Prep Baseball Report

Virginia 2017 Private School Preview



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By John Nolan
Virginia Assistant Director and Content Manager

Earlier this month, we began our season previews by classification by taking a look at the smaller public schools. We began with VHSL 1A and VHSL 2A and then released our combined 1A/2A Rankings. Next we started moving towards larger schools as we took a look at VHSL 3A and VHSL 4A and released our 3A/4A Rankings. Today we preview the non WCAC private schools in Virginia


2016 PLAYOFF RECAP

Division I
The first round of the Division I tournament went chalk for the most part, with the only upset coming from fifth-seeded Benedictine knocking off fourth-seeded Bishop O’Connell. Top seeds Paul VI and Collegiate both advanced to the championship game, where Collegiate won to capture the State Championship.

Division II
Greenbrier Christian captured its second straight State Championship with a come-from-behind win over Atlantic Shores Christian. The first round of the tournament saw a pair of big upsets as seventh-seeded Steward knocked off Highland and Atlantic Shores shut out third-seeded Nansemond-Suffolk. In the semifinals, Greenbrier Christian defeated Miller School in a duel of aces.

Division III
Southampton Academy capped off a successful 2016 with a VCC Championship and their second straight Division III State Championship. Southampton defeated Isle of Wight in the Championship game. Earlier in the tournament, third-seeded Walsingham Academy had been upset by a much improved Alliance Christian squad. North Cross was the other semifinalist, defeating Roanoke Catholic in the First Round before falling to Southampton.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN VISAA

Name Position School Class Commitment
Matt Ballance IF Cape Henry 2018 Virginia Tech
Nick Biddison SS St. Christopher's 2018 North Carolina
Tredell Blow SS/RHP Walsingham 2019  
Nic Britt SS Greenbrier Christian 2020 Virginia
Ryan Boyce SS Isle of Wight 2019  
Luke Burner OF Highland 2019  
Luke Burton 2B Covenant School 2017 Davidson
Reid Celata SS/RHP Atlantic Shores Christian 2018  
Harrison Clifton LHP Steward 2020 Clemson
Matt Cooper C Norfolk Academy 2017 Clemson
Jason Covaney P Walsingham 2018  
Niall Doherty 3B Atlantic Shores Christian 2017 George Washington
Maddison Furman LHP St. Christopher's 2018 Virginia Commonwealth
Hunter Gilliam 3B Fuqua 2018 Longwood
Don Goodes OF Greenbrier Christian 2018 Virginia Military Institute
Adam Hackenberg C Miller School 2018 Clemson
Jacob Haney RHP Covenant School 2017 William & Mary
Cameron Hill OF Woodberry Forest 2018  
Carson Jones LHP Steward 2019 Virginia
Evan Justice LHP Collegiate 2017 NC State
Nic Kent SS St. Anne's Belfield 2018 Virginia
Noah Lerman OF Highland 2017  
Tyler Mahone C Covenant School 2017 Longwood
Tucker Mitchell C Flint Hill 2019  
Will Moore RHP Covenant School 2017 William & Mary
Tanner Morris SS Miller School 2017 Virginia
Ethan Murray RHP Miller School 2018 Duke
Eli Ottinger RHP Benedictine 2017 James Madison
Josh Pittman RHP Highland 2017 St. Bonaventure
Hunter Ramirez SS Cape Henry 2017 Liberty
Logan Ransom LHP Steward 2019  
Travis Reifsnider 3B Collegiate 2018 James Madison
Gregory Ryan SS Benedictine 2018 Pittsburgh
Jonathan Sawyers LHP Atlantic Shores Christian 2018 Old Dominion
Callaway Sigler OF Benedictine 2018 James Madison
Will Simon 1B Benedictine 2017 James Madison
Jack Sroba SS Collegiate 2017  
Zach Stanko IF/RHP Walsingham 2019  
Jimmy Starnes SS St. Christopher's 2019  
Timothy Stephan RHP/IF Highland 2017 Rider
Erik Stock SS/RHP Greenbrier Christian 2017 Old Dominion
Will Wagner 2B Miller School 2018 Liberty
Jack Weeks LHP Paul VI 2018 Georgetown
Parker Wilburn C Trinity Episcopal 2018  
Nigel Williams SS Collegiate 2020  

 

TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2017

Atlantic Shores reached the Division II championship game in 2016 and the Seahawks bring back most of their core this spring. Senior Niall Doherty (George Washington) brings plenty of pop to the middle of the lineup. Juniors Reid Celata and Jonathan Sawyers (Old Dominion) give Shores a good one-two punch on the mound.

Benedictine reached the Division I semifinals in 2016 and is poised to win a State Championship in 2017. The Cadets bring back senior ace Eli Ottinger (James Madison) and will have a lineup that features Ottinger and fellow senior Will Simon (James Madison) as well as juniors Callaway Sigler (James Maidson) and Gregory Ryan (Pittsburgh). Sigler is an athletic outfielder that may protect Simon in the lineup while Ryan is a very toolsy player. Both juniors could wind up being the key to Benedictine’s season offensively.

Collegiate is the defending Division I champions and the Cougars will bring back senior ace Evan Justice (NC State) who emerged in 2016 and dominated in the Division I tournament. Also back this year for the Cougars will be junior Travis Reifsnider (James Madison) and freshman Nigel Williams. Look for the athletic Williams to contribute more consistently on offense this spring after starting for the State Champs as an eighth grader in 2016.

Covenant made the Division II tournament in 2016 before falling to crosstown rival Miller School. The Eagles bring back the bulk of their team this spring and are poised for a deep postseason run. Seniors Jacob Haney (William & Mary) and Will Moore (William & Mary) will cap a deep rotation and will also be a part of one of the deepest lineups in Virginia. The lineup will be rounded out by seniors Luke Burton (Davidson), Tyler Mahone (Longwood), and Blake Schaar (Eastern Mennonite).

Greenbrier Christian is the two-time defending Division II champion and the Gators will open this season with a new coach for the first time in a while. While Greenbrier lost a lot to graduation, the Gators should still have a team that can defend their titles this spring. Senior Erik Stock (Old Dominion) will be back in the middle of the lineup and should have an increased role on the mound. Junior outfielder Don Goodes (VMI) has a big arm in the outfield and some power potential and freshman Nic Britt (Virginia) could also help fill the holes left in the middle infield.

Highland was the second seed in the Division II playoffs in 2016 and the Hawks bring back the bulk of their team this spring. Highland’s rotation will be led by seniors Josh Pittman (St. Bonaventure) and Timmy Stephan (Rider). Stephan will also be a major factor in a lineup that will also have senior catcher Jacob Zoller (Emory & Henry) and sophomore Luke Burner.

Miller reached the Division II semifinals in 2016 and the Mavericks are among the early favorites to celebrate a 2017 championship at Shepherd Stadium this spring. Miller’s lineup will feature top senior prospect Tanner Morris (Virginia) as well as junior transfer Adam Hackenberg (Clemson) and junior Will Wagner (Liberty). Junior Ethan Murray (Duke) returns to top Miller’s rotation.

St. Christopher’s will be a team on the rise this spring as the have a talented pair of juniors in lefty Maddison Furman (VCU) and two-player Nick Biddison (North Carolina). Sophomore Jimmy Starnes should form a fun double-play combination with Biddison.

Steward reached the Division II semifinals in 2016 and will bring back what has the potential to develop into an outstanding rotation over the next few years. Sophomore lefties Carson Jones (Virginia) and Logan Ransom will again be joined by freshman lefty Harrison Clifton (Clemson) in a rotation that will give Steward a chance against any opponent.

Keep an eye out for Walsingham Academy. They return two .400+ hitters  in 2019's SS/RHP Tredell Blow and IF/RHP Zach Stanko, along with freshman Tanner Schobel. Blow was second on the team in appearances and led in batting average last season with Stanko just behind in both categories. Alongside Blow,  2018 Jason Covaney will provide innings after leading the team in innings last year. 

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