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Welcome to our first Looking Ahead of the 2018 High School season. In these weekly posts which will go up on Mondays, we will take some time to highlight a few key matchups that will occur in the coming week from around the Commonwealth. We will also list any matchups featuring teams that we have ranked in the Power 25, which will also be updated on Mondays.

Without further ado, here are games that we find to be especially interesting in the coming week:

Looking Ahead: March 12-17

No. 23 Stone Bridge vs No. 15 Riverside, Monday March 12
The 2017 3a Runners-up will host the school where Riverside head coach Sam Plank won a 5a State Championship in 2015 in a battle of two of the top teams in North Loudoun County. Both teams have deep lineups with plenty of experience. This will be Riverside senior outfielder Tyler Casagrande's (Arizona) first game for his new team after transferring during the offseason. The Bulldogs' deep lineup is built around junior Paul Moore and senior two-way contributors Matt House (Shenandoah) and Shane Gallahan.

No. 17 Dinwiddie vs No. 3 Hanover, Tuesday March 13
This should be an entertaining opening night matchup of Richmond-area schools that will pit Dinwiddie senior righty Seth Mayberry (Longwood) against Hanover's stacked lineup. Look for the Hawks to run through some arms in preparation for their trip to North Carolina for NHSI, with seniors Jack Dragum (Virginia), Will Lopez (VMI), and Nick Zona (James Madison) all in the mix to get on the mound in this game. We could see this game replayed late in the Region B tournament in May.

Granby vs Greenbrier Christian, Tuesday March 13
A chance to see Granby senior Kris Artis (Old Dominion) face a talented and young Gator lineup should make for an entertaining game.

No. 10 Lake Braddock vs James Madison, Friday March 16
This early-season matchup pits the two programs that have been the strongest in Fairfax County year in and year out for the last two decades against each other. Both teams look strong again in 2018. Look for Madison to send senior Jake Neilsen (Brigham Young) to the mound and Lake Braddock to counter with either big-armed junior Lyle Miller-Green (Virginia Tech) or senior Rojo Prarie (William & Mary). Both lineups have dynamic hitters, with Madison featuring Kyle Novak (James Madison) and Braddock featuring Prarie and catcher Matthew Thomas (William & Mary) at the centers of their respective lineups.

Calvert Hall vs No. 19 St. John's College, Saturday March 17
A big interstate showdown between Maryland private school powerhouse Calvert Hall and the three-time defending WCAC champs, St. John's College, is one of many outstanding matchups scheduled for Saturday this week.

 

Monday March 12
No. 6 Patriot vs Colgan
No. 24 Atlee vs Clover Hill
Page County vs Madison County

 

Tuesday March 13
No. 4 Benedictine vs Potomac School
Oscar Smith vs No. 9 Western Branch
Spotswood vs No. 25 Western Albemarle
Turner Ashby vs St. Anne's-Belfield
Great Bridge vs Grassfield
Radford vs Fort Chiswell
Stafford vs Mountain View
West Potomac vs W.T. Woodson

 

Wednesday March 14
South County vs No. 21 Oakton
Christiansburg vs Northside

Thursday March 15
No. 11 Prince George vs No. 24 Atlee
No. 14 Manchester vs Cosby
Bishop O'Connell vs Potomac School

Friday March 16
No. 9 Western Branch vs Great Bridge
No. 18 Halifax County vs Amherst County
West Springfield vs No. 21 Oakton
No. 22 Battlefield vs Colgan
Indian River vs Oscar Smith
Glenvar vs Staunton River
Briar Woods vs Loudoun Valley

 

Saturday March 17
Greenbrier Christian vs No. 4 Benedictine
No. 12 Atlantic Shores Christian vs Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
No. 12 Atlantic Shores Christian vs Highland School
Greenbrier Christian vs St. Christopher's
Turner Ashby vs Sherando