Monarch Brew 2/16: Batter Up!

Monarch Baseball Set To Return Today At The Bud

Author

Monarch Brew Crew
February 16, 2024

TGIF Monarchs. As the great philosopher Nelly, once said, “Batter Up!”

Not that we were counting or anything, but when first pitch happens this afternoon at The Bud, we’d have waited 268 days, 21 hours and 25 minutes for the return of Monarch baseball.

We’ve got all the details and much more in today’s edition of the Brew!

⚾️ Batter Up!
🏀 Boost From Brenda
📈 On The Rise
👑 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Batter Up! The smell of fresh cut grass. The crack of the bat. The pop of a catcher’s mitt.

Those sounds finally return in full form today at The Bud when the ODU baseball team kicks off its 2024 campaign with a three-game series against George Washington.

Over the past three seasons, the Monarchs have averaged 39 wins, including two seasons of 40+ and look to return to the NCAA Tournament in the final season at The Bud.

🔼 Boost From Brenda. Red is always a popular color on Valentine’s Day and the ODU women’s hoops team celebrated by staying red hot.

Junior Brenda Fontana has had quite a 2024 and has now scored in double-figures in eight of the past 12 games after a team-high 18 points in the Lady Monarchs’ 65-58 victory over Coastal Carolina on Wednesday night.

The victory, the sixth in the past seven games, gave ODU sole control of fourth place in the Sun Belt and sets up a primetime matchup with first place Marshall on Saturday at Chartway Arena. Tip time is set for 2 p.m.

🔼 On The Rise. Winners of six of the past seven and sitting amongst the top of the Sun Belt, the Lady Monarchs are on the rise nationally as well.

This week, ODU returned to the Mid-Major Top-25 poll for the first time since early in the season.

The women's Mid-Major Top 25 is comprised of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, Conference USA, Horizon, Independent, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic.

👑 JOIN THE TEAM

Our friends at Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists has been serving Hampton Roads for over 100 years and is proud to be the team physicians for ODU Athletics.

With 4 convenient locations, 24 physicians, eight orthopaedic specialties, and 4 walk-in clinics—Atlantic Orthopaedics Specialists is the largest, most comprehensive orthoapedic practice in our region.

⏪ ICYMI

We like our Brew hot n’ fresh. But we’re not opposed to you reheating your cup. Here’s some news you may have missed recently…

🔼 Jordan Week. In her last season, she’s making it count.

Veteran guard Jordan McLaughlin earned her first career weekly accolade as she was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week earlier this week.
 
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, McLaughlin led the Monarchs in two victories last week, scoring 38 points (19.0 ppg) in the wins over Troy and Kent State.

🤔 MONARCH TRIVIA

Last season, Hunter Fitz-Gerald earned First Team Sun Belt honors and ranked in the top-two in the conference with 23 HRs last season.

With Fitz-Gerald now a member of the Seattle Mariners organization, which returning Monarch had the most HRs in 2023?

Think you got it?

Scroll down to the bottom of this email and see if you had the right answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

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📅 WHAT’S ON TAP?

Friday, February 16
🏊 Swimming at Sun Belt Conference Championships (Knoxville, Tenn.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis at VCU @ 3pm
⚾️ Baseball vs. George Washington @ 3pm

Saturday, February 17
🏊 Swimming at Sun Belt Conference Championships (Knoxville, Tenn.)
🥍 Lacrosse at William & Mary @ 1pm
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Marshall @ 2pm
⚾️ Baseball vs. George Washington @ 2pm
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Georgia State @ 7pm

Sunday, February 18
⚾️ Baseball vs. George Washington @ 1pm
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Penn State @ 1pm

Tuesday, February 20
⚾️ Baseball at #11 Virginia @ 3pm

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Jake Ticer.

Ticer was second on last year’s squad with 16 long balls in 43 games. He led the squad in OPS with 1.161 and ranked third in the Sun Belt with a .708 slugging percentage.

🦁 We’ll see you this weekend!