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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

As we enter March, the high school season is quickly approaching. As we approach opening day, we will continue our look at high school programs throughout our coverage area as they prepare for the 2016 season.
 

 

Team: James Madison
Nickname: Warhawks
Class: 6A North
Conference: Liberty Conference 6
Coach: Mark Gjormand
Twitter: @BaseballMadison
2015 Record: 24-5
2015 Post Season: 6A North and 6A State Champions
Returning Starters/Position: 8
Returning Pitchers: 3

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pete Nielsen (SS/RHP, 2016, Brigham Young) Nielsen is an athletic middle infielder who is also a polished switch hitter with power to all fields. He is currently ranked 10^th in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Jordan Ebersole, (OF/RHP, 2016, VMI) Ebersole is currently ranked 99^th in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Matt Favero (LHP/OF, 2016, Brigham Young) Favero is an athletic lefty who throws in the low to mid 80s with a hard biting curveball and a very good change-up. Favero is currently ranked 95^th in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Bryan Harthun (OF/LHP, 2016) Harthun is a lefthanded bat who can flat out hit. He has gap power to all fields and is currently ranked 115^th in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Kyle Hayes (C, 2016, James Madison) Hayes is a very good receiving catcher who has a developing bat. He is currently ranked 108^th in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.

 

SEASON OUTLOOK
James Madison is the defending 6A State Champions, going 9-0 during the 2015 postseason and defeating Chantilly in both the Northern Region Championship game and the State Championship game. The 2015 Warhawks had a veteran pitching staff paired with a younger core of position players, and the majority of that core is back in 2016 as James Madison returns eight starting position players. The offense will be strong from one to nine and experienced. That experience will carry over to the Warhawk defense, which will be athletic and fundamentally sound, with Hayes and Nielsen leading it from behind the plate and shortstop. Despite some losses to graduation, the Warhawk pitching staff will feature a deep group of arms, anchored by Favero. James Madison is loaded to bear again this spring as the Warhawks are one of the early favorites to defend their 6A State Championship.