Justin Starke ’23, redshirt freshman, was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. He finished the season with a .422 batting average and a .525 on base percentage, the highest ever single season average in program history.—Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.
Justin Starke ’23, redshirt freshman, paced the VMI baseball team in spring 2021 with a .422 batting average and finished the season by reaching base safely in the last 24 straight games, including a 13-game hitting streak. The SoCon Baseball Freshman of the Year’s .525 on base percentage is the highest-ever for a single season in program history and his batting average ranks third.
Trey Morgan ’23, redshirt freshman, was a versatile performer, serving as the starting centerfielder and part-time closer. He hit .326 on the year with a .411 on-base percentage, 28 runs, 26 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases while playing spectacular defense in the outfield and also led the squad with three saves.
Jacob Menders ’21 led the pitchers with a 6-3 record and posted victories in four of his last six starts, all SoCon games.
The Keydets won their last two SoCon series of the season and five of their last seven games. The final two games were a doubleheader versus the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The Keydets ended the season sixth of eight in the SoCon, and just a half-game out of fifth place. Preseason polls had the Keydets finishing dead last, in eighth.
