Good morning! What’s behind Sam Armstrong’s success with Old Dominion baseball so far this season? In addition to a bunch of talent from the mound—a family who is determined to come see every Old Dominion home baseball game in which their son plays.

What else are we throwing into today’s Brew?

⚾ Down to the wire
🎾 Maxime Mareschal-Hay joins Monarchs
👑 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP 

🔼 Down To The Wire. Old Dominion baseball led 4-2 through eight innings, but Georgia State scored two runs in the ninth inning and another run in the 10th as the Monarchs fell 5-4 last night at Bud Metheny Ballpark.

🎙️ Head Coach Chris Finwood:

"Good ballgame. Have to give them credit for coming back after being down to their last out. We have had a hard time doing the things we need to do to win those close games in league play. It comes down to making a pitch or play here and there to win a game and we didn't get it done tonight. We'll have to bounce back tomorrow. The guys played hard and it was a tough loss.”

⚾ Up Next For The Monarchs:

The teams are back at The Bud tomorrow for Game Two in the series, which is scheduled for a 3:00pm ET first pitch. ODU will hold a graduation ceremony for its seniors beginning at 2:30pm ET.

🔼 Maxime Effort. Old Dominion men’s tennis doesn’t walk into the transfer pool. They get a running head start, tuck their feet, and get everyone within a 20-foot radius wet with a tidal wave-inducing cannonball. Maxime Mareschal-Hay has joined the Monarchs as a transfer from Cleveland State.

The Canadian international picked up Horizon League Player of the Year and First Team Singles honors after a season that saw him finish 24-10 overall and 19-5 in dual matches. Playing mainly at the top of the lineup, Maxime Mareschal-Hay was 17-2 at number one singles and he had a pair of eight-match winning streaks this season and ended the year winning 18 of his last 21 matches.

In his career, he earned Freshman of the Year honors in the Horizon League in 2021, along with second team singles honors when he won 17 matches. In 2022, he was First Team All-Conference after winning 18 matches. In three years at Cleveland State, he won 59 matches.

Prior to college, he was a top three U-18 junior in Canada and was as high as 209 in the ITF rankings. He will have one year of eligibility as a sports management major with a current 3.9 GPA.

🤔 MONARCH TRIVIA

New conference, who dis? Old Dominion baseball has just two more games before turning their attention to the Sun Belt Conference Championship. So, for Friday’s trivia question, we’re giving y’all a lay up.

What conference were the Monarchs in last year?

Think you got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

👑 ONE BIG THING

It’s a family affair. Even on a good day, it takes more than seven hours for Gordon and Pamela Armstrong to traverse the 350 or so miles between Wantage, New Jersey and the Old Dominion University campus.

When the families of most ODU athletes arrive in Norfolk, they have to pay for a hotel room and with no way to cook food, they eat at restaurants. And the Armstrongs have two black Labrador Retrievers, and not all that many hotels allow you to check in with two hyper friendly but very large dogs.

Determined to come see every Old Dominion home baseball game in which their son plays, they bought a camper, hauled it to a Virginia Beach campground near Back Bay and parked it there for the duration of the season.

Unusual? Yes. But this is an exceptionally close family with parents very much involved with their kids and their athletic pursuits. The camper has allowed them to see every game their son pitched this season at Bud Metheny Ballpark.

And what a season it has been for Sam Armstrong.

📬 STICK WITH US

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📅 THE DAYS AHEAD

Friday 5/19

⚾ Baseball vs. Georgia State @ 3:00pm ET on ESPN+ | Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets

Saturday 5/20

⚾ Baseball vs. Georgia State @ 12:00pm ET on ESPN+ | Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets

Sunday 5/21

No events scheduled

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Conference USA

Have a good Friday and a great weekend, y’all.