VHSL 2017 1A Preview
February 15, 2017
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By John Nolan
Virginia Assistant Director and Content Manager
Over the last week, we took a look at our 2017 Pre-Season All-PBR VA/DC Teams.
First Team
Second Team
Third Team
Honorable Mention
Underclassmen Team
This week, we begin our season previews by classification by taking a look at the smaller public schools, beginning with VHSL 1A today and VHSL 2A tomorrow. Thursday, we will release our 1A/2A combined rankings, which will be updated throughout the year.
2016 playoff recap
The 1A Regional Tournaments didn’t see any early upsets as all four top seeds in the West won their first round games and the top four seeds in the East did as well. Upsets did occur in the East in the semifinals as Windsor and Rappahannock entered the playoffs as the third and fourth seeds, respectively, on power points. Rappahannock upset Chincoteague in eleven innings to advance and Windsor’s bats exploded to put down Riverheads. In the West, Fort Chiswell punched their State Tournament ticket by rallying from a late deficit to defeat Auburn. Eastside advanced with a statement win as ace Austin Smallwood no-hit Honaker to clinch the State Tournament berth.
The 1A State Tournament in 2016 was one of the more exciting ones, with all three games coming down to the wire. Both semifinals saw dominant pitching performances and the Championship game was a back and forth affair that saw Rappahannock capture the State Championship over Windsor in a rematch of the 1A East Region Championship, which Windsor had won. 1A West champion Eastside and runner-up Fort Chiswell put on good showings, but could not muster enough offense in the semifinals of the State Tournament.
Top Prospects in 1a
| Name | Position | School | Class | Commitment |
| Matthew Kleinfelter | 3B/RHP | Lancaster | 2019 | James Madison |
| Hunter Williams | LHP | Windsor | 2017 | Radford |
| Trey Fisher | LHP | Chincoteague | 2017 | Old Dominion |
| Austin Smallwood | LHP | Eastside | 2017 | |
| Chance Davis | C/RHP | Fort Chiswell | 2018 | |
| Tanner Bailey | OF | Fort Chiswell | 2017 | |
| Cole Harness | 1B | Eastside | 2018 | |
| Jacob Council | OF | Windsor | 2018 | |
| Kyle Altzier | C | Auburn | 2017 | |
| Dakota Moore | C | Eastside | 2018 | |
| Dallas Beasley | SS | Fort Chiswell | 2017 | |
| Ridge Stoaks | 3B | Riverheads | 2018 | |
| Tyler Jackson | OF | Patrick Henry | 2018 | |
| Rodney Pierce | OF | Surry | 2017 | |
| Ty Dressler | 2B | Covington | 2017 | |
| Hunter Brown | LHP | Bath County | 2018 | |
| Ryan Fitzgerald | RHP | Riverheads | 2017 |
VHSL 1A
2016 Region teams are in bold
| 1A East | 1A West |
| Altavista | Auburn |
| Appomattox Regional | Bath County |
| Carver Academy | Bland County |
| Central-Lunenberg | Castlewood |
| Charles City County | Chilhowie |
| Chincoteague | Council |
| Colonial Beach | Covington |
| Cumberland | Craig County |
| Essex | Eastern Montgomery |
| Franklin | Eastside |
| Galileo Magnet | Fort Chiswell |
| Highland | Galax |
| King & Queen Central | George Wythe-Wytheville |
| Lancaster | Holston |
| Luray | Honaker |
| Matthews | Hurley |
| Middlesex | John I. Burton |
| Northampton | Narrows |
| Northumberland | Northwood |
| Rappahannock | Parry McCluer |
| Rappahonnock County | Patrick Henry-Glade Spring |
| Riverheads | Radford |
| Stonewall Jackson-Quicksburg | Rural Retreat |
| Surry County | Rye Cover |
| Sussex Central | Thomas Walker |
| West Point | Twin Springs |
| William Campbell | Twin Valley |
| Windsor |
Teams to watch in 2017
Auburn was the top seed out of Western Gate Conference 45 in 2016 but the Eagles blew a 3-0 lead against Fort Chiswell in the Regional Semifinals, narrowly missing the State Tournament. Auburn brings back Conference Player of the Year and All-State performer Kyle Altzier, which should help them be in the mix again at the end of the year.
Chincoteague was the top seed in the 1A East playoffs in 2016 and will bring back senior lefty Trey Fisher which will give the Ponies a top-flight arm to count on in the postseason.
Eastside will bring back a pair of First Team 1A All-State honorees in ace lefty Austin Smallwood and junior first baseman Cole Harness. Look for the Spartans to again be in the mix at the end of the season as they hope to return to the State Tournament and bring back a title this spring.
Fort Chiswell will be hurt by the graduation of ace and 1A Player of the Year Bryson Booher (Concord). The Pioneers should be fine as they bring back the rest of the core of their very good offense, led by First Team All-State honoree Tanner Bailey as well as infielder Dallas Beasley and two-way talent Chance Davis.
Lancaster will be a team on the rise in 2017 as they have impact two-way talent Matthew Kleinfelter to build their lineup and rotation around.
Riverheads was the number two seed on power points entering the 1A East tournament before falling to Windsor in the Region semifinals. The Gladiators bring back All-State third baseman Ridge Stoaks to build their 2017 lineup around.
Windsor was the 1A East champion and 1A State Runners-up in 2016 and the Dukes will bring back two key pieces in 2017 as they look to return to the State Tournament and bring a trophy home. Back this spring is ace and two-way contributor Hunter Williams as well as fellow First Team 1A All-State junior outfielder Cole Harness. Williams will give the Dukes a good chance against any opponent in 1A and he and Harness should key the lineup again this spring.
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