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This spring we take a different approach to the unveiling of our Preseason Power25 teams across the commonwealth/DC. Instead of one full release, we will be doing a countdown starting today and running all the way to the beginning of the high school season. Over the course of the next 2.5 weeks, we will be counting down our preseason top 25.

VA/DC Preseason Power25: No. 20 - Bishop DJ O'Connell

Preseason Rank: 20
Level: VISAA D-I / WCAC
Head Coach: Kyle Padgett (7th Season)
2018: 6-11, 5th in the WCAC

Top Players 

Peter Colevas LHP 2019
Eddie Eisert SS/RHP 2020 (NC State, pictured)
Nick Liverpool 1B/RHP 2019 (Belmont Abbey)
 

X-Factor

Jake Berry LHP 2020 (Virginia) / William Pickford RHP 2019 (Virginia Tech) - O'Connell has a deep pitching staff heading into the 2019 spring. One of those keys is the return of Jake Berry, who will return this spring after missing the entirety of 2018. His return will instantly give more depth to the rotation with Colevas. Pickford came on this past summer, showing a nice jump in his velocity and has the potential to be a shut down type arm. If both of these arms can get into proper form for this spring, O'Connell should be in every game played.

Key Players Lost

N/A

Outlook

On paper O'Connel has the makings of a team that could make a nice run this spring in the WCAC. Pitching is going be key as O'Connell looks to have a plethora of depth on their staff that should give this team the opportunity to be in every game played. Leading the way will be 2019 LHP Peter Colevas who evolved into the teams ace last season and will give the team a chance to win every time out on the mound. Also back is LHP Jake Berry, who should form a nice 1-2 combination atop the rotation. Eddie Eisert developed this fall into a powerful arm who should contribute on the mound this year a see plenty of innings as well. William Pickford is another ACC commit in the top four and power arm that could give this team a dynamic staff for O'Connell that could lead to a very interesting spring.  Paul Glenchur should also add some depth to the staff this spring

Scoring runs is going to be the question mark this spring and more than likely play a big factor in how successful 2019 will be. Nick Liverpool and Eisert will be the big returners that should anchor the middle of the lineup. The question will be who will elevate their game outside of these two and contribute. If O'Connell can develop some offensive consistency in 2019, this could be a darkhorse team in the WCAC and challenge in the VISAA postseason as well with the depth of pitching that they have. We think they will be able to put together some runs and the staff will keep them in games and that is why we have them as our No. 20 team in the preseason Power25.

MORE PRESEASON POWER25