It’s a way to battle test us as a program right away.”

JMU has been selected sixth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, while Florida State has been selected third in the 2026 ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll.

The two programs have become very familiar with each other over the past four seasons, having played each other nine times in that span. The Dukes and the Seminoles have had a pre-conference play series every season since 2022, excluding 2024.

These matchups have not been fruitful for the Dukes, with JMU having an 0-9 record against Florida State in those games. In their most recent matchup on Feb. 16, 2025, Florida State ended the game in the eighth inning with a 10-0 mercy rule victory.

“It will be a challenge,” JMU head coach Marlin Ikenberry said. “Last year we had a couple injuries at the wrong time, but now those guys are healthy and we feel really good about it.”

Florida State is coming off a successful season in 2025; they finished ranking No. 10 in the final D1Baseball Top 25 Poll,and earned a record of 42-16 (17-10 ACC).

“It’s just great that coach [Ikenberry] has the faith in his team to schedule a team like that,” senior pitcher and preseason All-Sun Belt selection Max Kuhle said. “He doesn’t schedule any teams he doesn’t think we can beat.”

The Seminoles were given the No. 2 seed in the ACC tournament last season, which earned them an automatic bid into the tournament’s quarterfinals. Florida State faced No. 7 seed Duke in the quarterfinal matchup and won 147. The Seminoles then lost in the tournament semifinals to No. 3-seeded North Carolina 7-5, who then went on to win the tournament.

Despite losing in its conference tournament, Florida State was selected as the No. 9 seed in the 2025 NCAA baseball championship, allowing them to host their regional round tournament in Tallahassee. The Seminoles went 3-0 in the regional round, defeating Bethune Cookman 6-2 and then Mississippi State twice, first 10-3, then 5-2.

Florida State’s run was then cut short by Oregon State in the NCAA Super Regional round in Corvallis, Oregon, where Oregon State defeated the Seminoles 2-1 in the three-game series.

Coming into this season, Florida State dealt with significant roster turnover after having 11 players from the team taken in the MLB draft, an all-time high for the program. Four of the 11 players were drafted in the first three rounds, starting with junior pitcher Jamie Arnold, who was selected 11th overall by the Athletics. Also getting picked on the draft’s opening day were junior shortstop Alex Lodise, junior pitcher Cam Leiter and junior center fielder Max Williams.

Among those returning for the Seminoles will be former freshman standout Myles Bailey. The sophomore first baseman was selected as a first-team All-American last season and is predicted to do it again as he was picked as a preseason first-team All-American this season. Bailey finished his debut season with a slash line of .327/.441/.663. Bailey was also a key contributor on the defensive side with a .990 fielding percentage.

A notable returner on the mound for Florida State is junior pitcher Wes Mendes. Mendes started in 16 games for the Seminoles and carried a win-loss record of 7-3 in those games. He accumulated a 5.42 earned run average and ended the season with a perfect fielding percentage.

Florida State also brought in some significant transfer additions this year, including senior infielder Eli Putnam from Davidson. Putnam was selected to the All-A10 first team in his last two seasons at Davidson. Putnam batted .349/.419/.660.

Also transferring in is junior pitcher Trey Beard out of Florida Atlantic. As a sophomore at Florida Atlantic, Beard was selected to the All-American Conference first team while appearing in 16 games. Beard started in 15 of those games and ended the season with a 7-1 record, 3.14 earned run average and 118 strikeouts.

CONTACT Will Stuntz at stuntzwj@dukes.jmu.edu. For more baseball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

JMU baseball lost all three games against Florida State in its opening series in 2024. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

Jack O’Dea / The Breeze
Jack O’Dea / The Breeze
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Breeze file photo
Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
Jack O’Dea / The Breeze

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