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Regions A & B had plenty of talent in 2023 including the 4A state champions coming out of region B. A lot of these teams return key pieces in 2024 to go along with some young talented players you can add into the mix. Will there be a new program hoisting that trophy in early June? Take a look at previews of teams from VHSL 4A Region A & B.

VHSL 4A Region A/B Previews:

Atlee

2023 Record 16-7 

The Raiders have been young for two years and now is the time for them to assert their position in the top tier of teams in VHSL 4A. It will not be an easy task, as their two cross-town foes will be very tough to topple. Noah Yoder (Duke) is one of the best arms in the state, regardless of class, and they have some depth behind him to limit opposing offenses. Aven Stevens (Randolph-Macon) is probably their number two behind Yoder, but there is a contingent of arms nipping at their heels to get some important innings. Jason Perkins is one we have seen this offseason that has the ability to spin it and limit opponents, as well as some young faces like Evan Salapka and Chase Blumberg. How much will the young arms contribute? Time will tell, but they have a handful of sophomore arms that will be depth pieces to build on this year and beyond. Another quality arm that just flat gets outs is Parker McRay. This is one of the few left handers that will probably be a quality inning arm this year and he can limit damage when he is on the mound. The offense is the question mark. The Raiders have not been a big inning production team and that has added some stressful innings to this staff. If they can produce some big innings and get up early it will allow Yoder and Co. to work some easier games and allow them to be fresh deep into the season. Chase Chamberlain will more than likely be a three year starter behind the plate. Will Haynie, Seth Jones, and Cooper Molloy will more than likely anchor the infield. They have some talent and athleticism in the outfield as well. Names like Barrett Bucholz (Virginia), Owen Goble, and Dawson Langhorst are some quality pieces that could contribute out there. All three have had flashes and could see larger roles this year. Most importantly for this team, Bucholz is back healthy and gives them some depth behind the plate and versatile athleticism that they can plug in some different places.

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Caroline

2023 Record 16-11 *Lost in 3A State Championship*

The Caroline Cavaliers will move up to 4A in 2024 after going 16-11 with a state championship appearance in 2023 falling to New Kent. The Cavaliers will have some experienced players returning for 2024 that will help adjust to moving up a class. Baylor Storke (Longwood) could log some big innings for the them, along with being a big piece of the offense as well. Senior Adam Pitts (Paul D Camp) should also contribute on the mound for the Cavaliers. Myles Holmes and Adam Tatham (Richard Bland) will be contributors offensively for Caroline. Caroline will have some pieces that will help them adjust moving back up to 4A in 2024.

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Churchland

2023 Record 14-7

The Churchland Truckers had a solid season with a fairly young team working to a 14-7 record before falling in the region quarterfinals. They return seven starters and four pitchers. Seniors AJ Boone, Carter Richardson, and Jayden Upton-Hall will be the leaders that anchor the middle of the lineup. Junior Nyle Shewmake will contribute after a solid sophomore season. Churchland will have plenty of sophomores to lean on for production with Cameron Duke, Damian Sasser, Evan Jackson, and Gable Jansen. With a lot of experience returning for the Truckers, they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Courtland

2023 Record 18-4

The Cougars had a very strong season in 2023, finishing with a 18-4 record. Like others, their season ended at the hands of the 4A State Champion Hanover Hawks. They had some quality wins, reeling off nine straight before losing in the regional tournament, but it will be tough to take that next step in 2024 after losing staff ace Jackson Garland. They have some quality offensive pieces like Nathan Jackson (Longwood) and Lukas Miller Jr. (JMU), but they will need to figure out how to keep opposing offenses off the bases. We would think that senior left hander Tyler Jackson will play a bigger role on the mound and should throw some big innings, but who will help him out? The lack of a frontline arm and depth on the mound could be what has Courtland taking a step back in 2024.

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Dinwiddie

2023 Record 10-11

The Generals struggled in 2023, closing the season out with a 10-11 record. However, they may have a big arm back in senior Conner Cliborne. Cliborne seems to be healthy and has made some big jumps since last season and could be an important arm for this squad. Dinwiddie was very young in ‘23 and should be better in ‘24, but they still lack depth on the mound and big run producers at the plate. Jackson Wells (Hampden-Sydney) brings the most athleticism, experience, and consistency to the lineup, but they will need to find someone to drive some runs in. Sam Marable and Corbin Dean are two scrappy infielders who have some bat to ball, are tough outs, and can defend. Austin Toombs can contribute with some two-way help, but they will still need to find another piece or two in the lineup to get through the gauntlet that is 4A Region B.

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Gloucester

2023 Record 17-5-1 *Lost in 4A State Quarterfinals*

The Gloucester Dukes went 17-5-1 in the 2023 season making it to the state tournament but falling in the first round to the eventual state champions Cox. Gloucester will have experienced players returning for the 2024 season. Senior Austin Shackelford will look to log a lot of innings for the Dukes on the mound. Dylan Deyoung (CNU), Hank Hardaway, Grayson Shield, Hayden Simmons will be able to provide offense for the Dukes. There is a good mix of guys to see the Dukes back in the state tournament.

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Hanover

2023 Record 20-8  *4A State Champions*

The Hawks are back to back state champions in 4A. In the past two seasons they have seen two players drafted, multiple players move on to the power five level, and still remain on top. 2024 could look different. The Hawks lack the true, upperclass shutdown arm that they have had the past decade. They have one returning arm with VMI commit Evan Nix. Nix is a competitor and you know what you are going to get out of him, but he will need some help. Tavis Spiller, Brady Elrod, Bryce Krines, and TJ Woodson (Baylor) will more than likely be the Hawks’ mound depth. One other name to know is Will Hodges. We are not sure how much the sophomore will contribute, but the stuff has a different feel and we could see him potentially getting some big outs at some point this season and developing as an important long term arm for Hanover. As many question marks as there are on the mound, there are probably as many on the offensive side. The defense and positional players should be solid, but the offense could lack some explosiveness. While they have not always been an explosive offense, they have had the arm talent to limit offenses and that may be where this team may be different. TJ Woodson, Brady Elrod, and Tavis Spiller are the three big names to know in this lineup, but they have some young pieces that could contribute. Grayson Reece, Gabriel Corey, and AJ Kinard are three underclassmen that could see important roles as the season begins. Last name we will throw out there is Mark Holt. The junior right handed hitter is a physical bat that could be a big run producer if he can produce quality contact on a somewhat consistent basis. Not sure where he fits in the plans, but if run production is of value, Holt could potentially provide it.

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Jamestown

2023 Record 14-10 *Lost in 4A State Quarterfinals*

Jamestown returns from a deep run in the 2023 playoffs, ultimately falling to the Hanover Hawks in the state quarterfinals. They return a 2nd Team All-State player in Daniel Schmidt, as well as two arms that should be big inning guys for them. Caleb Ammons (CNU) and Jacob Lawrence (Virginia Wesleyan) could eat some big innings, but when Ammons is on the mound that will potentially leave a large void at shortstop. Ammons and Schmidt should be big contributors on offense, but the depth to that lineup will possibly be what decides how far they take their 2024 season.

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King George

2023 Record 15-8

King George went 15-8 in 2023 before falling in the region quarterfinals. The Foxes graduated a lot of offense, but returned a lot of arms to fill innings on the mound for 2024 despite losing one of their top pitchers Carter Mills to graduation. Seniors Colin Bunch (CNU), Colson Clary, and Tyler Truslow (Bridgewater) could be the arms for the Foxes to rack up innings this spring. Christian Newsome will be able to provide offense, as well provide some important innings on the mound. Hayden Callahan (Richard Bland) should handle the pitching staff behind the plate, and contribute to the offense as well. With a deep pitching staff, the Foxes look to make a push deeper into regional play and potentially a state berth in 2024.

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Mechanicsville

2023 Record 19-5 *Lost in 4A State Quarterfinals*

2023 came to a tough close. The Mustangs had a 19-5 season and reeled off fifteen wins in a row before losing in back to back games in the regional championship and state quarters. However, Mechanicsville is back and ready to finish the job in 2024. Biggest takeaway from this year’s team, they have some of the best arm talent on their roster of any team in the state. Returners Hayden Ways (Randolph-Macon), Braxton Pope, and Kaleb Smith (Liberty) should be anchors to this rotation, but the addition of UVA commit, Jackson Garland, brings a dynamic presence to this staff’s pure stuff. Adding Garland, having those returning pieces, and having some contributions from junior Nick Jones will make this staff hard to deal with. The Mustangs will have to overcome two big offensive losses in Aaron Maxie and Jacob Koenig, both of whom moved on to play at CNU. Cam Lamb (Longwood) brings senior leadership, offense, and can go get it in center. After that there are some unknowns at the plate. Andrew Farrar could be an impact bat, as well as new face Braeden Loving. Gavin Smith (Hampden-Sydney), Cooper Blanchard, Bryson Blake, Diego Aguilera, and Jones could all contribute on the offensive side, but this is what we see as the potential weak spot of this team. Best thing about having some question marks with the offensive side, is when you have the arm talent that they do. The Mustangs are one of the favorites in Region B, and in 4A as a whole.

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Monacan

2023 Record 13-8

The Monacan Chiefs had a 13-8 record before falling in the region quarterfinals in 2023. The Chiefs return a lot of their production in 2024. They return some key innings from Michael Rosa. Two way standouts Turner Johnson (Randolph-Macon) and Aydan Smith will be valuable for the Chiefs on the hill and at the plate. Smith is one of the best uncommitted pitchers in the '25 class and was Chesterfield Player of the Year, as well as selected to 1st Team All-State in 2023. Sean McCord and Jack Sams could be key contributors on offense for the Chiefs. With these returners the Chiefs look to improve in 2024.

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Powhatan

2023 Record 14-7

The Powhatan Indians worked their way to a 14-7 record in 2023. Their season ended after falling to Matoaca in the region quarterfinals. The Indians bring back a ton of experience in 2024. William Tuttle (Randolph Macon) and Hunter Beil (Notre Dame of Maryland) will be seniors that should provide some important leadership and offense for this team, as well as locking down things in the outfield. Ethan Sargent (Roanoke) and Max Altieri could play big roles in the infield and at the plate in 2024. Matthew Layman and Connor Hedgepeth could be two arms they lean on in 2024. Powhatan has some underclass talent as well, but we are not sure where those players fit into the season plans. With some good balance the Indians look to make a deep run in 2024, but the depth of talent in Region B could make that a rough road.

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Smithfield

2023 Record 14-11 *Lost in 4A State Championship*

The Smithfield Packers went 14-11 in 2023 with a state championship appearance. The Packers’ season was ended by the back to back state champs, Hanover. The Packers return seven starters in 2024. Walton Bondurant, Maddax Brown (William Peace), Kelson Sowden, Evan Brobst, Ty Hedgepeth, and Christian Velez (Norfolk State) should be the core of the Packers that will be relied on for a lot of the offense. Underclassmen Nick Gaspar, Ashton Ellis, and Chase Darden will have a chance to contribute for the Packers in 2024. Smithfield has a good mix of players to make another run at the state championship.