Prep Baseball Report

2016 Season Preview: Battlefield Bobcats



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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

As we enter February, the high school season is quickly approaching. As the month progresses and February turns into March, we will take a look at high school programs throughout our coverage area as they prepare for the 2016 season.
 

Battlefield

Team: Battlefield
Nickname: Bobcats
Class: 6A North
Conference: Cedar Run Conference 8
Coach: Jay Burkhart
Twitter: @GoBHSBaseball
2015 Record: 16-8
2015 Post Season: Regional Semifinals
Returning Starters/Position: 7
Returning Pitchers: 4

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jake Agnos (LHP/OF, 2016, East Carolina) Agnos is the returning staff ace and had one the best 2015 season in Virginia, posting a 0.65 ERA while striking out 129 batters. Agnos is a 2016 Major League draft prospect with his fastball and breaking ball combination and his developing change-up. Agnos is ranked 11th in the Class of 2016 rankings. Agnos also drove in 22 runs on the season.
Brent Boggs (OF/2B, 2017, VMI) Boggs earned First Team All-Conference honors while hitting .310 in 2015. Boggs is an athletic player with upside at the plate as he grows into his frame and adds power. Boggs is currently ranked 49th in the Class of 2017.
E'lan Goodwin (SS, 2016, Delaware State) Goodwin is an athletic infielder with upside at the plate who earned Second Team All-Conference honors at third base in 2015. Goodwin is ranked 121st in the Class of 2016 rankings.
Oakley Herrewig (OF, 2016) Herrewig is an athletic outfielder and a good defender who emerged at the plate in 2015. He has gap power and showed his speed with 14 stolen bases in 2015.
Keagan McGinnis (RHP, 2016, Virginia Tech) McGinnis has a towering, projectable frame and a potentially big fastball with a good breaking ball. McGinnis earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2015 and is ranked 34th in the Class of 2016 rankings.
Tyler Solomon (C, 2017, Vanderbilt) Solomon is a big switch-hitter with legitimate power from both sides of the plate. As a sophomore in 2015, he hit .397 with five home runs and was walked 33 times. Solomon has a strong arm behind the plate and is currently the second ranked player in the Class of 2017 rankings.

 

SEASON OUTLOOK
The 2015 Bobcats had a strong season, dueling with Patriot into extra innings three times after tying them for first in the regular season. Battlefield eventually took 6A State Champion James Madison into extra innings in the Regional Semifinals before seeing their season come to an end. The 2016 Bobcats bring back most of their team and should be even better this spring. Battlefield’s rotation is stacked and will be led by seniors Agnos, McGinnis, and James Beasley (RHP, 2016). Behind that trio is one of the deepest collections of talented young arms in Virginia. The Bobcat lineup will again be built around Solomon and will be deep this spring with Boggs, Goodwin, Agnos, and Herrewig back. Battlefield will break in a new middle infield this spring, but it will be talented one and the team is strong defensively in other places to allow for a younger infield. With Battlefield’s talent on the mound, athletic defense, and solid lineup, the Bobcats should be one of the strongest teams in 6A this year and have the ability to challenge for the 6A State Championship.

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