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2026 W&L Baseball Season Preview

The Generals picked to finish 8th in ODAC Preseason Poll

2/2/2026 2:00:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington and Lee University baseball team was picked to finish eighth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.

The University of Lynchburg received nine of the 11 first-place votes to stand atop the preseason coaches' poll once again. Randolph-Macon followed the Hornets in second with 84 points while Bridgewater was voted third with 83 points and received the final two first-place votes. Shenandoah followed in fourth with 74 points and Hampden-Sydney rounded out the top five with 62 points.

The Generals concluded the 2025 season with 13-17 overall record with a 6-16 mark in league play.

2026 ODAC Baseball Preseason Poll

University of Lynchburg (9) 99 pts.
Randolph-Macon College 84 pts.
Bridgewater College (2) 83 pts.
Shenandoah University 74 pts.
Hampden-Sydney College 62 pts.
Roanoke College 51 pts.
Guilford College 44 pts.
Washington and Lee University 42 pts.
Virginia Wesleyan University 28 pts.
Eastern Mennonite University 17 pts.
Averett University 16 pts.

With a strong returning core setting the tone and a talented freshman class raising the ceiling, the 2026 season is loaded with belief, hunger, and unfinished business. This group is very excited for the challenge that the 2026 season will bring.

Head Coach Ted White (Ninth Season)

2026 Schedule Overview

The Generals are set to play a 35-game schedule this season featuring 17 games at Cap'n Dick Smith Field, 15 away games and three neutral contests. opens the 2026 season with an early road test, beginning February 13–15 with a three-game series at Greensboro College. The Generals then head to Kannapolis, North Carolina, for the D3 Showcase at Atrium Health Ballpark, facing Piedmont University, Berry College, and Swarthmore College from February 20–22. February concludes with a midweek road game at Johnson & Wales (N.C.) before W&L opens its home slate on February 28 with a doubleheader against Randolph-Macon College at Cap’n Dick Smith Field.

March features a heavy mix of home and away competition, highlighted by home games against Mary Baldwin, Shenandoah, Southern Virginia, Averett (doubleheader), Bridgewater, Guilford (doubleheader), and Wilson. Key road tests include doubleheaders at the University of Lynchburg and Hampden-Sydney, along with a midweek trip to Eastern Mennonite.

April brings the heart of the ODAC schedule, with road doubleheaders at Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan, along with away games at Shenandoah and Bridgewater. The Generals balance those contests with several home midweek matchups and a late-April home series against Regent University. The regular season culminates with ODAC Opening Weekend beginning May 1, followed by the ODAC Championship Weekend at Capital One Park in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

You can view the entire 2026 schedule HERE.

Team Captains

The W&L Baseball teamed shutout Mary Baldwin 7-0 on Thursday afternoon in their home opener at Cap'n Dick Smith Field.

Jonathan French
Nick Lagges
Andrew Thornton

Junior Jonathan French was named a captain for the first time in his career. French appeared in 16 games and made nine starts for the Blue and White last season. He recorded 11 hits, posting a .275 batting average with two doubles, while driving in three runs and drawing nine walks.

Senior Nick Lagges was selected as one of the team captains this season. The everyday shortstop appeared in all 30 games last year, recording 34 hits and a .286 batting average. He drove in 17 runs while tallying eight doubles and two triples, and also drew 18 walks.

Junior Andrew Thornton returns as the top bat for the Blue and White this season. Thornton enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign last year, leading the team in hits (46), batting average (.368), doubles (18), and RBIs (35), while also posting a team-high .576 slugging percentage. He additionally led the nation in doubles per game at 0.60.

Cooper Charneco
Brody Pasieka
Nathan DeWitte

Junior Cooper Charneco returns as one of the Generals’ starting pitchers from last season. Charneco appeared in 10 games, making five starts and posting a 2-3 record. He finished the year with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP across 51.1 innings pitched, allowing 59 hits and 32 runs (26 earned) while striking out 38 batters.

Brody Pasieka was named a captain for his senior season after returning as one of the Generals’ top options out of the bullpen. Pasieka made a team-high 13 appearances last year, pitching 29.0 innings with a 5.28 ERA, a 1-3 record, and two saves. He allowed 17 runs on 36 hits while striking out 15 batters.

Junior Nathan DeWitte is the final captain for the Blue and White this season. The utility standout excelled both at the plate and on the mound last year, earning Third Team All-ODAC honors. Offensively, DeWitte ranked second on the team with a .349 batting average and led the squad with a .998 OPS. He recorded 29 hits, including five doubles, three triples, and two home runs, while driving in 16 runs. He also drew 15 walks and swiped five bases.

On the mound, DeWitte made seven starts, posting a 2-1 record across 33 innings pitched. He allowed 22 earned runs on 45 hits while striking out 19 batters. DeWitte delivered back-to-back seven-inning outings, tossing 7.1 innings against Shenandoah before following it with a 7.2-inning performance against Eastern Mennonite one week later.

Key Returners

The Blue and White’s 28-man roster features a talented mix of first-year and returning players. Head Coach Ted White has welcomed nine first-years from five different states, including four student-athletes from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Generals also return Third Team All-ODAC selection Nathan DeWitte.

Senior John Turner and sophomore Camdyn Teague return to patrol the outfield this season. Turner appeared in 28 games last year, posting a .288 batting average with 32 hits, five doubles, and one triple while driving in 17 RBIs—the third-most on the team. He also recorded a .979 fielding percentage with just two errors and 88 putouts. Teague played in 22 games during his rookie season, batting .244 with 16 hits, four doubles, and 10 RBIs. He also drew 10 walks and stole two bases. Samuel Chase returns to the field this season after an injury limited him during his rookie campaign. Chase appeared in just one game last year, drawing a walk and scoring a run in a 12-4 win over Susquehanna.

Junior Sims DeLong returns to the pitching staff after missing a portion of last season due to injury. In three appearances, DeLong tossed 6.2 innings, striking out seven batters while allowing four runs. Raleigh Craft and Henry Steene also return on the mound for the Blue and White. The duo combined for 11 appearances last season, pitching 10 innings and striking out 10 batters.