Prep Baseball Report

VHSL 2019 Class 4 Regions A and B Preview


Jason Burton
Richmond Area Scouting Coordinator

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Welcome to our 2019 VHSL Previews. In each preview, we will give you a brief recap of the 2018 season along with the breakdown of each Region and what the rules are to qualify for postseason play under the current alignment. We will also highlight the top prospects in each Classification, as well as some teams to watch during the 2019 season. We continue our VHSL Previews for the 2019 season by taking a look at Class 4, with the focus today being on Regions A and B.

2018 saw Salem (Roanoke) win the State Championship over Jamestown. Grafton captured the Region A Championship with Jamestown finishing as the runner-up. Dinwiddie won the Region B title and Powhatan was the runner-up and advanced to the State Tournament.

 

Top Prospects Regions A and B

Name School Class Position Commitment
Eric Anderson Hanover 2019 RHP  
Will Bowles Hanover 2019 LHP High Point
Christian Chambers Midlothian 2020  SS  James Madison
Tyler Cotten Grafton 2020 C
Blake Doggett Hanover 2019 1B/LHP Randolph-Macon
Brandon Eike Powhatan 2020 RHP/3B Virginia Tech
Jacob Faivre Deep Creek 2019 RHP Shenandoah
Camdton Fuhrman Midlothian 2019 RHP Randolph-Macon
Trey Gibson Grafton 2020 RHP Liberty
Kevin Gunn Dinwiddie 2021 SS  
Landon Higgerson Great Bridge 2020 RHP Radford
Colby Hutnan Hanover 2019 RHP  Lynchburg
Joseph Majewicz Grafton 2019 LHP Radford
Jaron McNeil Dinwiddie 2021 OF/RHP Virginia Tech
Geo Rivera Lafayette 2019 RHP Old Dominion
Parker Russell Great Bridge 2019 OF  
Jackson Severt Dinwiddie 2021  
Logan Smith Midlothian 2019 Randolph-Macon
Cole Wallace Hanover 2019 RHP Randolph-Macon
Ethan Weaver Jamestown 2019 SS CNU
Zachary Wojnarowski Grafton 2019 SS/RHP VMI



2019 Region A

Churchland Deep Creek
Denbigh Grafton
Great Bridge Heritage (Newport News)
Jamestown King's Fork
Lafayette Lake Taylor
Smithfield Warhill
Woodrow Wilson  

*Italicized teams played in a 2018 Region A tournament

Region A uses a power points system to seed an eight team Region tournament to determine their two State Tournament teams. In the system that Region A will use, a win is seven points, a loss to a Class 4 or smaller school is no points, a loss to a Class 5 school is one point, and a loss to a Class 6 school is two points. Those additional points were meant to help schools such as Deep Creek and Great Bridge, which will play most of their regular season schedule against 6a schools in the Southeastern District.


2019 Region B

Battlefield Dominion Other
Caroline Huguenot Dinwiddie
Chancellor Midlothian Hanover
Courtland Monacan Louisa County
Eastern View
Patrick Henry (Ashland)
King George
Powhatan
     

*All teams played in the 2018 Region B tournament

Region B is an all-in tournament, with all 13 schools making the Region tournament. Seeding will be based on power points. The top four teams in the draw will get a bye to the Region quarterfinals, and the bottom two teams will have the extra disadvantage of having to play each other just to get into the first round of the tournament.

 

Teams to Watch Regions A and B

Courtland
The Cougars saw their 2018 season end in the Region B quarterfinals as Powhatan defeated them. The Cougars lose top arm Alex Kobersteen (George Washington) to graduation, but outfielder Addie Burrow is back after leading the offense in 2018. Also returning to the lineup is Dustin Gough, look for Owen Reilly to potentially impact the team this spring. On the mound, with Kobersteen's graduation, senior Patrick Millner should top the rotation and look for Ty Lowe to contribute as well.

Dinwiddie
After losing to Jamestown in the state quarterfinals in 2018, the Generals are replacing 7 starters and 9 seniors. Dinwiddie lost key parts in OF Tomas Sanchez (VCU), P/1B Seth Mayberry (San Diego Padres), Luke Costley, Brian Sheeder (Lynchburg), Zack Donovan (Randolph Macon), Ashton Henshaw (Eastern Mennonite), and Ryan Kelly. Key returners this year should be 2021 OF Jaron McNeil (Virginia Tech) and 2021 IF Kevin Gunn. Key new additions should be 2021 C Jackson Severt, 2019 IF Matthew Norwood, 2020 P/Util Colt Daulton, and 2021 P/IF Codie Maitland.  

Grafton
Grafton lost to Jamestown in the state semi’s in 2018 and look to build on a strong season and strong underclass group for 2019. With the only key losses of 2018 being  Adam Sanders and Justin Bowers (NCCU) the Clippers return a strong group for the 2019 season. Pitching depth will be a huge asset for Grafton this spring as they have depth with the big arms of 2020 Trey Gibson (Liberty), 2020 Mark Petko (Radford), 2019 Andrew Shartzer (Paul D. Camp CC), and 2019 two way standout Zack Wojnarowski (VMI). The Clippers will lean on the bats of guys like Wojnarowski, one of the states' top uncommitted prospects in 2020 C Tyler Cotten, and 2019 Brayden Hodges (CNU). If they can fill the void of the big offensive loss that was Justin Bowers look for Grafton to do big things this year in class 4.

Great Bridge
The Wildcats 2018 season ended in a loss to Lafayette in regional play. With only one major loss in SS Bre Harden the Wildcats look to build on last year, returning 6 starters. With ace 2020 Landon Higgerson (Radford) anchoring the staff the Wildcats should have some depth on the mound. Experience in the infield will prove as a key for Great Bridge this season, but will need to get some offensive production from the lineup in order to make a deep run. Playing a difficult schedule in the Southeastern District should prepare the Wildcats for the 4A regional playoffs.  

Jamestown
Jamestown finished as the Region A runners-up but then upset Region champ Grafton a week later in the State semifinals. The Eagles finished the season as the State runners-up, losing the championship game to Salem (Roanoke). Gone will be top arm and All-State pitcher EA Woolwine, which will be a blow to the Eagles this spring. Also gone is All-Region shortstop Matt Lansford, but the Eagles do return infielder Ethan Weaver (CNU).

Hanover
After losing in a wild finish to Powhatan last year in the region semi’s, missing the State Tournament for the first time since 2012, the Hawks are looking to rebuild from a big turnover of seniors that graduated last year. The losses of Jack Dragum (UVA), Nick Zona (JMU), Camden Grimes (Virginia Tech), Michael Warley (Maryland-Eastern Shore), and Will Lopez (VMI) will test the 2019 Hawks, especially at the plate. Not much of a shocker that Hanover returns some quality depth on the mound with seniors Eric Anderson, Will Bowles (High Point), Jack Goleski, and Cole Wallace (Randolph Macon) that will allow them to compete in Region 4B once again in 2019. The big question is can the powerful bat of 2019 Blake Doggett (Randolph Macon) and 2019 Colby Hutnan (Lynchburg) get some help in taking pressure off of the pitching staff.

Midlothian
The Trojans lost a tight one to Louisa by a score of 2-0 to end their season in 2018. The Trojans graduated 2B Baylor Cumbea (Lynchburg) who was a key offensive piece for them and pitchers Bryce Blackburn and Reed Boettner. Midlothian returns a strong nucleus of arms led by 2019 Camdton Furman (Randolph Macon) and 2021 Carter Lovasz. The lineup will be anchored by seniors Logan Smith (Randolph Macon) and Tyler Moore and 2020 JMU commit Christian Chambers. How the Trojans offense can answer the bell this year will determine their success in late May-early June.

Powhatan
Lost to Grafton in a pitchers duel last year in the state quarters. Will be a rebuilding year with the losses of 1B Cody Willis (Louisburg CC), C Logan Amiss (VCU), Nick Rini (Lackawanna JC), Trenton Tiller (Hampden-Sydney), and Brad Painter (Hampden Sydney). Will feature key returners 2020 P/SS Brandon Eike (Virginia Tech) and 2019 P/OF Tymothy Hart. How quickly the 2019 Indians can mature and how efficient on the mound Eike and Hart can be will be a big determining factor as to how deep Powhatan can go this year.


 


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