VHSL 4A 2017 Preview

TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2017

Amherst County had a very athletic team that was young in 2016 and the Lancers narrowly missed the 4A West tournament. This year they bring back key pieces in their lineup in seniors Will Knight (VMI) and Nathan Loyd (VMI). Knight anchors the infield defense from short and will hit for high average with some pop. Loyd provides speed at the top of the order with some power as well. Also back will senior Ezra Baier (King) who will contribute on the mound and in the lineup. Look for the Lancers to have one of the more balanced offenses in 4A West and return to the Region tournament, where they will be dangerous.

Courtland is a program on the rise in Conference 19. The Cougars will be a potential threat to any opponent when Alex Kobersteen (George Washington) is on the mound and how far the Cougars will advance will be partially driven by if Kobersteen can make the transition from talented arm to ace. His mid to high 80s fastball and swing and miss breaking ball have the potential to make that jump. The Cougars also have a young core and how quickly that core matures will be the other major factor in how dangerous Courtland is in late May.

Dinwiddie reached the 4A East semifinals in 2016 and the Generals could be a factor to go deeper in 2017 as they bring back much of an interesting core of young talent. Junior Seth Mayberry returns on the mound after pitching to a sub-2 ERA as a sophomore and he will feature a mid-80s fastball this spring. The lineup brings back three key bats in senior Matt Culbreath (Eastern Mennonite) and juniors Zack Donovan and Tomas Sanchez. Culbreath and Sanchez both hit over .400 in 2016 and Sanchez has some home run power.

Eastern View had a strong regular season in 2016 but stumbled early in the playoffs and the Cyclones did not qualify for the East Region tournament. Eastern View brings back some key players and should be a solid team, with senior Ray Tricarico (Eastern Mennonite) and junior Zach Thomas combining to man the left side of the infield while forming the top of the Cyclone rotation this spring.

Hanover lost a lot to graduation as the Hawks 2016 class departed with its third State Championship and seven players headed to Division I to continue their careers. Despite all of that loss, Hanover is still loaded to bear with senior outfielder Josh Plummer (Tennessee) and junior infielders Jack Dragum (Virginia), Camden Grimes, and Nick Zona (Virginia Tech). Dragum and Grimes have hit near the top of the Hanover order since their freshman year, also look for Dragum to get more work on the mound where his fastball has been up to 90.

Heritage-Leesburg will look to return to the West Region tournament in 2017 and the Pride will lean on senior righty Cameron Taylor (UMBC) on the mound. Taylor has a good three-pitch mix that he commands well and he will give Heritage a chance to win every time he has the ball. Also back this spring for the Pride are All-Conference senior outfielder Chris Baer, fellow senior outfielder Matt Lannes (Eastern Mennonite), and senior righthander Nate Craner.

Jamestown reached the State Tournament in 2016 and sent four graduates to Division I. The Eagles will look to remain near the top of the Bay Rivers Conference in 2017 as they will have to rebuild their rotation around returning two-way talent Ryan Devine (St. Joseph’s). The lineup will feature senior catcher Kevin Mooney (Georgia State) and senior infielder Michael Schmidt, who hit over .400 in 2016.

Kettle Run won Conference 22 in 2016, going undefeated in conference play, and advanced to the State Tournament in Lynchburg. The Cougars lost two key players in centerfielder Brenton Doyle (VMI) and shortstop/ace Hayden Lilek from the 2016 squad, but most of the rest of the team returns. Seniors Sam Ewald (VMI) and Will Merriken (Roanoke) should take the bulk of the innings, Ewald sports a big fastball and Merriken pounds the zone with late movement, generating weak contact. Senior two-way player Noah Goins (Patrick Henry CC) has so much upside in his projectable frame that he could easily approach 90 on the mound or threaten to hit double digit home runs. Senior catcher Tyler Shaffer (Catholic) is a solid defender with some juice in his bat and will round out a deep and dangerous Kettle Run lineup.

Lafayette had a strong squad in 2016 and will be hurt by the graduation of the Lipcius brothers. The Rams will have a strong core this spring senior catcher John Keane (Old Dominion) and senior infielder Jered Antle manning the middle of the diamond defensively. Keane is capable of shutting down running games and Antle is a solid defender with both bringing plenty of doubles power. One of the keys to Lafayette’s 2017 season will be how much contribution they get from sophomore Geo Rivera (Old Dominion) who has the potential to be a dynamic two-way talent.

Liberty Christian were the Conference 23 and 4A West champs and State runners-up in the school’s first year of VHSL competition in 2016. The Bulldogs will look to build off of that success this spring and return to the State Tournament. LCA lost its top two arms, but will bring back a very deep lineup with big time talents in junior catcher Wesley Clarke (South Carolina) and fellow junior outfielder Kyle Horton (South Carolina). Not to be outdone, the left side of the infield will feature long time starters in senior shortstop Noah Cook (VMI) and third baseman Hunter Johnson. The Bulldogs will be very athletic defensively, helping out a pitching staff that will see new faces contribute in big ways. Horton brings dynamic speed to the top of the lineup and Clarke has been a force in the middle of the lineup since his freshman year.

Louisa County made the East Region tournament in 2016 and has an interesting roster in 2017 that will feature seniors Cole Agee (Roanoke) and John Reynolds (Randolph-Macon) as well as junior pitcher Lliam Grubbs (James Madison). Grubbs has a mid to high 80s arm and the potential to develop into an ace for the Lions.

Loudoun County is the defending champ of the eastern half of Conference 22 and feature a team built around one of the best true two-way talents in Virginia, junior Will Schroeder (North Carolina). Schroeder brings top of the lineup speed with middle of the order power to the lineup and a strong arm at short when not pitching in the high 80s.

Millbrook has had a stranglehold on the western half of Conference 21 for the last few years and should again this spring. The Pioneers suffered a blow late last summer, losing Anthony Simonelli (Coastal Carolina) for the year due to injury, but they still should have a very good one-two punch on the mound in seniors Ryan Kennedy (Kennesaw State) and Austin Murphy (Virginia Military Institute). The lineup is experienced and will be built around Kennedy and fellow seniors Conor Hartigan (USC Sumter JC), Nathan Jaye (King), Kyle Keenan (Villanova), and Gavin West (Shepherd). This is the year for the Pioneers to make a run with that massive senior class still on campus. Murphy has a big arm and Kennedy has real feel for this three-pitch mix, which will make them a tough tandem to score on in front of a very athletic defense with Hartigan’s speed in center and Keenan’s skills behind the plate.

Woodgrove shook off a slow start in 2016 to reach the West Region tournament. The Wolverines should again be solid in 2017 as senior pitcher Ryan Miles (George Mason) will give the Wolverines a chance against any opponent with his mid-80s fastball and outstanding curveball. The Wolverine lineup will have senior Clayton Roberts (Messiah) as well as junior shortstop Justin Hanvey (Radford) to build around.

Check back later this week as we release our combined 3A and 4A rankings and next week as we preview the WCAC, 5A, and begin looking at VISAA as well. 

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