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Tuscarora came out of C last year and defeated Amherst, the Region D champions, in the state quarterfinals. Tusky would go on to lose to Smithfield in the semifinals.

How does 2024 shape up? Take a look at team previews in the story below.

VHSL 4A Region C Preview:

General 4C note—-4C is a small region but does feature two districts, the Dulles District and the newly formed Catoctin District. Moving down to Class 4 this year after a spell in the Class 6 Cedar Run District is John Champe 

Broad Run

2023 Record: 10-9

The 2021 Class 4 State Champs had a solid 2023 season before missing the Region Tournament. The Spartans will have to replace graduated ace Andrew Market (James Madison) and are also losing some key bats from the lineup. They do bring back senior Finley Sullivan to the heart of the lineup and a couple of other interesting players who should fight for some playing time in senior Mitchell Young, juniors Aidan Gallagher and Xavier Franzonello, and sophomore Blake Chow, who has had a strong offseason, could be an impact bat sooner rather than later.

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Dominion

2023 Record: 9-10

Dominion had a solid season but missed the Region in 2023. The Titans bring back one of the top players in the Region in senior lefty Cayden Suchy (UConn). Suchy gives them a chance against any opponent and proved last year he can take a game over on the mound. He is also a factor offensively along with senior Ben Florkowski (Eastern Mennonite). Sophomore Jaden Beyer is a developing piece and look for a trio of juniors to contribute in Alex Kruse, Zach Kruse, and Jason Ku.

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Heritage (Leesburg)

2023 Record: 16-8

The Pride went 16-8 in 2023 and 12-2 in the Dulles District, winning the regular season championship and advancing to the Region Tournament, where they fell in extra innings to James Wood. Heritage brings back a pair of strong arms on the mound in the Van Tuyle brothers, Mark is a sophomore and Aaron a junior. Offensively, the Pride will have a deep lineup, again featuring the Van Tuyles, with Aaron coming off of an All-State sophomore season. The lineup is deep with a good surrounding cast including seniors Alec Jones (Roanoke) and Ryan Harrison (Eastern Mennonite) as well as junior shortstop Owen Brundage. Keep an eye on sophomores Cooper Miskelly and Aidan Delaney who will push to earn time in the lineup. The defending Dulles District champs will be strong again and may even be better next year as they seem poised to be at the top of the District for a while.

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John Champe

2023 Record: 7-14

The Knights return to Class 4 after spending the last few years in the Class 6 Cedar Run District. The Knights lose a big bat in Jun Lee to graduation, but they have an interesting group of underclassmen that could start forcing their way into playing time this year as the season progresses. Juniors Trevor Casad and Blake Reavill, as well as sophomores Nick Warner and Bryce Munchel, could form a core to a strong lineup for the next few years, and Warner earned All-District honors as a freshman. Look for a couple of young arms to make their case for innings as well, such as sophomore Ty Kann or freshman Dan Kim.

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Loudoun County

2023 Record: 8-11

Loudoun County makes the move from the Dulles District to the new Catoctin District and will lose reigning District Player of the Year Corey Costello (East Carolina) to graduation along with All-District catcher Matt Starchville (Neumann). There is some interesting talent on the roster and the Captains will challenge in a deep District this year. The headliner in the lineup is toolsy junior Jacob Martin, coming off of All-District honors as a sophomore and showing well at Preseason All-State. Other bats to keep an eye on include junior Brady Shaw and senior Jack Beard (Marymount). Beard should return to his role in the rotation and look for the staff to be filled out with some talented youngsters, including sophomores Matthew Friend and Hudson Longendyke.

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Loudoun Valley

2023 Record: 11-11

The Vikings finished 2023 right at .500 and missed the Region Tournament. They lose senior shortstop and closer Jake Slade (Virginia Tech) to graduation, but do bring some key pieces back. Junior lefty Davis Bush had a very good sophomore season and will be back to top the rotation. Seniors Ian Valenti (Grove City) and Alex Johnson and sophomore Landon Bauer figure to be key pieces in the lineup as well this spring.

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Tuscarora

2023 Record: 22-4 *Lost in VHSL 4A State Semifinals*

The 2023 4C Region Champs are coming off of a magical season, but they lost a trio of key players in shortstop and closer Bauer Burkhart (Marshall), second basemen and No. 2 starter Colin Keel (Bridgewater), and catcher Braydon Kelman (Frederick CC). Despite those losses, the Huskies welcome new skipper Noah Lacy to the dugout with what has a chance to be a dynamic duo on the mound. Senior lefty Brendan Cowen (Virginia Tech) was dominant in 2023 as a junior and is a contender for Pitcher of the Year in Virginia this season. Junior lefty Ashton Peshke (Maryland) wasn’t leaned on much this year but has the stuff and potential to have a breakout season. Offensively, sophomore infielder Connor Quill (Virginia Tech) will look to build off of a spectacular freshman season as he becomes the centerpiece in the lineup. Seniors Nick Sheehan and Isaac McIntosh and junior Mike Kozikowski will surround Quill and are poised to build on strong 2023s. Last year’s Huskies were a pitching and defense team that got the big hit when they needed it and this team is structured the same way, look for Cowen, Peshke, and Quill to carry them back into State Tournament contention this spring.

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Woodgrove

2023 Record: 8-12

The 2021 Class 5 State Runners-up are coming off of a transitional year as they join the newly-formed Catoctin District. The Wolverines will need to replace top arm Charlie Krebs (Marshall) in the rotation as well as multiple spots in the lineup. Junior outfielder Patrick Lyons will be one of the headliners for the offense that should see contributions from seniors Tino Saporito, Alex McClellan, and Tyler Payne. Senior Joseph Nielsen will top the rotation this year, and keep an eye on freshman Bryan Miller, who could force his way into a role.

VHSL 4A Region D Preview:

Amherst

2023 Record: 20-4 *Lost in VHSL 4A State Quarterfinals*

A 20-4 record and a trip to the state tournament would be the outcome of the 2023 season. Of their four losses, three of them came via one run games, including their state quarterfinal loss to James Wood. However, the Lancers lost nine seniors from that team, including two big pieces in Nick Dawson (Bridgewater) and Christian “Flip” Harris (Bridgewater). Amherst does return one of the top players in the state with Dalton Wentz (South Carolina). Wentz was an All-State selection as a pitcher (2nd) and shortstop (1st) in 2023 and should be the backbone of this Lancers club as a senior. Nick Dawson’s production and consistency on the mound will be hard to replace, but sophomore Jayden Davis has the stuff to have a breakout season in 2024. Davis and Wentz will be the two dynamic offensive threats in this lineup and will need some help in order to get back to the state tournament in 2024.

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EC Glass

2023 Record: 14-8

The EC Glass Hilltoppers had a solid 2023 season with a 14-8 record with their season ending in a heartbreaker in the region semifinals on a walk off against Amherst. The Hilltoppers pitched to a 1.12 ERA in 2023. They will have to replace innings from Michael Harpster. Cooper Campbell (VCU) and Ryan Litchford will be two arms that will be returning with double digit innings. Tyler Ruhl should be a staple in the Hilltoppers lineup with a possibility of taking on a bigger role on the mound in the spring. With solid pitching depth the EC Glass looks to make a deep playoff run in 2024.

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Halifax County

2023 Record: 19-5

The Comets finished 2023 with a record of 19-5 and their season ended in a tough one run game to the hands of EC Glass. Halifax had a strong start, only losing one game before May, but would stumble a little down the stretch. They dropped four straight in the first two weeks of May, before being defeated by the Hilltoppers a few weeks later. Halifax returns five starters with senior standouts Mason Hatcher (Radford), Colin Mabe (Hampden-Sydney), and Aaron Crutchfield. A trio of sophomores in Carter Thomasson, Garrison Colwell, and Logan Clark will be enormous parts of this team’s journey if they want to get back to the state tournament. Clark can provide valuable two-way talent and Thomasson should be the anchor behind the plate. The district could potentially be a little lighter in arm talent than year’s past, but they will have to fight through some tough arms to make it through regionals.

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James Wood

2023 Record: 20-5 *Lost in VHSL 4A State Semifinals*

James Wood, the past two seasons, has made its presence known in VHSL 4A. In 2022 they made it to the state championship game and 2023 they made it to the state semifinals, both seasons losing to the back to back state champions, Hanover. After all of their success these past few seasons, they will have a lot of arm talent to replace in 2024 as the move from Region 4C to Region 4D. Nick Bell and Colin McGuire have moved on to their respective ODAC schools and the Colonels will need some arms to step up in their absence. Three names to look out for are Garett McAlexander, Cade Cornwell, and Brock Whipkey. There will probably be some others in the mix, but those three will more than likely take a big chunk of those innings. Although they have some arm talent to replace, James Wood does return three upperclass offensive pieces in Kemper Omps, Trevor Strosnider (Paul D. Camp), and John Copenhaver. Omps should lock down center, as well as the top of the lineup, with fellow All-Region teammate Copenhaver handling the pitching staff behind the plate. While Omps and Copenhaver have their roles, the Colonels will need to have some run production in the middle and that is where Strosnider fits in. Upperclass leadership will be key for this team as they sift their way through the season trying to find the depth on the mound to carry them back to the state tournament.

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Jefferson Forest

2023 Record: 13-8

The Jefferson Forest Cavaliers worked their way to a 13-8 record falling to Louisa in the first round of regionals. They will be returning five starters and three pitchers for the 2024 season. Cayden Janney (VMI), Michael Rowlands (Lynchburg), and Connor Lane could be arms that log a lot of innings for the Cavaliers. Nate Pyle, Adam Massie, and Landon Mitchell could be big contributors offensively. Beckett Gilleland and Bryce Tolbert are two underclassmen that could be contributors. The Cavaliers have solid pieces all around that could help improve in 2024 and give them a strong playoff run.

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Salem (Roanoke)

2023 Record: 15-9 

The Salem Spartans had a younger roster in 2023 and lost in the first round of regionals despite playing their way to a 15-9 record. In 2024 they return a lot of their roster and that experience could lead them to an improved 2024 season. Senior Caleb Furmage (Marshall) was a vital piece to the Spartans behind the plate and in the middle of the lineup and should be the same in 2024. Trace Monroe (VMI) will be returning for his junior season after a first team all district pitcher and outfield selection in 2023. Junior Carter Black was also a key contributor for the Spartans in 2023 that will be returning. Sophomore Brayden White got some experience in the infield for the Spartans as a freshman. He should play a key role defensively and in the Spartans lineup.