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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting

Regional tournaments have finally come to a close throughout the Commonwealth after a wet week wreaked havoc with the tournament. Hopefully, Mother Nature will be more cooperative this weekend as teams pack up their buses for the Spring Jubilees that are being hosted again this year by Radford University, Liberty University, and Robinson Secondary. Championship Saturday is looming large in the windshield, so here is a look at the State Tournament fields in each classification.

The 3A Semifinals will be played at Liberty University on Friday afternoon, June 12. The State Championship game will be played at Liberty University on Saturday, June 13 at 1:00.

lafayette vs. monticello, 3pm

Lafayette entered the Region Tournament as the number two seed from Conference 25. The Rams have had a strong spring and soundly defeated Conference 26 Champion Hopewell in the first round of the Regional Tournament and then shut out Conference 27 Champion Kettle Run in the semifinals to clinch their State Tournament berth. Due to the rain, Lafayette shared the Northern Region Championship with Loudoun Valley, and was awarded the number two seed in the State Tournament. Lafayette has gone 8-3 since May 1, with all three of their losses coming by one-run margins. The Rams are a talented pitching and defense team and their offense is led by brothers Andre Lipcius (2016, Tennessee) and Luc Lipcius (2016). Daniel Blankinship (2015) and Matt Keane (William & Mary, 2015) have anchored the Rams’ strong rotation.

Monticello is the Conference 29 and Western Region Champions. The Mustangs managed to win every type of game imaginable during the Region Tournament, surviving a seventh inning charge from William Byrd to walk off to the win, winning a 2-0 pitcher’s duel over Christiansburg, and coming from behind to outslug Rustburg in the championship game. The Mustangs are a veteran team and have been on a magical ride during the playoffs.

rustburg vs. no. 8 loudoun valley, 6pm

Rustburg is the Conference 30 Champions and the Western Region runners-up. The Devils defeated Hidden Valley in the first round and Conference 31 Champions Staunton River in the semifinals to lock up their State Tournament berth.

Loudoun Valley is the defending 3A State Champions as well as the 2015 Conference 28 champion. The Eastern Regional Tournament was delayed dramatically due to last week’s rain, so Loudoun Valley and Lafayette shared the Region Championship. The Vikings returned to the State Tournament with a come-from-behind victory over No. 9 Colonial Heights on Saturday. The Vikings have been outstanding on the mound all season, led by Eastern Region Player of the Year Jack DeGroat (2015, Liberty), as well as fellow First Team All-Region selections Sam Urban (2015, Libery), Andrew Lohr (2015), and Kyle Bowles (2015). DeGroat, Lohr and Second Team All-Region Justin Ager (2016, Yale) make up one of the best rotations in the Commonwealth.