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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: North Stafford
Nickname: Wolverines
Class: 5A North
Conference: Commonwealth Conference 15
Coach: Jim Labrusciano Jr.
2015 Record: 18-7
2015 Post Season: Regional Tournament
Returning Starters/Position: 3
Returning Pitchers: 2
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Elliot Blake (OF, 2017) Blake hits from the right side and has good speed to go with an above average arm.
Justin Cherry (MIF/RHP, 2017) On the mound, Cherry has a good arm action and feel for three pitches, including a sharp breaking ball. He is a switch hitter with a line drive stroke from both sides of the plate. Defensively, he has a strong arm and plays through the ball to quick exchanges.
Austin Gregory (OF, 2016, Virginia Commonwealth) Gregory is a dominant top of the order presence with good contact skills and a lot of speed from the left handed side of the batter’s box. He gets good routes on balls and covers a lot of ground in the outfield. Gregory is currently ranked 59^th in the Class of 2016 Rankings.
Kevin Ledford (RHP/C, 2017)
Dawson Sims (RHP/SS, 2017, Virginia Commonwealth) Simms has a big, projectable frame and has a ton of upside both on the mound and at the plate. On the mound he throws from a lower arm slot with a long, loose arm action and feel for a good slider and change-up. At the plate, Simms has started to develop power as he grows into his body and should hit this year with gap power and the potential for more. Simms is currently ranked 55^th in the Class of 2017 Rankings. 

 

SEASON OUTLOOK
North Stafford is coming off of a solid 2015 season that saw the Wolverines reach the 5A Northern Region tournament before losing to eventual State Champion Stone Bridge, 2-1. The 2016 Wolverines should again be a strong team as they will be very good defensively, especially up the middle with Ledford behind the plate, Simms and Cherry in the middle infield and Gregory in center with the speedy Blake at his side. Simms and Cherry will form the foundations for what should be a deep and competitive rotation for the Wolverines. Back again in 2016 to start things at the top of the North Stafford lineup is the speedy Gregory, and the Wolverine lineup will look for the power potential that Simms has to balance things out in the middle. North Stafford will again have a very good team in 2016 and the Wolverines will be a dangerous team in the Commonwealth Conference and 5A North Regional tournaments.