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Welcome to our 2020 high school previews. Today we will take a break from the Virginia public schools and look at VISAA Division I as well as the DCSAA schools. For each we will break down the teams that we believe will be contenders for a State Championship as well as give you teams to keep an eye on that could surprise.

 

VISAA DIVISION I

The 2019 season saw a loaded Benedictine squad roll through the season and ultimately capture the Division I State Championship. They had some tests in the playoffs, but the Cadets rolled to a 27-2 season and a title. 

As 2020 gets underway, the defending champs have graduated a lot of talent, and three-time Division II Champ Miller School has moved up for the next two years. Add to that a loaded Bishop O'Connell team and a strong Collegiate squad and 2020 has the makings of a very entertaining one in Division I, and a postseason that will be must-see.

 

Contenders

No. 4 Benedictine

The Cadets were stacked in 2019 and they made it pay off, capturing the Division I championship and rolling to a 27-2 season. While they celebrated a championship, the Cadets also lost a lot to graduation with the departure of Major League draft pick JamarI Baylor as well as the graduations of Brett Cook (Tulane), Casey Green (Coastal Carolina), and Jack Carpin. The Cadets will also be down their top player at the beginning of the season as junior Jay Woolfolk (Virginia) recovers from a football injury.

There is plenty talent on the roster, even with new faces moving into new roles. Woolfolk is an elite arm and will return at some point this spring to a rotation that should see senior Jack Anderson (Army) step into a bigger role in 2020. Seniors Bennett Lloyd (Hampden-Sydney) and Brock Carter could also chip in some innings. Look for youngsters like juniors Michael Aleksa, Connor Handy, and Spencer Baird to have the opportunity to earn innings as well.

Offensively, senior Bennett Lloyd will be the returning centerpiece of the offense with Baylor's departure. Senior Jack Hall could add some additional impact in the middle, and when Woolfolk returns, he adds a dynamic presence here as well. Look for junior infielder Hank Carpin to get more opportunity to contribute this spring to a lineup that will replace six starters who have left aside from Woolfolk.

 

No. 2 Bishop O’Connell

O’Connell is coming off of a winning season that saw them reach the VISAA playoffs, but fail to advance very far. They are stacked with talent this spring and we will give you a more detailed breakdown of what to expect from the Knights in our upcoming WCAC preview.

 

No. 23 Collegiate

The Cougars put together a strong 2019 season and reached the Division I semifinals yet again, but for the third year in a row, the 2016 State Champs saw their season end at the hands of Richmond rival St. Christopher's. Collegiate has the bulk of their core back again this spring, and the Cougars figure to again be a strong bet to make it to Shepherd Stadium for Championship Weekend, a trip they have made every season that PBR has been operating in Virginia, a streak that runs back at least through 2015.

Lew Rice transferred to IMG Academy, but the rest of the heart of the lineup is back in seniors Nigel Williams, Michael Stewart (James Madison), and Trey Boll. Sophomore Eric McDaniel earned playing time in 2019 and should see his role expand this spring. Donovan Williams had a solid 2019 and his continued development will be a key for the lineup's depth.

On the mound, Stewart will top the rotation and gives them a chance against anyone. McDaniel emerged and worked his way into the No. 2 spot as a freshman. Boll and Williams have arm strength and are good options out of the pen who could work as starters if needed as well.

 

No. 1 Miller School

The Mavericks have won the last three Division II championships and have been given a waiver to move up to Division I for baseball for the next two seasons. While the Mavericks lost some important pieces with the graduations of Matt Sykes (George Mason), Jack Masloff (VCU), Nate Burton (Mary Washington), and Jack Carey, there is a load of talent back this spring for head coach Billy Wagner's squad.

The discussion starts on the mound, where Miller School might be deeper than any rotation in Virginia or DC this spring. Seniors Ethan Chenault (UNC Wilmington), Jordan Peyton (Radford), and Garrett Payne (NC State) are all going to get draft looks this spring. The depth behind that trio is also scary, with junior Drue Hackenberg and sophomore Nathan Fink (Virginia) also in the mix to pick up innings, both of whom would top just about any other team's rotation. 

Offensively, senior Jeremy Wagner (Austin Peay) returns and will be flanked in the lineup by senior Jack Marshall (Roanoke) as well as juniors Jacob Exum and Lucas Adam (Dayton). Expect to see the pitchers also contribute at the plate, with Payne, Fink, and Hackenberg having the ability to be significant lineup presences as well. A youngster to keep an eye on will be freshman Noah Murray (Duke), who will have the opportunity to work his way into the lineup.

 

Don’t Count Out

Cape Henry Collegiate

The Dolphins put together a strong 2019 season but were knocked out in the State tournament by Benedictine, ending their spring. Departing from that team are top arms Alex Gianoscoli and Aiden Kuhle (Roanoke). Cape Henry will be a younger team this spring, but there is talent on this roster and they could put together a run.

Seniors Dane Hoggard (Seton Hall) and Trent Jones (Hampden-Sydney) will provide veteran presences in the middle of the lineup and will also have talented juniors Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion) and Bryce Jones around them. Freshman Harper Cox (Virginia) should also factor into the lineup as should sophomores Kenneth Schaedel and Max Kuhle. The Dolphins' biggest question marks will revolve around who pitches for them, but there is plenty of talent on the roster for Cape Henry to put together another good season and be a factor in May.

 

Norfolk Christian

The Ambassadors continued their recent run of success in the 2019 regular season, and ultimately advanced to the State Quarterfinals before being knocked out by Benedictine in a highly entertaining but ultimately gut-wrenching loss. The Ambassadors bring back their top two arms in seniors Gardner Meeks (Roanoke) and Ty Johnson (Roanoke). Also available for rotation depth is Luke Short and Eli Coley.

Johnson and fellow seniors Garrett Gartrell, Baraka Florence, and Sebastian Silva (VMI) will form the core of a lineup that has showed it can put up runs in bunches the last few years. Juniors Aiden Deike and Eli Coley are back again for a team that is built to go this year, with lineup depth in place as well as the top part of its rotation.

 

Paul VI

Look for more on the Panthers in our upcoming WCAC preview.

 

St. Christopher’s

The 2018 champs returned to the Championship game in 2019, this time to come up just short against Benedictine. The Saints will lose Patrick Routsis (Old Dominion) to graduation as they continue to change the guard from their title team to the new iteration of the roster. One of the big stories of 2019 for St. Chris' was the emergence of junior shortstop Griff O'Ferrall (Virginia) as one of the top players in his class in Virginia. 

Look for more of the youth movement to continue for St. Christopher's this spring, and there is plenty of talent to assert itself in the Saints' younger classes. Sophomores Jacob Carnley, Kyle Haines, and Cam Nuckols could all end up being two-way contributors in some capacity this spring. Junior catcher Carter Schmitt and junior lefty Harrison Coble have looked good during preseason showcases and should also be good pieces for a team that will be better at the end of the season than it is at the beginning as its young talent asserts itself.

 

DCSAA

 

Contenders

No. 3 St. John's College

The Cadets won the 2019 DCSAA Championship, winning a tight game over Wilson to capture the crown. Look for more on St. John's in our upcoming WCAC Preview.

Gonzaga

Gonzaga made it to the DCSAA semifinals in 2019 before falling to Wilson. Look for more on Gonzaga in our upcoming WCAC Preview.

 

No. 21 Woodrow Wilson

The Tigers were the 2019 DCSAA Runners-up, falling to St. John's in the Championship game. The Tigers return 14 varsity players for the 2020 season, led by MLB Draft prospect and senior ace Collin Bosley-Smith (Duke). The Tigers are deep with senior arms behind Bosley-Smith, with Amartya Eswaran-King, Charlie Ganote, and Chance Legere (Catholic) all quality veteran arms that can compete. Bosley-Smith, Ganote and junior Jack Wallis will form the heart of the order with junior infielder Jeff Coakley providing speed at the top. Sophomore Kai Leckszas threw some quality innings in 2019 and will be an interesting pitching prospect to follow as he continues to develop.

 

Don’t Count Out

Maret

Maret failed to advance out of the quarterfinals of the DCSAA tournament in 2019, but the Frogs are coming off of a winning season and have some talent on the roster that could make them a threat. Junior Kendrick Curry has loud tools and is the kind of player that can change the game on offense or defense.

 

St. Alban's

St. Alban's reached the semifinals in 2019 before losing a well played game to St. John's. Graduated off of last year's team is ace lefty Clark Klitenic (Duke), leaving a hole at the top of the rotation. Senior Max DeLorme will step into a bigger role on the mound and be the centerpiece in the lineup for the Bulldogs. John Benner will be another arm capable of starting and Brandon Torng will contribute at the plate and on the mound. Keep an eye on talented sophomore Julian Matthews this spring, who could become an important piece for St. Alban's.