VHSL Class 5 Region B Preview

Atlee
Atlee had a major offensive loss in Zackary Beach (Coastal Carolina) and key pitchers Ryan Mabry (Louisburg JC) and Justin Woodall (Hampden-Sydney). The Raiders return infielders Hayden Harris (Longwood) and Gavin Bralley that will join the big bat of Tyler Warren in the lineup. Watch for Brett Alvis to make some 2-way contributions for Atlee this year. This will be a bit of a rebuilding year for Atlee, but if Harris and Warren can get get the train rolling for the Raiders the young guys may just fill the voids they need. Biggest question mark for Atlee this year...Who is going to fill some much needed innings on the mound?

Clover Hill
Young, talented, and fun to watch in 2019. That trend should continue in 2020. Cory Adams, David Coppedge (UVA), and Kendall Cross should lead a once again young, but talented bunch this spring. Talented 2022’s Clark Driscoll, Cam Mazell, and Will Maloney gained some experience on the varsity team last year and should be solid contributors this year along with new addition Reese Hamilton. This year's team has plenty of athleticism and a little more depth with interchangeable pieces like Griffin Graham and Bryce Adams. How far this team can go will depend greatly upon how well the pitching staff develops, but with a little more depth on the mound in the form of 2020 Chase Cashion, 2022 Reese Hamilton, 2022 Will Maloney, 2021 Cory Adams, and 2021 Griffin Graham the Cavaliers could make a run in Region 5B.

Douglas Freeman
Coming off of a 11-10 season in 2019 the Rebels will need to replace their ace Alec Erickson (Roanoke) and their shortstop Liam Simpson (Richmond). Those two have been big parts of the program for the past few years and will be missed, but Freeman has a nice mixture of youth and experience that could help the Rebels get back to form this spring. The infield will be solid with guys like senior Ashwin Suresh (Washington & Lee) and sophomore Benjamin Macho Santiago. Those two along with junior Andrew Bland will contribute to an offense that should be able to produce some runs for a somewhat young inexperienced pitching staff in 2020. Junior Will Lynch should play a prominent role on the mound for Freeman this spring. If Lynch and the rest of the staff can keep the defense involved then the Rebels could challenge in 5B this spring.

Deep Run
The Wildcats lost a wealth of talent and experience from last year's team and will return only a few contributors from that group. Scott Sweeney (Christopher Newport), Nick Noonan, and Drew Larsen will be key offensive pieces for the 2020 team along with newcomer Jesse Robinson Jr. (VCU). Ryan Carroll threw some big innings for the Wildcats last year and is one of the few experienced arms that is returning, but Deep Run has another newcomer that has a chance to make some noise on the mound for them and that is Pedante Severino. Deep Run will again have a chance to compete for 5B, but will they be able to fill in some glaring holes that their talented senior class left may determine their success.

LC Bird
The Skyhawks return offensive pieces in Jordan Banks, Micah Taylor, and Sebastian Ziegler that should anchor a somewhat inexperienced lineup. Gavin Burton (Virginia Wesleyan) will anchor a staff that should have some more depth, but same as the lineup they lack experience after him. The Skyhawks should be a little deeper across the roster, but will the young talent be able to get up to speed on the varsity level before playoff time. 

Manchester
The Lancers are coming down from Class 6 this spring to join Class 5. In 2019, they put together a winning season and reached the 6B tournament, falling in the quarterfinals to eventual State Tournament participant Colonial Forge. Manchester lost a lot to graduation, including All-State arm Zane Eggleston (Longwood). There is some talent returning, with senior Eli Wilmoth (Virginia Wesleyan) leading the way. Junior catcher Preston Robbins has an intriguing bat and should see a chance to contribute, and sophomore Dylan Jones is a high-end talent who should see his two-way role increase this spring. Junior Clay Scott should see his innings load increase and freshman Lucas Hoyes will be an interesting player to follow who could force his way into some playing time.

Matoaca
With minimal losses from the 2019 Warriors, Matoaca has a chance to be back to the Matoaca of old this spring. Coach Fred Stoots is back in the driver’s seat at Matoaca and will look to once again be a force in Region 5B. The Warriors bring back LaTroy Whitaker (Radford), Brandon Arrowood, and Chase Garrett on the mound to anchor a staff that has plenty of experience and the potential to shut down opposing offenses.The lineup will be anchored by the left handed bat of Lucas Carmichael (William & Mary) and one of the best power bats in the area in Tanner Clements. If the Warriors can figure out the offensive pieces to surround Carmichael and Clements they may have a shot at making a run in 5B.

Midlothian
The Trojans had a very nice 2019 season, losing to eventual state champion Lafayette in the state quarterfinals. Midlothian will have to replace the bats of Carson Fuller, Camdton Furman (Randolph-Macon), and Logan Smith (Randolph-Macon). Furman and Smith were also battery mates so the eventual successors of those two spots will have big shoes to fill. However, the Trojans still have a wealth of talent and experience returning this spring in the form of Christian Chambers (JMU), Carter Lovasz (William & Mary), Hunter Beck, and Alex Kyte (Mary Washington). With the addition of 2021 Connor Schumann (Old Dominion), that group has plenty of pieces to try to capture a region title and state berth in 2020.

Mills Godwin
The Eagles came up a little short of bringing home a Class 5 State Title last year. They will have to figure out some things after a massive overhaul from their 2019 class, but they have a couple of key pieces in Bryce Safferwich (JMU) and Josh Trentadue (Southern Virginia) that should be the leaders for this year's Mills Godwin team. There is some talent underneath, as there usually is in the Godwin program, but they lack experience on the varsity level. How quickly they get up to speed may determine the Eagles’ success in 2020. 

Prince George
Prince George will need to replace the offensive production of Michael Dolberry (Longwood) and Justin Starke (VMI), but outside of those two they have a lot of offensive firepower returning. Trent Steward, Jacob Farrar (VMI), Quincy Sippio (Paul D. Camp CC), Kolby Birchett (Randolph-Macon), and Dylan Bowen will have a chance to lead the top half of the lineup this year for the Royals. Production on the mound will likely come in the forms of Dylan Barber and Konner Eaton. Both of them have the stuff to keep offenses at bay, but the big question is who will fill roles and innings behind them. If the Royals can fill some possible voids on the mound they should have the athleticism and offensive firepower to challenge in Class 5 once again.