Hanover and New Kent's runs to the Class 4 and 3 state championships, respectively, and Steward's VISAA Division II title, highlighted the 2023 high school baseball season around the Richmond region.
Benedictine reached the VISAA state final. Atlee, Mills Godwin, Mechanicsville, Douglas Freeman, Collegiate, St. Christopher's, Cosby and Glen Allen were among the other standout programs in talent-rich Central Virginia.
At the outset of spring and with first pitches on diamonds across Virginia behind us, here's a look at the local scene for 2024.Â
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Returning first-team All-Metro players
Noah Yoder, junior pitcher, Atlee: The 6-5, 215-pound Duke commit and first-team all-state selection went 7-2 with a 1.43 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched last year. He's topped 94 mph on the radar gun and has drawn pro scouts to Raiders games.Â
Luke Smyers, junior pitcher, Mills Godwin: The reigning Region 5C pitcher of the year will also contribute at the plate after hitting .305 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 2023. A 6-foot-3, 195-pound, left-handed Alabama recruit, Smyers was nothing short of dominant on the mound, posting a 10-2 record and 2.00 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 51 innings.Â
Jake Wise, junior pitcher, Benedictine: The William & Mary recruit was among the area's dominant arms in 2023, posting a 9-1 record with a sterling 1.34 ERA plus 54 strikeouts and just seven free passes in 57 1/3 innings.Â
Wil Creech, senior pitcher, James River: A Hampden-Sydney commit, Creech is coming off a first-team all-region season in which he worked 55 2/3 innings and posted a 6-1 record, 1.00 ERA and .934 WHIP while striking out 53 hitters and walking nine.
Jacob Lee, senior catcher, Matoaca: A 6-foot-2, 205-pound VCU signee, Lee earned second-team all-state accolades in 2023. He brings a strong defensive presence and is rarely tested by opposing baserunners. Also a strong offensive force, Lee is coming off a season in which he hit .487 with four triples, five home runs, 21 RBIs and 23 walks.Â
Aydan Smith, junior second baseman/pitcher, Monacan: The reigning Chesterfield County player of the year, Smith is coming off a stellar sophomore season in which he posted a 6-2 record over 49 1/3 innings pitched with a 1.41 ERA, 58 strikeouts and 13 walks, had a .944 fielding percentage with just two errors and hit .508 with five doubles, a triple, a homer, 27 runs scored, 14 walks and eight stolen bases.
Lee Sowers, senior shortstop, Douglas Freeman: A North Carolina recruit, Sowers enters 2024 as one of the area's surest gloves and most formidable bats. In 2023, he hit .375 with 30 runs scored and 14 driven in, nine doubles, a triple and two homers.Â
Jackson Wise, senior third baseman, Manchester: The first-team all-region and second-team all-state pick hit .509 his junior year, scored 23 runs and drove in 14 to go along with four doubles, a triple, a home run, 20 walks and six stolen bases. He slugged .679 and had a .654 on-base percentage.
Cam Lamb, senior outfielder, Mechanicsville: The Mustangs' leadoff man and engine at the plate earned first-team all-state honors after posting a .635 slugging percentage, eight doubles and four home runs. A Longwood signee, Lamb added 22 RBIs, 34 runs scored and 21 walks.
William Tuttle, senior outfielder, Powhatan: The Indians three-hole hitter and all-state outfielder is among the top five-tool players around. Tuttle last year batted .500 with a .633 on-base percentage, six doubles, six triples, three home runs, 17 runs scored and 14 walks while covering tons of ground in center field and posting 37 putouts without a single error.
Carter Mitchell, junior outfielder, Collegiate: The William & Mary recruit hit .435 with 13 doubles, five home runs, 35 RBIs, a 1.265 OPS and 10 stolen bases last year en route to first-team All-Prep League and All-State honors.Â
Carson Seely, senior pitcher/outfielder, New Kent: The Trojans' ace and first-team all-state outfielder was the catalyst of their state title run at the plate (.442, eight doubles, triple, 13 RBIs, 31 RS, 15 SB) and on the mound (8-1, 1.60 ERA, 40 Ks, 13 BB, 52 1/3 IP).Â
Class 6
Cosby
Coach: Tom Nelson, fourth year
2023: 15-7, reached Region 6A semifinal
Key players: Ayden Schnarrs, SS; Jacob Moore, CF; Giovanni Briggs, P/1B; Seth Truesdale, RF/C; Stephen Hawkins, C; Jack Hinton, Util.
Notable: Always among the area's strong programs, the Titans, who fell one win shy of a state tournament berth last year, return seven starters and should be a player among Region 6A's elite with a wealth of seniors to lean on and three prominent arms to fill up the innings on the mound. Schnarrs, a second-team All-Metro honoree, will lead the charge in the field and at the plate. Moore, Briggs, Truesdale and Hinton are all seniors who will play key roles. Briggs, senior Jack Weight and junior Michael Williams should garner most of the innings on the mound. Nelson is excited about some talented underclassmen who will fill in the gaps around that upperclassmen foundation. Freshman INF/P Blake LaMattina, and junior infielders Greer Cabanban and Bennett Lineberry are among the newcomers to watch.Â
Deep Run
Coach: Andy Haga, second year
2023: 13-10, reached region semifinals
Key players: Caleb Dillon, CF; Vinny Porcaro, SS; Eric Skowysz, C; Trey Gauch, P.
Notable: The Wildcats fell one win short of a state tournament berth, and return a veteran group that includes seven starters with lots of experience and high expectations. Dillon, a senior, posted a .450 on-base percentage. Porcaro, just a sophomore, hit .421 as a freshman with a .950 OPS. Skowysz provides a steady hand and presence behind the plate. Gauch, Deep Run's quarterback on the football field and a James Madison recruit, is the X factor here -- when he's on the mound, the Wildcats have a chance against anyone. Gauch went 2-3 with a 2.88 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 16 walks last year. He leads a strong staff that also includes senior Sam Bennett (2-5, 3.69 ERA, 48 Ks, 22 BBs) and junior Parker Noonan (4-1, 4.14 ERA, 30 Ks, four BBs). Can the Wildcats get enough production at the plate to support those strong arms? If so, they'll be a contender atop Region 6A.
Thomas Dale
Coach: James Wilkerson, first year
2023: 18-4, reached region quarterfinal
Key players: Matthew McGovern, SS; Everett Stevens, P/3B; Andrew Zappa, 1B/C; Jason Theiss, P.
Notable: The Knights are young with just three upperclassmen starters after graduating a wealth of talent (seven starters lost). Wilkerson said his squad will rely on its offense, led by McGovern, a Radford recruit, Stevens and Zappa, all seniors. Sophomore OF Garrett Spears and freshman IF/P Caden Stancil could make major contributions offensively. Stevens and Theiss headline the pitching staff. The latter is coming off a wrist injury, Wilkerson said that duo will need to step up to lead an otherwise green group on the mound. If they can come through, the Knights should be primed for a strong season. Wilkerson expects his squad to be a playoff contender in 6A, and it could make a run if pitching and young pieces exceed expectations.Â
Class 5
Glen Allen
Coach: Dave Savino, 11th year
2023: 13-4, lost in region quarterfinals by forfeit
Key players: Daniel Nienaber, P; Jackson Toole, 3B; Will Hemp, INF; Ben Pulliam, OF.
Notable: Nienaber, a UVa recruit, went 3-2 with 35 strikeouts last year, Savino said he projects as a top-flight pitcher. The Jags, who return four regular starters, have strong depth in a pitching staff that also features seniors Nathan Love and Chase Fultz. They'll be young and inexperienced at catcher and in the infield. Offensively, Toole (.394 BA), Hemp (.340) and Pulliam (.351), all upperclassmen all-region honorees, lead the charge. Senior pitcher Chad Martin was a key part of GA's run to the 2022 state final, he's made an arm slot change to help rediscover his control and could prove an X-factor. Senior James Hall and sophomore Colin Whidbee should see ample time in the outfield, as should junior Cam Taylor in the infield. New names that could make an impact include juniors Drew Harris (P/2B) and Ian Baldwin (P/3B) and sophomores Caleb Whitehead (1B/OF) and Jacob Boyd (P/INF).Â
Mills Godwin
Coach: Josh Gentry, fourth year
2023: 23-4, reached state semifinal
Key players: Hank Piersol, P/OF; Jackson York, INF; Eric Capps, OF/C; Charlie Gunn, P; Hunter Ross, P.
Notable: The Eagles will lean on pitching and defense, at least early on, as some new faces step up to replace lots of graduated offensive production. Two sophomores, Matt Hartsfield and Alex Boyd, replace three-year starters in the middle of the infield. York (.305 BA, 19 RBIs, seven doubles), Piersol (.320 BA, 13 RBIs, 12 SBs) and Capps (.285, 12 RBIs, 11 SBs), each seniors, will form the heart of the order along with Smyers. Piersol (4-1, 2.30 ERA, 45 Ks), Gunn (3-0, 1.89 ERA, 37 Ks), Ross (six saves, 39 Ks) and Zack Boyd (1-0, 2.93 ERA, 26 Ks) add strong depth on the mound past top-tier ace Smyers. Gentry expects strong seasons from a few seniors who've waited their turns to contribute in David Trenkle, Ryan Tucholka and Berkeley Smallwood. Godwin played eventual state champs Cox (3-1 loss) close in the semifinals last year, and has the pieces to take that next step in 2024.Â
James River
Coach:Â Pete Schumacher, 14th year
2023:Â 18-4, lost in Region 6A semifinal
Key players:Â Callum Early, SS/P; Sean Smith, OF/P; Wells Butler, OF; Judd Zegarra, 3B; Connor Quigley, 2B; Reed Olowiany, C.
Notable:Â The Rapids were on the cusp of a state tournament berth last year when they fell in the region semifinal in extra innings. A wealth of seniors (12, largest graduating class since 2007) return from that team, while Schumacher will field the smallest junior class (3) he's ever had with a few sophomores mixed in. Creech spearheads a rotation that brings back the bulk of its innings workload. Early (.316 BA, 13 RS), Smith (.316), Quigley (.305, seven doubles, 19 RS) and Zegarra (14 RBIs) bring back ample offensive production. Junior OF Cooper Harris and sophomore P/1B/OF Nate Reed are a couple new names to keep an eye on. The move down from Region 6A to 5C brings a new competitive complexion for a traditionally strong and consistent James River program under Schumacher.Â
Douglas Freeman
Coach: Ray Moore, 15th year
2023: 19-5, reached Class 5 quarterfinal
Key players:Â Cayman Goode, P; Ryan Bland, P/Util; Willie Sellers, P; Ryder Warren, OF; Cross Kingsbury, INF/DH; Finn Whipple, Util.
Notable:Â Sowers leads the charge for a battle-tested Mavericks squad with championship pedigree dating to their 2022 state-title run. Though they'll have to replace a handful of prominent contributors, Moore's Mavs still have a few pieces from that 2022 campaign, and more players gained valuable postseason experience last year. Second-team All-Metro senior hurler Goode went 6-2 with a 1.64 ERA, 62 punch-outs and 22 walks, he's a VCU recruit and will lead a strong pitching staff that also features seniors Bland (3-3, two saves, 2.26 ERA, 51 Ks, 21 BBs) and Sellers (5-0, 2.68 ERA, 22 Ks, 10 BBs). Warren (.339 BA, 22 runs, 16 RBIs), Kingsbury (.404 BA, 10 runs, 14 RBIs) and Whipple (UVa recruit; 14 runs, 12 RBIs, three triples) form the heart of the order around Sowers. Junior P/OF Peyton Beale and sophomore utility player Vinnie Fischi are a couple new names to watch for a Freeman squad that'll hope to compete for another state championship.Â
J.R. Tucker
Coach: Rob Netherland, second year
2023: 9-11, reached region quarterfinals
Key players: Caleb Wood, OF/P; Yamal Ferguson, C/IF; Aaron Procious, P/1B; Joey Noel, OF.
Notable: Netherland said his Tigers will need to be gritty and play solid defense in order to help out their pitching staff, and he'll be looking for a couple bats to step up and lift the order. Wood and Procious should see most of the innings on the mound, while Ferguson and Noel fill leading roles at the plate. Andrew Baish and Andrew Choi will play key defensive roles on the left side. Netherland said junior transfer Christian Barrett can help out in a utility capacity. Freshman Walker Perkins has a chance to compete for time at various spots.Â
Class 4
Atlee
Coach: Michael Morris, third year
2023: 16-7, region Region 4B semifinal
Key players: Noah Yoder, P; Chase Chamberlain, C; Aven Stevens, P; Seth Jones, INF; Barrett Bucholz, OF; Will Haynie, INF; Cooper Molloy, INF
Notable: In games Yoder starts, the Raiders should be able to compete against anybody in the state. They're young as a whole, with juniors and sophomores playing many of they defensive spots, so leadership from the few seniors on the roster will be key. Morris is confident in his team's ability to pitch and field at a high level, so keeping opponents off the board won't be the problem here. The question mark is at the plate, where Atlee will rely on its speed to apply pressure on the basepaths and play small-ball. Jones, Chamberlain, Bucholz (UVa commit), Molloy and Haynie constitute the heart of the order. Stevens (Randolph-Macon recruit) forms a formidable one-two punch on the mound alongside Yoder.Â
Mechanicsville
Coach: Tyler Johnson
2023: 19-5, reached state quarterfinals
Key players: Braxton Pope; Hayden Ways; Bryson Blake; Andrew Farrar; Andrew Johnson; Nick Jones.
Notable: Lamb, a four-year starter, headlines a Mustangs squad that went on a 17-game win streak last year -- Johnson said his team is hungry to finish the job after falling to eventual runners-up Smithfield 5-4 in the state tournament. The pitching staff brings all of its innings back, so there's lots of experience between returners and transfers, plus talented JV additions. Mechanicsville will have to replace a few cornerstone positional players, such as Christopher Newport recruits Aaron Maxie and Jacob Koenig, so the offense is largely unproven. But the depth on the mound is elite, and should give the Mustangs a chance to improve on their finish from 2023. Newcomers to keep an eye on include senior Colin Shaver and juniors Jackson Garland and Braedan Loving.Â
Hanover
Coach: Tyler Kane, sixth year
2023: 19-8, second consecutive Class 4 state championship
Key players: TJ Woodson, SS; Tavis Spiller, 3B; Brady Elrod, CF/P; AJ Kinard, OF; Grayson Reece, INF; Evan Nix, P.
Notable: One of the area and state's preeminent programs lost five key starters including All-Metro player of the year Nolan Williamson. But the Hawks lost 15 seniors from their 2022 state-title winning team and still repeated. So the sky's the limit once again for the boys in sky blue. Kane's Hawks will lean on the sure-handed Woodson, who hit .481 with 21 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 21 stolen bases while making just two errors all of last season. Elrod continues a rich family athletic tradition, he hit .312 with 17 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 2023. Kinard (.361 BA, .465 OBP, 23 SB) and Reece (.409 OBP) will feature prominently at the plate. Nix may be the key to collectively elite success -- he went 4-2 with a 1.70 ERA, 1.378 WHIP and 41 strikeouts over 37 innings last year. Hanover, which has produced five All-Metro players of the year over the last 10 seasons, has a chance to chase an unprecedented state championship three-peat in what has become a golden era of success under Kane.
Henrico
Coach: Rashaad Harris, fourth year
2023: 3-17
Key players: Dylan Connell, P/1B; Zavion Jackson, P\Util; Darren Williams, Util;Â
Notable: The Warriors return seven starters led by four-year starter Connell, he'll carry a major workload on the mound. Jackson, a junior three-year starter and Longwood commit, will serve a utility role all over the diamond, he had 18 hits, including two homers, and 11 RBIs in 2023. Darren Williams, a sophomore who swiped 13 bases and gained starting experience as a freshman, is primarily a center fielder, but Harris will employ him in a variety of roles. Two sophomores, catcher Aladin Simms and INF/P Camden Nogueras, will feature prominently. Maurice Jefferson has starting experience in the infield. Chance Williams, Quincy Wilson, Malachi Saunders and Ronald Morris-Harvey are all newcomers to watch out for. Look for senior Samar Cousins to be an X-factor on the mound for a Henrico squad that's young with the bulk of its roster consisting of sophomore and juniors, but relatively experienced in terms of varsity innings.Â
Patrick Henry
Coach: Sammy Hart, 27th year
2023: 4-15
Key players: Micah Hyman, C; Zach Zelazny, SS; Jude Burr, 2B; Aidan Loucks, P.
Notable: The Patriots return four starters and will be strong defensively with Hyman (.389 BA), Zelazny (Radford commit, 11 RBIs) and Burr (.273 BA, six RBIs) all returning up the middle. Loucks, a 6-foot-5 sophomore up from junior varsity, will spearhead a young pitching staff. Junior 1B Hylton Sanders is a newcomer that could contribute.Â
Powhatan
Coach: Duane Partusch, third year
2023: 14-7, lost in region quarterfinal
Key players: Matthew Layman, Util/P; Ethan Sargent, 2B; Hunter Beil, LF; Connor Hedgepeth, Util/P.
Notable: The Indians return seven starters from a team that won five of its last six games to earn a first-round playoff bye before a 7-5 loss to Matoaca that Partusch said was a letdown his team is determined to put behind it. Layman (5-3, 3.19 ERA, 42 Ks), Powhatan's quarterback on the football field, and Hedgepeth (5-2, 2.31 ERA, 53 Ks) were the top arms last year and will lead the charge again on the mound as dual-aces -- Partusch said his squad is confident it can beat anybody with either of those two on the bump. Tuttle and Mason Timberlake should also fill some innings on the mound. Tuttle, a Randolph-Macon recruit, struck out just four times last year and drew 14 walks, he sets the tone offensively for Powhatan. Partusch added that Layman's leadership has had a positive impact on team mentality. The growth of new projected starters Hayden Wilkerson (1B) and Rhett Boyer (SS) will be vital. Sargent hit .353 and missed time last year due to injury, his health and contributions could prove a major boon.Â
Monacan
Coach: Bryan Miltenberger, fifth year
2023: 13-8
Key players: Turner Johnson, SS/P; Ryan Butterworth, 1B; Sean McCord, CF.
Notable: Smith and Johnson, a Randolph-Macon recruit, will feature as the leading duo for a Chiefs squad that returns five starters -- Miltenberger said collective success hinges on who steps up outside that core. Johnson hit .400, drove in 18 runs and posted a 3-1 record with a 1.50 ERA, 25 strikeouts and just four walks last year. Butterworth (.317 BA, 17 RBIs) and McCord (.317 BA, 13 SBs), both seniors, will be cornerstones at the plate and in the field. Two freshmen pitchers, Grayson Morris and Brady McCormack, could make key impacts.Â
Class 3
Colonial Heights
Coach: Brennan Hoffer, third year
2023: 16-4, reached Region 3A semifinal
Key players: Hunter Santilli, 1B/3B; Jordan Thompson, INF/P; Wyatt Allen, Util/P.
Notable: The Colonials will look to continue their ascendancy under Hoffer, though they'll have to replace 10 key pieces from last year's team. Santilli, a senior corner infielder, is the fulcrum here -- he hit .377 with a 1.014 OPS, 24 RBIs and 15 runs scored and will spearhead CH's lineup. Allen, a junior, and Thompson, a senior, should eat up most of the innings on the mound and prove cornerstones of the order. Thompson last year hit .372 with nine RBIs and 15 runs scored. On the mound, he struck out 18 and posted a 2-0 record while not surrendering a single earned run. Allen hit .333 with a .778 slugging percentage in 14 plate appearances. A group of talented sophomores are among the new players to watch -- Bret Lipscomb (P/SS), Fletcher Grubb (P/2B), Tony Nguyen (P/OF) and Hunter Rhodes (P/Util) could all make key contributions.Â
Goochland
Coach: Wes Farkas, 18th year
2023: 9-12
Key players: Will Johns, C; Jackson Bell, OF/1B; DJ Jones, OF; Jack O'Malley, Util.Â
Notable: Farkas will be tasked with a significant reload after losing 10 seniors. But the coach is excited about his young talent coming up through the program. Johns, Bell (12 RS, 12 RBIs, seven SBs, 15 BBs), O'Malley (.311 BA, 10 SB, 16 RS, 14 RBIs) and Jones (10 RS) feature at the top of the order. Senior 1B/DH Corey Mullins missed his junior season due to injury, his return could add some pop to the heart of the lineup. The pitching is inexperienced but talented. Farkas anticipates a high ceiling on the mound for junior Thomas Hager, sophomores Bohdan Pisko and Caelan Ray and freshman Charlie Harrington. The coach added that his defense has looked solid over the first couple weeks, and if his Bulldogs can get quality starts out of their rotation, they should be able to compete with anyone in the Jefferson District.Â
New Kent
Coach: Trevor Ronan, fourth year
2023: 21-5-1, Class 3 state champions
Key players: Tyler Warren, SS; Nile Gammon, OF/P; Thomas Wilson, P/INF; Michael Hetzel, 1B; Dillon Mickles, INF.
Notable: Eight starters return from the Trojans' region and state championship run, and Ronan hopes the addition of some young talent that has stepped up in offseason workouts will help his program return to the top of the state. Wilson, Seely and Lane Boyette should garner most of the innings on the mound. Warren, Gammon, Hetzel and Mickles will play leading roles in the field and at the plate. Newcomers to keep an eye on include junior INF/P Ty Staub, and freshmen Bryce Hochman (C/INF), Brody Cash (INF/P) and Dylan Bowman (OF/P).Â
Thomas Jefferson
Coach: Harold Henry, 23rd year
2023: 6-10
Key players: Elijah Rice, P/OF; Markus Ingram, P/1B; Graeme Cox, P/SS; Ben Coppola, C; John Blease, P/INF.
Notable: Rice's formidable bat (.413 BA, 19 RBIs) and arm (5-3, 21 Ks, 20 BBs) headline for Henry's Vikings. He's a senior football standout who will provide leadership. Ingram (.400 BA, 10 RBIs) and Cox (.344 BA, nine RBIs), both sophomore, provide some pop in the order. Coppola hit .400 last season over just five games. Blease, Ingram and Cox will need to fill some innings on the mound behind Rice. Freshman pitcher and utility player Thomas Dejnozka is a new player to watch for a Teejay squad that returns seven starters.Â
Maggie Walker
Coach: Dan Brown, first year
2023: 5-12
Key players: Donovan Johnson, SS; Will Sams, P.
Notable: A young Green Dragons outfit will start seven underclassmen. Sophomore Quinn Redwine, senior Will Sams and freshman Lewis Dunn anchor a pitching staff that has much imroved depth. Brown expects a standout year from Johnson, who hit .385 last season en route to honorable mention all-region accolades. Dunn will also see time at first base and Brown said he'll provide some added punch at the plate.Â
Class 2
King William
Coach: Mark Granger, second year
2023:15-5
Key players: Jack Longest, SS/P; Daniel Burton, P; Andrew Lee, P; Timmy West, OF; Brandon Seal, 2B/P; Dustin Bevins, C.
Notable: The Cavaliers return seven starters and will lean on a deep junior class. Granger likes the depth of his pitching staff and overall team speed. Strong role players like Zach Perry, Turpin Rowe and Javon Lewis should augment KW's core effectively. Longest is a three-year starter and first-team all-district honoree. Burton and Lee will garner most of the innings on the mound, they were both second-team all-district last year. Their battery mate, Bevins, is a returning all-district and all-region selection. Look for junior transfer OF/P Grayson Reid to provide a lift. Junior Trevor Gooch and sophomores Steve Walton and Kolton Jimmo are a few newcomers that could make an impact.Â
VISAA
Benedictine
Coach: Sean Ryan
2023: 24-8-1, reached VISAA Division I final
Key players: Sam Kaczmarek, OF; Elijah Coston, OF/P; Riley Roarty, 1B/P; Khamari Veney, OF; Bryce Adams, Util; Ben Rossi, C.
Notable: Always one of the area's top squads, Ryan's Cadets have a bevy of returning talent and depth. Wise, Roarty (VCU) and Coston (VCU) form a three-headed monster of Division I arms at the top of the rotation, though Ryan added that some new arms will need to fill important innings past that top three. Ryan sees a high ceiling offensively so long as his Cadets can find consistency at the plate, a facet of the game they struggled with at times in 2023. A rigorous schedule which pitted Benedictine against a slew of the state's top arms had a major hand in that, and Ryan's lineup, led by Kaczmarek (William & Mary recruit; .372 BA, 28 RBIs) and Coston (.355, five homers, 23 RBIs) will face the same tests this spring.Â
St. Christopher's
Coach: Tony Szymendera, 37th year
2023: 14-9, Prep League champs, lost in extra innings in first round to eventual VISAA state champs Cape Henry
Key players: Jim Douthat, P/OF; Willie Hurt, SS/P; Henry Knighton, 3B/P; Joseph Conner, C/3B; Wally Jones, INF/P.
Notable: Douthat, a senior VMI recruit, missed last year due to injury after going 5-2 with a 2.00 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 42 innings in 2022, his return to the rotation will add to an already strong Saints pitching staff. Knighton, a junior George Washington commit, drove in 20 runs and scored 14 last year while posting a 4-3 record on the mound with a 2.94 ERA and 40 Ks over 47 2/3 innings. Knighton and sophomore Christian Gray (4-0, 2.94 ERA, 23 Ks over 47 2/3 innings) gained valuable experience on the bump last year, as did key relievers Jones and Hurt. So St. Christopher's strength will be on the mound, and the Saints are always sound defensively under Szymendera's leadership. Bryce Neely, a UVa recruit, will sit out the spring after suffering an injury during football season. That creates a hole in the middle of the lineup, and Szymendera said the offense may take some time to develop. Hurt (five homers, 17 RBIs, 16 RS), Knighton (.301 BA, 20 RBIs, 14 RS), Jones (.328 BA, 14 RS) and Conner (10 RBIs, 14 RS) will hit for average in the top half of the lineup -- the rest of the order will need to come together to support the Saints' wealth of hurlers.Â
Collegiate
Coach: Andrew Slater, 16th year
2023: 21-5-1, reached VISAA semifinal
Key players: Hartley Rahman, INF; Miles Prusek, INF; Will Slater, C; Niko Chambers, INF; Jett Bristow, OF/P; Carter Mitchell, OF/P.
Notable: The Cougars are loaded with college talent, from Rahman (JMU) to Slater (VMI), Prusek (Haverford), Chambers (Mary Washington), Bristow (UVa) and Mitchell (W&M). Slater's squad will field a lineup full of experience and athleticism with its sights set on taking the next step toward a state championship run. Rahman, Prusek and Will Slater are four-year starters. Bristow, Mitchell and Jack Callaghan, the quarterback on Collegiate's football team, constitute a physical middle of the order. Chambers should make an impact at third base and on the mound. Pitching depth and an inexperienced bullpen will be the potential weaknesses for a Cougars squad with a formidable lineup. Malcolm Pace and Mason Quigley are a couple names to keep an eye on -- their contributions on the mound could prove vital.Â
Steward
Coach: Bruce Secrest, 20th year
2023: 15-10, VISAA Division II state champions
Key players: Brian Archer, C/P; Cayden Diatelevi, RF/P; Caden Proctor, CF/P; Wesley Walsh, Util; Jay Kim, P.
Notable: The Spartans lost seven starters from their title-winning squad, so Secrest has a lot of young pieces getting their first varsity experience, headlined by an entirely new pitching staff that will get the job done by committee. Three juniors -- Archer (.264 BA, 13 RBIs), Diatelevi (.315, 16 RBIs) and Proctor (15 RS) -- makeup up all the returning offensive production. Walsh, a senior, will fill multiple spots around the diamond. Kim saved three games while posting a 5.76 ERA and striking out 11 over 17 innings in 2023, he'll lead that collective approach on the mound. Junior OF Gavin Thomas, and freshmen Reed Coppola (1B/P), Carson King (SS) and Brooks Johnson (2B/P) are newcomers who could make an impact.Â
Trinity Episcopal
Coach: Chris Gerrity, first year
2023: 5-15-1
Key players: Cole Hartley, OF/3B; Tony Benitez, C; Jackson Hobbs, INF; Jalen German, P/1B; Lawson McLeod, P.
Notable: Gerrity, a former VCU infielder (1999-2002) takes over the Titans seeking to revitalize a young team with only one senior. Gerrity said German and McLeod, both sophomores who struck out 40 batters between them in 2023, are two of the top young arms in the state and will feature on the mound for a squad that will lean on a strong pitching staff that should keep it in most games while the offense develops. Hartley, a junior, is the leading returner in terms of offensive production, he hit .261 in 2023. Benitez and Hobbs, both juniors, will play key roles directing the infield and at the plate. Junior middle infielder Dalevon Smith is a newcomer who could make an impact.Â
Grace Christian
Coach: Brad Price, second year
2023: 11-6-1
Key players: Chase Caddell, 2B/P; Braxten Lawrence, C/P; Andrew Whittington, INF/P; Isaiah Ignace, Util/P.
Notable: The Kings program is just five years old, and Price said it has been a challenge to schedule games against local opposition. But Caddell (.615 BA), last season's conference player of the year, plus Lawrence (.579), Whittington (.462) and Ignace (.388), all first-team all-conference selections, form a strong returning core. Price is excited about the potential of sophomore 6-foot-5 P/1B Jordan Lucy. He's a new name to keep an eye on, as are junior Jerome Hill, sophomore Trice Redmon and freshman Ben Best. Â
Richmond Christian
Coach: Tom Hauser, eighth year
2023: 10-4, no postseason
Key players: Bryson Perkins, C/P; Deklen Matthews, SS/P; Andrew Snead, OF; Kelsey Smith, P/OF.
Notable: Hauser likes the experience his roster has returning with six starters back, and said the Warriors should be much improved across the board. RC will lean on the top six in its lineup, and the pitching staff has come a long way developmentally with four arms capable of controlling the game. Two key starters were lost to graduation and transfer, so replacing them will be a hurdle. Perkins , a senior, leads the charge at the plate, he hit .361 with 11 doubles in 2023. Matthews hit .351 with 13 doubles and has standout speed, he stole 26 bases last year. Snead is coming off a .333 season at the plate, and Smith went 4-0 with a 0.81 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 17 innings.Â
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