VHSL Class 2 Regions C/D Preview
February 21, 2020
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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, Appomattox recovered from a tough first half of the season to make a run in the Region C tournament, earning a State Tournament bid despite falling in the Region C championship to Chatham. In Region D, John Battle faced off against a young Lebanon team and the Pioneers captured the Region D title. Chatham and Lebanon would advance to the Class 2 State Title game where Chatham blasted Lebanon to take home the Class 2 Championship.
Region C had a few minor changes during realignment, with Buckingham County leaving it for Region B. Joining Region C will be Patrick County and Grayson County. Alleghany was supposed to drop down to Class 2 and move into Region C, but appealed to stay in Class 3 and won. Region D also didn't see much realignment change, with the only difference being the departure of Grayson County over to Region C.
Top Prospects in Class 2 Regions C and D
| Name | School | Class | Position | Commitment |
| Carrington Aaron | Chatham | 2023 | SS | Virginia Tech |
| Matthew Arnold | Chatham | 2021 | 3B/RHP | |
| Matthew Buchanan | Lebanon | 2021 | OF/LHP | Virginia |
| Lucas Burnette | Gretna | 2020 | 2B | Hampden-Sydney |
| Alex Caruso | Appomattox | 2023 | RHP | |
| Jonathan Compton | Gate City | 2020 | C | Walters St CC |
| Leighton Dunford | Fort Chiswell | 2020 | 3B | |
| Hunter Hertig | Lebanon | 2021 | C | |
| Christian Lancaster | Chatham | 2021 | RHP | |
| Jake Moore | Chatham | 2023 | OF | |
| Conner Phillips | Radford | 2020 | RHP | Charleston (WV) |
| Gabriel Sebastino | James River (B) | 2021 | SS/RHP | |
| Camron Smith | Appomattox | 2021 | LHP/1B | |
| Evan Stanley | Central-Wise | 2021 | C | |
| Preston Steele | Lebanon | 2021 | SS | Virginia Tech |
2020 Region C
| Dogwood | Three Rivers | Other |
| Appomattox | Floyd County | Fort Chiswell |
| Chatham | Giles | Grayson County |
| Dan River | Glenvar | Martinsville |
| Gretna | James River (B) | Patrick County |
| Nelson County | Radford |
Region C is an all-in Region, which means that all thirteen members of Region C will make the tournament. The regular season will be used to seed teams 1-13 based on power points, and then those seeds will be used to fill out a traditional sixteen team bracket. The top three teams will get the benefit of a bye into the quarterfinals.
2020 Region D
| Mountain 7 | Southwest |
| John Battle | Graham |
| Central-Wise | Lebanon |
| Gate City | Marion |
| Lee County | Richlands |
| Ridgeview | Tazewell |
| Union | Virginia |
***Italicized teams played in a 2019 Region D Tournament. Grayson County was the eighth team to participate.
Teams to Watch in 2020
Appomattox
The Raiders were a younger team in 2019 and surged once the calendar flipped to May, ultimately reaching the Region C championship game and earning a State Tournament trip. Look for the Raiders to build on their success this spring. A strong core comes back in Alex Olimpio and Tristen Lovins and junior Camron Smith is an intriguing two-way talent. Look for freshman Alex Caruso to also contribute on the mound for a team that again should be in the mix in June.
Chatham
The Cavaliers hit the trifecta in 2019, winning the Dogwood District, Region 2C, and Class 2 Championships. The 2019 run was the culmination of a slow build towards a title over the last few years with AJ Potojecki (Longwood) at the center of that team. Potojecki won State Player of the Year in 2019, but has now graduated. Also departing are All-State honorees Graham Dalton and Luke Martin. Chatham will have holes to fill but they do bring plenty back for their title defense, with the return of Brae Adkins and Matt Arnold, both of whom also garnered All-State honors last year, as Adkins set the State RBI record with 61 in 2019 and Arnold led Class 2 in hitting at .552. Look for Christian Lancaster to move into the top spot in the rotation and for freshman Carrington Aaron (Virginia Tech) to help fill those holes as the Cavaliers look to defend their State title this spring.
Fort Chiswell
For the second year in a row, the Pioneers reached the Region C semifinals before seeing their season end, this time at the hands of Appomattox. The Pioneers have Leighton Dunford back for his senior season this spring, coming off of a monster 2019 that saw him among the leaders in home runs as well as put up a strong season on the mound.
Lebanon
The Pioneers won Region D and the Southwest District in 2020 before ultimately finishing as the State Runners-up. Back this spring is All-State senior outfielder Logan Smith as well as a trio of All-State honored juniors in Matthew Buchanan (Virginia), Anthony Houchins, and Preston Steele (Virginia Tech). We liked Lebanon as a dark horse last spring during the preseason, thinking they might be a year away from contending for a State title at the time. Well they were clearly ready and are among the early favorites to hoist a championship in June.
More 2020 Previews