2022 VHSL Preview: Regions 4C/4D

Broad Run
The 2021 State Champs lost just once during the season and won a pair of tight games in the State Tournament to capture the crown. Graduation is going to impact the Spartans, costing them ace and impact bat Connor Hale (Villanova) as well as Adam Chow, Tyler Morley, Joe Ferguson, Jake Flicker (Wilson College), and Matt Mizelle. Banners fly forever, and the Spartans do bring back some pieces this year which should allow them to compete to defend their District, Region, and State Titles. Junior righty Andrew Market emerged as a solid number 2 option last spring and should see that role expand. Senior lefty Ethan Walker was also reliable in 2021 and should see more work with Hale's graduation. With a solid rotation in place and Will Snyder likely to slide up into the middle of the order, watch for a young Spartan lineup to improve as the season goes on and be ready for another playoff run.

Heritage (Leesburg)
The Pride had a very strong 2021 season and went to the Region tournament before falling in a walk-off. Heritage loses one of its top arms with the graduation of Ryan Sloyer but the Pride does bring back an interesting group of senior arms this spring to lead a rotation that has a chance to be really good. Josh Rivera (UMBC) has ace stuff and a chance to compete for Region Pitcher of the Year. Nick Harris (Bridgewater) and Thomas Burgess (Roanoke) add a pair of quality depth arms to go opposite Rivera and fill in with him as well. Offensively, junior Colin Shue hit in the middle of the lineup in 2021 and should again this spring, also look for Tyler Galloway to move up the lineup and be a bigger factor.

James Wood
The Colonels had a strong 2021 season, winning the Northwestern District and reaching the Region Championship game, getting cheated out of a State Tournament trip by Covid. Graduation will impact JW this spring, gutting the middle of its offense with the departures of Kaden Spaid (Davis & Elkins), Jayden Nixon, and Aden Payne. Spaid also was in the mix on the mound in 2021. Despite those losses, there is plenty of talent on the roster for the 2022 season. Offensively, a trio of seniors return  and will be the core of the offense in Brody Bower (Eastern), Bodie Pullen (Shepherd), and Jacob Roy (Davis & Elkins). Looks for juniors Colin McGuire and Nick Bell to have a chance to be in the mix on the mound.

Kettle Run
The Cougars had a good 2021 and narrowly missed a Region Tournament berth. They will be young on the mound this spring outside of senior Harrison Yergey, but Yergey should be able to anchor the top of the rotation for them. The lineup also lost some to graduation but brings some key pieces back. Yergey has pop in his bat and will be joined again by seniors JJ Mulhern and Jacob Ascari (West VA Weslyan). Keep an eye on sophomore Connor Adair this spring, he could be an x-factor for the Kettle Run offense.

Loudoun Valley
The Vikings lost Aaron Lautenschlager (Randolph-Macon) to graduation, taking away a top arm and the centerpiece of their 2021 offense. Watch for the 2022 Vikings to challenge for a Region berth. Junior Jake Slade (Virginia Tech) is poised for a big season and he and Morgan Miller (Eastern Mennonite) will create a pretty good combo up the middle. Junior RHP Owen Buckley could be a breakout player for Valley this spring.

Millbrook
The Pioneers were a Regional semifinalist in 2021 and were eliminated by the eventual State Champs. The will suffer a massive loss with the graduation of Yogie Hartigan (George Mason) and will also lose Harrison Madagan from the heart of the lineup. A big part of Pioneers success in 2021 was the breakout season had by 2022 RHP Jerrod Jenkins (Dallas Baptist), who will be back for his senior season. Super-athletic senior infielder Ethan Burgreen (Shepherd) also returns as does Carl Keenan to a lineup that should again challenge for a State Tournament trip.