VHSL 6A 2017 Preview

TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2017

Battlefield was outs away from a State Title in 2016 and Bobcats are looking to get back and finish the job in 2017. Their trio of senior aces are gone, so Battlefield will need to fill a lot of quality innings with talented, but unproven, arms. Battlefield will have one of the deepest and most potent lineups in all of Virginia, with seniors Brandon Austin, Brent Boggs (VMI), and Tyler Solomon and junior Reese Varley providing a power-hitting core that few can match. Sophomore Zach Agnos is one of the top two-way players in the State and should help at the top of the lineup as well as help to solve the pitching void.

Centreville went to the North Region semifinals in 2016 and will be part of what is an intriguing Concord Conference this year where no one team stands out on paper. The Wildcats have a pair of good arms in lefties Carter Egbers (Randolph-Macon) and John Farley (Eastern Kentucky) that will give them a chance to win every time out as well as senior catcher Cameron Edwards (Harford CC).

Chantilly won its first State Championship in 2016 but the Chargers will likely take a step back in 2016 after graduating the bulk of their roster. Senior Hayden Dux (Johns Hopkins) will anchor the rotation and seniors Jon Alderman (Ferrum) and Christian Pitura will form the core of the lineup.

Colonial Forge won Conference 4 in 2016 and is again poised to be one of the stronger teams in the conference this year. The Eagles will have senior Logan Barker (Liberty) back this spring, Barker is one of the top two-way talents in the Commonwealth and had a consistent mid-80s fastball last year, with plenty of potential to add velocity, and the ability to pound the zone. All-State senior catcher Eric Zimmerman (Tampa) is also back and the Eagles should see some key contributions from talented switch-hitting sophomore catcher Jake Wortman as well.

Frank W. Cox missed the South Region tournament in 2016 but should have a solid lineup this year with senior infielder Hogan Brown (VCU) and junior catcher Jacob Hawley (Georgia Tech) at the center of it.

First Colonial won Coastal Conference 1 in 2016 and will be among the favorites again this spring. Senior Chin Moss (James Madison) will lead the lineup and Graham Firoved (Radford) and Tommy Green (Longwood) will top the rotation. Firoved’s fastball was up to 89 in 2016 and he has to potential to dominate teams.

Granby missed a Region bid in 2016 but look for the Comets to challenge for one in 2017 as they bring back the bulk of their lineup and have junior Kris Artis (Old Dominion) to rely on in the rotation. Battery mate and fellow junior Ty Hanchey has the potential to break out for Granby.

Grassfield won the Monitor-Merrimac Conference 2 championship and 2016 but the Grizzlies did not advance past the first round of the South Region. They will have one of the top arms in the state again this year in senior Hunter Perdue (Virginia) who consistently worked in the high 80s last year with his fastball, touching 90 when he needed it.

Herndon will be dangerous in an up-for-grabs Concord Conference this spring as the Hornets will be able to run ace Antonio Menendez (Wake Forest) out on the mound, who gives them a chance against any team in the Commonwealth. Menendez and fellow senior Kent Morrison (Santa Clara) will form the core of the Herndon lineup as well.

James Madison won the 2015 6A State Championship but the Warhawks lost a lot to graduation in 2016. Look for the Warhawks to start building the next great James Madison team around junior infielder Kyle Novak (James Madison) and junior pitcher Jake Nielsen.

Lake Braddock has one of the most talented teams in Virginia and DC this year and most of the Bruins’ high-level talent is in its underclasses meaning Lake Braddock has an opportunity to challenge for the next two State Championships. Sophomore Lyle Miller-Green (Virginia Tech) and junior Rojo Prarie (William & Mary) give the Bruins two potential big-time arms. Prarie and fellow juniors Jack Darcy and Matthew Thomas will form the core of Braddock’s lineup for the next two years as well.

Manchester won Conference 3 in 2016 and was knocked out in the Region quarterfinals. The Lancers have one of the deeper teams in 6A this season as they will feature a rotation with seniors Ryan Bergenhagen (Marymount), Chris Kenyon (Mary Washington), and Shane Murawski (Roanoke). Manchester’s lineup will be led by senior Dylan Gentry (Virginia Wesleyan) and junior catcher Scooter Ray.

McLean reached the Region tournament in 2016 and the Highlanders should have a solid team again this spring with a pair of good pitchers in senior Jack Slade and junior Max Groppe.

Oakton missed the North Region tournament in 2016 but the Cougars could be the favorites to win the Concord this spring. Their rotation will easily be the best in 6A North with senior righthanders Owen Lamon (Georgetown) and Toma Shigaki-Than (Duke) as well as sophomore lefty Seth Richards. Senior catcher Ryan Davis (Georgetown) will anchor the defense and be the centerpiece in the lineup as well.

Ocean Lakes reached the South Region semifinals in 2016 and Dolphins bring back the bulk of their lineup this spring as well as a trio of talented two-way players in senior Nate Clements (Christopher Newport), junior Brenden McDonald, and sophomore Elias Negron.

Patriot reached the North semifinals in 2016 and should be one of the more balanced squads in 2017. The Pioneers will have a solid staff with seniors Patrick Fyvie (Army) and James Price (George Mason) leading it. The lineup will feature senior Chase DeGrood (Davis & Elkins) and junior catcher Brian Rall. The Pioneers will be solid as a run prevention team, and the key to their season might be how much offense they get from senior Nate Owens, junior Will Heltibridle, and highly-touted freshman two-way player Riley Eikhoff.

Osbourn Park has a solid group of upperclassmen and has senior ace Kyle Whitten (Virginia) to toe the rubber in big games, and he is capable of shutting down any lineup in the Commonwealth with his fastball that runs around 90 and good slider and curveball. Junior outfielder Will Balkin has a power/speed combination that makes him dangerous at the plate and on the bases.

Robinson made the North Region tournament in 2016 but look for the Rams to be more of a threat in 2017 as they will have a rotation featuring senior Will Jewell (Roanoke) and junior lefties Hugh O’Hara and Jack Philbin. Junior outfielder Flynn Hopkins (William & Mary) will be the centerpiece for the lineup of a program on the rise.

Thomas Dale will be solid this spring with senior catcher Hunter Vay (VCU) in the middle of the lineup and a trio of senior pitchers in Adam Brooks (Virginia Wesleyan), Nicholas Griffin (Virginia Wesleyan), and Evan Lester (Hampden-Sydney).

Western Branch lost senior ace Corey Klak (Old Dominion) to graduation, but the Bruins should be one of the more talented teams in the South again this spring. They return senior outfielders Rufus Hurdle (Old Dominion) and Trent Jones (Gardner-Webb) . The big key to the season will be highly-touted sophomore Antonio Velasquez (Old Dominion) who had mid-80s velocity in the fall and has big power potential at the plate. Hurdle will anchor the lineup and was First Team All-State in 2016, providing power and a high average.

W.T. Woodson could be poised for a big year after missing the 2016 Region tournament as the Cavaliers will have a solid one-two punch on the mound. Senior Randy Prosperi (William & Mary) could be the best pitcher in the conference this season and junior Hunter Hoopes has a big arm with a ton of upside.

West Springfield went to the North Region tournament in 2016 and the Spartans challenged Lake Braddock all year for the Patriot Conference title. West Springfield has a couple of big arms in brothers Isaak Lyons and Jake Lyons. Senior Jake Williams plays a solid shortstop and contributes on the mound as well.

Westfield reached the North Region tournament in 2016 and the Bulldogs have senior pitchers Antonio Buckley (Harford CC) and Seth Hockett (Norfolk State) back this year. The Bulldogs will again be one of the toughest teams to score on as Buckley’s pitchability is off of the charts and Hockett’s stuff from multiple arm slots makes both of them tough to hit against.

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