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The 2023 VHSL 3A State Champion came from Region A and the runner-up was a Region B team. With Caroline, the 2023 runner-up, moving up to 4A, who could fill their shoes and challenge New Kent and some others for a state championship game berth? See what you can expect from the teams out of VHSL 3A Regions A & B. 

VHSL 3A Region A/B Previews:

Brentsville District

2023 Record: 18-5 *Lost in VHSL 3A State Quarterfinals*

Region 3B is usually a two to three team race and Brentsville District is poised to be in serious contention to win that race in 2024 with a new skipper at the helm. The Tigers return eight starters from a 18-5 team, but will need to figure out where the big innings on the mound will come from. Charlie Monfort will certainly be one of the names to follow on the mound for the Tigers, but will need a strong supporting cast behind him. Connor Lyle, Jeffrey Cook, and Luke Albright could be three contributors to those innings, as well as potential offensive contributors. JJ Hand (ODU), Wyatt Dye, Lucas Johnson (Methodist), and Austin Harris are four of the big offensive pieces for Brenstville.

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Culpeper

2023 Record: 9-13

The Blue Devils finished 9-13 in 2023, but return all nine starters from last season and a vast majority of the entire roster. In addition to the offensive lineup coming back, they also return five arms. Senior Logan Fox should anchor the outfield and pace the offense at the top. Three juniors that should be big pieces of the Culpeper puzzle are Gavin Alvarado, Job Sheads, and Kahner Moss all have their own strengths, but all three are important pieces to the offense. Tyrus Nobbs was staff ace as a freshman and is ready to make the sophomore leap. Adam Gessler should join him to make a really solid one-two punch on the mound. Clayton Golden could see some important innings behind those two and add depth to the staff.

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Fauquier

2023 Record: 4-15

The Falcons are coming off of a down year after a long run of contention near the top of the Northwestern District. This year they will slide down from Class 4 to Class 3 for the postseason, while still playing their standard District schedule. The 2024 edition of the Falcons have some interesting bats to keep an eye on that should anchor the lineup. Junior Matthew Graham is back in the program and in the heart of the lineup, and juniors Bo Green, Eli Bynaker, and Eli Rittenhouse have shown power and athleticism and should make the core of a solid lineup. Sophomore Bo Finkbeiner has a ton of raw power and could carve out a role as well. Look for seniors Hunter Gray and Jacob Curtis (Cleveland CC) to top the rotation and watch for Finkbeiner to contribute here as well.

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Grafton

2023 Record: 14-8

Grafton finished 2023 with a 14-8 record, losing in the regional quarterfinals. The Clippers lost seven starters from last year’s club and will have a lot of offense to replace. Colton Sandiford will be the household name for this Grafton team. The junior outfielder is a two time All-Region player and was Honorable Mention All-State. Noah Secrist, Austin McGraw, and David Smith are seniors that should help lighten the load for the Clippers. Luke Wilz is another junior that should contribute in big ways in 2024, at the plate and on the mound.

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Kettle Run  

2023 Record: 12-7

2023 saw Kettle Run win the Northwestern District and advance to the Region 4C tournament before falling in a tight game to a tough Tuscarora team in the semifinals and narrowly missing a State Tournament trip in Class 4. Graduated off of that team are pitcher Damen Tapscott (Eastern Mennonite) and bat JJ Mulhern (Ferrum). Like its rival, Fauquier, Kettle Run will also slide down to Class 3 for the playoffs after their Northwestern District schedule plays out, and the Cougars should be among the favorites in the Region. Junior RHP Jake Mulhern is back after pitching well in a ton of big games as a sophomore, he has a chance to be a true ace for Kettle Run. Offensively, junior Nate Wiles (Mount St. Mary's) will again be the centerpiece of the offense. Senior Logan Overhulser (Paul D. Camp) should be a contributor as well, and keep an eye on a core group of juniors that includes Sam Linebaugh and Tyler Thorpe as well as Mulhern that should give Kettle Run a deep lineup top to bottom to go with an ace this spring.

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Meridian

2023 Record: 16-6 

The Mustangs had a strong season in 2023 and were poised to make a trip to the State Tournament until they fell at home to eventual State Runners-up Caroline in the Region semifinals. Meridian has a pretty important piece back in its top senior arm, Grant Greiner, who earned First Team All-Region honors last year and had a strong showing during summer showcase tournaments as well. Fellow senior Alessio Azimipour will also return to the rotation along with Greiner. The Mustangs lost a key bat in Josh Wattles to graduation, but do bring back Greiner, who makes an impact at the plate as well as on the mound. He will be joined in the order by battery mate and returning All-Region honoree, Zander Greene. Junior infielder Mason Duval will also return after garnering All-Region honorees and Atticus Kim is also back off of a strong season. Look for the Mustangs to again be around late in the season in a much deeper Region in 2024.

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New Kent

2023 Record: 21-5-1 *VHSL 3A State Champions*

The 2023 defending State Champion New Kent Trojans are back and ready to defend their title. Seniors Carson Seely (Richard Bland CC) and Hunter Jesse are back for the Trojans, along with many other contributors from their championship season. Seely was 1st Team All-State Outfielder and 2nd Team All-State pitcher. Tyler Warren, Dillon Mickles, Michael Hetzel, R. Matthew Gentry, Nile Gammon, Lane Boyette, and Thomas Wilson were all contributors in 2023 and return for a repeat in 2024. They have depth, experience, and talent, as well as are in a region that is a little bit down. Look for New Kent as strong favorites to win Region 3A and make a state title push once again.

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Skyline

2023 Record: 13-10

The Hawks shook off an early May swoon in 2023 to charge in the playoffs to the Region Semifinals before seeing their season come to an end. They lose a key piece in shortstop Sam Barber to graduation, but they have plenty back and are poised to be dangerous this spring. On the mound, the rotation will be led and anchored by senior Ryan Curl (Lynchburg), who might have one of the best change-ups in the northern portion of the Commonwealth. Senior Ian Talbott (Eastern Mennonite) will also be in the rotation. Offensively, brothers Cameron and Cayden Morris (Alleghany College) return off of All-Region honors, and sophomore middle infielder Cameron Kerns will be back off of earning First Team All-Region honors as a freshman.

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Tabb

2023 Record: 9-12

A healthy and talented arm is always important for a high school team’s success and Tabb has one of their own. Kaiden Takahashi-Trader (Longwood) should be staff ace and arguably the best arm in Region 3A. He should be joined by Jake Mutter and Owen Reeves. Those three will need some help to fill out the lineup and provide additional innings on the mound if they want to make it out of Region 3A.

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William Monroe

2023 Record: 12-10

The Dragons were looking really good as the playoffs approached in 2023 before finishing the season on three-game losing stretch and losing in the first round of the Region Tournament. Senior ace Lance Williams (East Carolina) has graduated and will leave a hole in the rotation and lineup for Monroe. Monroe does bring back an All-State hitter in junior middle infielder Parker Hildebrand as well senior outfielder Talan Shifflett, who is coming off of All-Region honors, and senior Jamal Neal. An interesting face for William Monroe this spring could be freshman righthander Nolan Lamm, one of the top ranked players in his class in Virginia/DC at this point in the process.