Looking Ahead: March 18-23
March 18, 2019
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Welcome to Looking Ahead. Every Monday, we will go into detail about top games in the coming week that have our staff excited and why. Also, we will list other games that should be good ones to check out between top teams.
FEATURED MATCHUPS
No. 4 Deep Run at Hanover, Monday, March 18
Deep Run will travel to Hanover Monday night for a potential big time matchup. The offensive firepower of the Wildcats versus the depth of quality arms at Hanover could make for a fun night. Deep Run features one of the deepest offensive teams in the area led by seniors Carson Jones (Virginia Tech), Eli Weisner (Furman), Brooks Mazey (Randolph Macon), and Hayes Fallen (Hampden-Sydney). After losing the core of their offense in 2018 the Hawks feature a somewhat inexperienced offensive group, but they have the depth and quality in their pitching staff that could keep the Wildcats’ offense at bay. Key factor here may be the Deep Run pitching staff, which is no slouch either. Can their arms keep the Hawks down long enough to let the Wildcat offense get jump-started and out in front? If the Wildcat offense gets out front and rolling it may be tough to stop them.
No. 7 Cosby at No. 23 Midlothian, Thursday, March 21
Both teams opened up last week and looked to be in rare form, but the competition will pick up as they square off this Thursday at Midlothian. Devin Miles ate the majority of the innings last week versus Matoaca, but the Titans have a two game week this time around so we should see the depth of their staff on display depending on who they throw Monday. Midlothian has a tougher week this week as well, playing Clover Hill Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see the pitching matchup on Thursday. The X-factor that separates these two may be the offensive depth and experience of Cosby vs. the younger fiery Trojans offense.
Can Patriot challenge arch-rival Battlefield in the Cedar Run District this spring? We will get an early answer to that on Friday as the two face off earlier than usual this spring. Look for senior Zach Agnos (East Carolina) to throw a short outing early in the week to be lined up to start this game for the Bobcats, with junior Riley Eikhoff (Virginia) Patriot's likely starter in the game. Assuming those two start and match each other, this game will come down to which team executes defensively and which offense can create more effectively. Battlefield seniors Agnos, Craig Miles, and Carter Cunningham (Gardner-Webb) got off to a good start offensively in the first week and will need to carry that forward. Jaden Minnick will need to get on base in front of Eikhoff and Conor Jersey for the Pioneers to produce runs of their own.
A VISAA Division I vs Division II showdown pits the 2016 State Champs of each classification against each other. The Gators are off to a 5-0 start with a weekend DH sweep of Covenant and No. 24 Highland. The Gators have a stacked lineup that has scored 48 runs in five games so far. Collegiate is off to a 1-1 start after splitting an opening DH with Cape Henry. The Cougars are always a strong squad and have a talented core trio of 2020s in Nigel Williams, Trey Boll (Virginia), and Michael Stewart (James Madison).
GAMES TO WATCH
Monday
Monacan at Colonial Heights
Atlantic Shores at Walsingham Academy
Spotsylvania at Fluvanna County
Freedom (South Riding) at No. 16 Battlefield
Tuesday
No. 21 Prince George at Lee-Davis
No. 6 Mills Godwin at Atlee
Douglas Freeman at Glen Allen
James River (Midlothian) at Manchester
Paul VI Catholic at Flint Hill
Maury at No. 17 Greenbrier Christian
Stuart's Draft at Page County
Lake Braddock at No. 13 James Madison
West Springfield at Chantilly
Colgan at Woodbridge
Tunstall at Halifax County
Wednesday
James River (Midlothian) at Matoac
Walsingham Academy at Trinity Episcopal
Chatham at Gretna
Marshall at No. 13 James Madison
Thursday
Thomas Dale at Manchester
Clover Hill at LC Bird
Bethel at No. 10 Menchville
Cave Spring at Northside
Spotswood at Western Albemarle
Grayson County at Tazewell
Friday
No. 4 Deep Run at Douglas Freeman
Glen Allen at No. 6 Mills Godwin
Atlee at James River (Midlothian)
Colonial Beach at West Point
South Lakes at Centreville
No. 18 Fauquier at Brentsville District
Woodbridge at No. 11 Potomac
No. 13 James Madison at McLean
Rustburg at Amherst County
West Springfield at Colgan
Saturday
Norfolk Academy at No. 25 St. Christopher’s School
Stafford at No. 1 Benedictine
Potomac School at Episcopal
Colonial Beach at Rappahannock County
2019 VA/DC HS Coverage
