By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting-Prep Baseball Report VA/DC

Follow @PBRVirginiaDC

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Hickory
Nickname: Hawks
Class/Division: 5A South
District/Conference: PennSouth
Head Coach: Hank Kraft
Twitter Handle:
2014 Overall Record: 21-7
2014 Post-Season Finish: 5A State Champions

Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 14
Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3

TOP RETURNERS (Commit)
Connor Eason, LHP, 2015 (Virginia, Ranked #7 in Virginia and #103 Overall)
Stephen Polansky, OF, 2015 (Virginia Tech, Ranked #18 in Virginia)
William Jarrett Mustain, IF, 2015
Ryan Berglund, RHP, 2016
Cody Schneider, OF, 2016 (Radford, Ranked #22 in Virginia and #177 Overall)
Mikey Polansky, 3B, 2017 (Virginia Tech, Ranked #1 in Virginia and #16 Overall)

Outlook:
Hickory is the defending 5A State Champs and are poised to repeat as the Hawks bring back a significant portion of their talented team. They did lose three key senior leaders to the NCAA ranks in Christian Lowry (OF, Virginia), Zack York (IF, Radford), and Colby Rudis (RHP, VMI). The team will be led this year on the mound by Connor Eason (LHP, 2015) and Ryan Berglund (RHP, 2016), both of whom contributed during last year’s postseason run. Cody Schneider (OF, 2016), Stephen Polansky (OF, 2015), and Mikey Polansky (3B, 2017) will provide a dangerous core to the Hawks line-up. Hickory will rely on team unity and need big performances from different players this year to dog pile again this June.

CLICK HERE, to see the entire list of 2015 Virginia/DC Team Previews

Coaches Preseason Questionnaire 

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online.

Virginia/DC Public School Questionnaire
Virginia/DC Private School Questionnaire

upcoming events in february

• Underclass Invitational (Invite Only) on February 15 at Virginia Sports Complex

• Preseason All-State (Invite Only)  on February 22 at Virginia Sports Complex