2022 VHSL Preview: Region 5A
March 7, 2022
As the season approaches, we will go around the Commonwealth and DC and preview the action to come this spring, our first full season since 2019. In each preview, we will breakdown how teams qualify for the Region Tournaments, the Top Prospects in each Region, and Teams to Watch.
In 2021, Region A Champ Frank Cox defeated Region C Champ Woodgrove to capture the Class 5 State Championship. Mills Godwin won Region B and Mountain View won Region D in the 2021 season, earning State Tournament berths. Region runners-up were First Colonial, Glen Allen, Riverside, and Albemarle.
Realignment has hit Class 5 pretty hard this year as most of the Regions look very little like they did last year. Regions 5C and 5D were combined into the new Region 5D. The Richmond schools that made up Region 5B are now together in 5C. Finally, what had been a massive Region 5A of Peninsula and Beach schools has now been split in half into the new 5A and 5B.
The Region 5A tournament is an eight-team tournament that uses power points to seed it.
TOP PROSPECTS
5A
| Name | High School | Position | Year | Commitment |
| Jerry Barnes III | First Colonial | C | 2022 | William & Mary |
| Ethan Blakeney | Bayside | OF/RHP | 2023 | |
| Riley DeCandido | Frank Cox | 1B | 2023 | Maryland |
| Austin Irby | Frank Cox | 3B | 2024 | East Carolina |
| Michael Irby | Frank Cox | RHP | 2023 | East Carolina |
| Austin Jones | Hickory | OF | 2023 | |
| Cooper Newell | Hickory | RHP | 2022 | James Madison |
| Anthony Roszko | Indian River | RHP/1B | 2022 | Old Dominion |
TEAMS TO WATCH
5A
First Colonial
With one of the best catchers in the state in William & Mary commit Jerry Barnes, First Colonial is primed for another deep run in 5A. They have a deep lineup of arms starting with Randolph-Macon commit William Wian. Wian is accompanied by Ryan Northup (Mary Washington) and David Fall. Those three have a chance to log a lot of the innings, but could potentially get some help from two-way Hampden-Sydney commit Jacob Genzler and Jason Bosher. Offensively Barnes should lead the way and will be joined by athletic middle infielder Alec Aguilar (King) and Dylan Northup (Mary Washington). The Patriots are a well coached team, do the little things well, and have the arms to compete. Look for the historically talent rich beach team to make a run in 5A.
Frank Cox
The 2021 State Champs lost essentially their whole team to graduation so Cox will have a lot of holes to fill, especially on the offensive side. The Falcons return infielders Thomas White and Austin Irby (East Carolina) and should benefit from Michael Irby’s power in the middle. A transfer addition that could help the Falcon roster replace its losses is infielder Riley DeCandido (Maryland). Towards the end of 2021, Michael Irby (East Carolina) became Cox’s go to arm and was nothing short of magnificent in their state title run. He returns with an enormous amount of experience to help guide Cox back to the playoffs. Accompanying Irby will be Dylan Blazer (CNU). The Falcons have a lot to replace, but with the talent on the mound they should have a chance to make another run into June.
Hickory
The Hawks will have to fill the void that was left from power right handed arm and bat of Zackary Chadwell (High Point). In addition to losing Chadwell, Hickory will replace middle infielder John Pascale and Thomas Watermolen. The Hickory offense should not skip much of a beat with the continued presence of Spencer Sigmon (Bridgewater), Jacob Smith (UVA-Wise), Cooper Newell (JMU), Austin Jones, and Keegan and Zachary Megaro. Another name to know is uncommitted 2022 RHP Bobby Loper. Loper flashed signs of brilliance in front of our staff last spring and could be a potential nice late pickup that should log some big innings for the Hawks.