Senior leader that will start in the infield for the fourth straight season.
A.J. Yoder's Career Statistics
2008: Started 46 games as a junior, with a majority coming at shortstop...Hit .254 while leading the team with three triples...Had a career-best 11-game hitting streak, during which he was 14-for-42 (.333) with three doubles, two triples and eight runs scored... Had two hits, including a triple, in each of the final two games against Charleston Southern (5/17 & 18)...Plated the winning run in the 16th inning with a single into center field against Liberty (4/19), going 2-for-7 in the game... Reached base in four of his five plate appearances in game one against High Point, going 1-for-1 with a run scored, two walks, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt in a 5-4 VMI win...Posted his first multiple-hit game of the season by going 3-for-4 in game two against Marshall (3/15), scoring a run.
2007: Was the only 2008
returner to start all 55 games...Made 34 starts at second base and 20
starts at third base...Ranked third on the team with a .296 average, 13
doubles (tied), 83 total bases and six stolen bases...Led the team and
ranked in the top five in the Big South with four triples...Also led
the Big South by being hit by 20 pitches... Struck out only 13 times in
189 at bats...Posted 12 multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI
games...Tied for the team lead with a .301 average in Big South
play...Went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple and a walk while driving in
three runs in game three against Liberty (5/20)...Finished the year
with hits in 27 of the final 40 games, and reached base multiple times
in 32 of team’s 55 games... Against #20 Coastal, had a two-run double
in game one and an RBI double in game three...Tied a school record with
two triples in game two against Savannah State (3/31), going 3-for-4
with five RBI...On the weekend against Charleston Southern, went
5-for-11 (.455) with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored...
Went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in 8-5 victory against
Norfolk State (3/6).
Summer: Hit .240 with the New Market Rebels of the Valley League...Had ten doubles while playing 36 games...Also stole five bases.
2006:
Played in 45 contests as a freshman, making 40 starts between second
base, shortstop, third base and designated hitter...Athletic, versatile
player that showed his potential in his first year on post...Hit .282
to lead Keydet freshmen, scoring 22 runs while driving in 21...Ranked
as the eighth-toughest player in the nation to strike out, doing so
once every 18.6 at bats...Had two eight-game hitting streaks on the
season...Went 4-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored against
Coppin State (2/17)...Drove in three runs against Albany (3/3)...Was
successful in 8-of-11 stolen base attempts.
High School:
Four-year letterwinner as a shortstop at Indian Valley...Twice named a
Central Penn League All Star...Totaled 24 RBI and 19 runs while hitting
.325 in 83 at bats as a junior... As a sophomore led the Central Penn
League with a .440 average... Nominated for the Wendy’s High School
Heisman award...Also lettered two years as a point guard and was named
to the Mountain Athletic Conference All-Defensive team...Holds the
school’s varsity basketball record for free throw percentage and
assists in a season.
Personal: Son of Chip and Barbara
Yoder...Father played football at Boston University...Brother, Ben, is
a sophomore playing baseball at Bucknell... Selected to play in the
2004 Arizona International Wood Bat Classic, leading his team with a
.500 batting average...Played for the Mifflin County American Legion,
hitting .423 in 109 at bats with three doubles and two
triples...Majoring in economics & business.
