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Welcome to our 2020 VHSL Previews. In each preview, we will give you a brief recap of the 2019 season along with the breakdown of each Region and what the rules are to qualify for postseason play under the new alignment. We will also highlight the top prospects in each Classification, as well as some teams to watch during the 2020 season.

In 2019, King William defeated Nandua to capture the Region A Championship. and Stuart's Draft won the Region B championship over defending State Champ Page County. Page and Draft both advanced to the State semifinals before falling and seeing their seasons end.

Region A has seen some significant change in its membership with the new alignment. Goochland and Maggie Walker have moved up to class 3, taking a pair of powerhouses out of the Region. Buckingham will continue to play in James River District during the season, but now goes to Region B for postseason. Brusnwick, Thomas Jefferson (Richmond), John Marshall, and Windsor join the Region from other classifications.

Region B also saw a major shake-up as what had been two pretty balanced Districts in the Shenandoah and Bull Run were significantly altered. East Rockingham, Luray, Page County, and Stonewall all departed the Shenandoah for the Bull Run District, leaving a much smaller Shenandoah District that is mixed across 3 classes. Lee changed its name to Staunton and both Central Woodstock and George Mason moved up to Class 3. Finally, Buckingham County will slide over for Region play.

 

Top Prospects in Class 2 Regions A and B

Name	School	Class	Position	Commitment
Jack Bourdon	Madison County	2020	2B/RHP
Micah Canterbury	Buffalo Gap	2023	C
Noah Canterbury	Buffalo Gap	2021	OF/LHP
Peyton Chavis	Bluestone	2022	RHP/3B
Isaih Dailey	Prince Edward	2020	OF	VMI
Michael Dailey	Prince Edward	2022	OF
Tyler Dellinger	Stonewall Jackson (Q)	2020	RHP/OF
Tristan Gordon	Page County	2020	C	Milligan College
Matthew Harding	Randolph-Henry	2020	C	Eastern Mennonite
Mattison Kinne	Prince Edward	2021	SS
Mason McDowell	Wilson Memorial	2022	SS
Austin Ritchie	Stonewall Jackson (Q)	2021	LHP/OF
Skyler Saunders	Stuart's Draft	2020	OF
Freddy Stidham	Page County	2020	OF
TayShaun Walton	Greensville County	2023	OF	Miami
Lance Williams	Page County	2023	RHP/SS	Virginia Tech
TR Williams	Page County	2021	LHP	Virginia Tech

 

2020 Region A

James River	Other Districts
Amelia County	Arcadia
Bluestone	Brunswick
Nottoway	Bruton
Prince Edward	Greensville County
Randolph-Henry	John Marshall
	King William
	Nandua
	Poquoson
	Thomas Jefferson (R)
	Windsor

Region A will use power points to rank teams from 1-12, and then those rankings will be used to fill out a traditional sixteen team bracket. The top four seeds in the Region will get the benefit of a bye into the quarterfinals.

 

2020 Region B

Bull Run	Other Districts
Clarke County	Buckingham County
East Rockingham	Buffalo Gap
Luray	Staunton
Madison County	Stuart's Draft
Page County
Stonewall Jackson (Q)
Strasburg

Region B will be an eight team tournament with power points used to rank the teams and set their seeds.

 

Teams to Watch in 2020

Buffalo Gap
The Bison hung around .500 in 2019 and saw their season end in the playoffs to Strasburg, but look for them to take a step forward this spring and be a threat to come out of a loaded Region B. Back in the lineup will be seniors and 2019 All-State honorees Noah Campbell and Blake Holden. Expect a strong two-way contribution from junior Noah Canterbury with the possibility of his younger brother, freshman Micah Canterbury, also contributing to a lineup that should score some runs.

Clarke County
The Eagles had a successful 2019 regular season and reached the Region B tournament before their season came to end at Stuart's Draft. Clarke should be dangerous again in 2019, with a pair of All-State hitters returning in seniors Mike Edwards and Jack Taylor.

King William
The Cavaliers finally got over the hump in 2019, not just advancing out of the Region A, but winning the Region A championship before falling in the State quarterfinals. Kolby Jorgensen and top arm Travis Shumate have graduated, but shortstop Kolby Anderson and Skylar Stone will be back this spring as King William looks to defend its Region title this spring.

Nandua
The Warriors capped off a strong 2019 season with a State tournament trip as the Region A runners-up, falling in the quarterfinals to Stuart's Draft. All-State outfielder Ryan Ross has graduated, but Cade Williams and Gary Kelly return, both of whom emerged as key pieces in 2019. Look for them to pace a team that should again be in the mix deep in Region play this spring.

Page County
The 2018 State Champs reached the State semifinals in 2019, but ultimately could not repeat. They are loaded again with the return of 2018 State Player of the Year and junior TR Williams (Virginia Tech). Back again in the lineup will be senior Tristan Gordon (Milligan College) as well as fellow seniors Chase Combs and Freddy Stidham. Joining the Panthers this spring will be freshman righty Lance Williams (Virginia Tech), who will give Page another weapon on the mound, potentially forming the kind of 1-2 punch with his brother on the mound that would make Page the preseason favorites to win the State Championship in 2020.

Prince Edward
The Eagles had a rough 2019, failing to build off of their 2018 success which saw them come up one game short of a State Tournament trip. Senior Isaih Dailey (VMI) and a core group of seniors that were good in 2018 should be back this spring and sophomore Michael Dailey is poised for an offensive breakout. Prince Edward's offense should be dangerous this spring.

 

 

More 2020 Previews