VISAA and DCSAA Tournament Previews

Playoff baseball has fully arrived in Virginia and DC. Last Saturday, St. John's College captured its sixth straight WCAC title to capture the first championship that will be awarded in our coverage area. Both the VISAA and DCSAA will crown their 2019 champions on Saturday, May 18. VISAA will hold their annual Championship tripleheader at Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights and DCSAA will crown its champ at Nats Academy in DC.

With our eyes on Saturday, our staff took some time to look at each tournament bracket and give their thoughts.

VISAA Division I

Title Game Picks

Jason Burton: Benedictine defeats Collegiate. Benedictine will have a tough matchup versus Bishop O’Connell on Friday, but the combination of Jamari Baylor (Louisburg CC), Brett Cook (Tulane), and Jay Woolfolk are too much for the Knights to overcome. Collegiate gets to the championship game versus Benedictine after defeating a tough, but young, St. Christopher’s team. Nigel Williams and Lew Rice will have a big couple of games on their way to the championship game versus Benedictine.

John Nolan: Benedictine defeats Collegiate. The bracket setup well for the Cougars to advance, likely avoiding Patrick Routsis (Virginia Tech) from St. Christopher's in the semifinals. Benedictine just has too much for them not to win. 

Jerry Shank: Benedictine over Collegiate. All of the above things that you have said, plus Collegiate has a history of making late season runs.

Dark Horse

Burton: Bishop O'Connell

Nolan: Bishop O'Connell. The Knights gave St. John's College everything they could handle last week in their WCAC semifinal. O'Connell's depth on the mound could give them an edge in this tournament, with Jake Berry (Virginia), Peter Colevas, Will Pickford (Virginia Tech), Corey Knauf, and shortstop/closer Eddie Eisert (NC State) all guys who could give the Knights a strong performance on the mound.

Shank: Bishop O'Connell. Pitching depth plays. If the offense can wake up, watch out.

VISAA Division II

Title Game Picks

Jason Burton: Greenbrier Christian defeats Miller School. Miller School will have a tight low scoring affair versus the lefty arms from Steward, but the offensive depth of Miller will get them to Saturday. Greenbrier Christian is as offensively talented as any team in VISAA and that will get them through a tough contest versus a talented and battle tested Highland team. That offensive depth will be able to do enough damage against Miller's arms to win a championship.

John Nolan: Miller School defeats Highland. I like Highland's depth on the mound giving them a chance to hold down Greenbrier's offense a bit in the semifinals. Ultimately I think Miller is just too good and battle-tested this spring to not repeat as champs. If Highland can find a way to get through to Saturday with Blake Fisher lined up to start, that gives them a better shot against Miller than their other arms will.

Jerry Shank: Miller School over Greenbrier Christian. GCA gets enough pitching from the staff to keep them in games, and the offense stays productive throughout. If GCA wants to win the championship, they are going to have to outscore Miller, who has such excellent balance between their staff and offense. Miller just ends up being too much for the Gators.

Dark Horse

Burton: Highland

Nolan: Atlantic Shores. The Seahawks went 13-3 down the stretch after a narrow loss to Benedictine on April 9. They gave Highland all that they could handle in a back-and-forth 9-8 loss a few weeks ago and the Seahawks have a history of making runs in this tournament. The Seahawks have made at least the semifinals each of the last four years, including ending first-round opponent Greenbrier Christian's season in 2017 and 2018.

Shank: Nansemond Suffolk / Steward -  There is an interesting mix of young and old talent on this NSA team that seems to be jelling at the right time. Nic Psimas is an imposing arm and has the ability to take over a game. Zac Morris might be the best player that isn't a household name in this tournament. Pitching always takes over during the playoffs, and Steward might have some of the best competitors out there.

VISAA Division III

Title Game Picks

Jason Burton: Walsingham defeats Carlisle. Carlisle’s Tyler Nuckols has been magnificent on the mound for the Chiefs and his winning ways continue. Walsingham’s Tanner Schoebel (Virginia Tech) and Zach Stanko (Longwood) give the Trojans plenty of offensive depth to carry them to the championship game.

John Nolan: Walsingham defeats Carlisle. Nuckols and Garrett Kangas have been very good for Carlisle, but missing the dynamic talent of Trey Carter (Florida State) is a devastating blow and changes the matchup here. Schobel and Stanko and youngster Jacob Miller-Bopp give Walsingham too many pieces in the middle of their lineup.

Jerry Shank: Walsingham over Southampton. Southampton has a history of finding a way to be there, but I love the talent at Walsingham. Too deep and too much this year.

Dark Horse

Burton: Southampton

Nolan: History would say Southampton

Shank: Fuqua

DCSAA

Title Game Picks

John Nolan: St. John's College defeats Wilson. The sheer number of arms that the Cadets can roll out gives them an edge. If Wilson could hold Colin Bosley-Smith (Duke) for a potential title game matchup, that would make for a heck of a game, but the Tigers are probably going to need him to get past a young and good Gonzaga team in the semifinals.

Jerry Shank: St. John's over Wilson. Its more than depth that makes St. John's such a productive team year in and year out. They reload each year with new talent and play a brand of baseball that 95% of high schools are unable to control on a consistent basis. I think Wilson makes it a game early, but the Cadets will be too much.

Dark Horse

Nolan: St. Alban's. Clark Klitenic (Duke) could throw a real wrench in things if he starts against St. John's in the semifinals. Even if he isn't availble, Joe Bladel threw a heck of a game in a loss to Georgetown Prep on Saturday and would give the Bulldogs a chance.

Shank: Gonzaga. Its hard to call a No. 2 seed a darkhorse, but Gonzaga has had a successful season this year with a lot of young players contributing in a somewhat of a surprise season for the team. Garrett Newsome and Christian Ficca are key pieces on the offensive end and Newsome provides a top arm, but the rest of the staff will need to continue their strong seasons for Gonzaga to make a run to the championship.