As the season approaches, we will go around the Commonwealth and DC and preview the action to come this spring, our first full season since 2019. In each preview, we will breakdown how teams qualify for the Region Tournaments, the Top Prospects in each Region, and Teams to Watch.

2021 saw Independence capture the State Championship out of Region 3B, defeating Region D champ Abingdon. Other Region champs were Lafayette from Region A and Liberty Christian from Region C. Independence has moved up to Class 5 so there will be a new champ in Class 3 this spring. Region runners-up that would have made the State Tournament in a normal year include Colonial Heights, Brentsville, Broadway, and William Byrd.

Region C and Region D use a 10-team bracket for its Region tournament, with the bottom four teams in each Region having to play each other to get into the quarterfinals. 

 

TOP PROSPECTS 

 

3C/3D

Name	High School	Position	Year	Commitment
Ben Blair	Liberty Christian	RHP	2023	Liberty
Andrew Burns	Liberty Christian	3B	2022	Liberty
Dominick Cafferillo	Charlottesville	C	2024
Bryce Cooper	Cave Spring	RHP	2022	VMI
Connor Fuhrman	Lortd Botetourt	OF	2022	South Carolina
Ethan Gibson	Abingodn	SS	2023	Virginia Tech
John Glasscock	Fluvanna Co.	RHP	2023	West Virginia
Joe Gomez	Fluvanna Co.	RHP/SS	2023	VCU
Bransen Hensley	Broadway	SS	2024	West Virginia
Noah Hertzler	Broadway	RHP	2022	William & Mary
Sullivan Holmes	Liberty Christian	RHP	2022	Liberty
Raymond Ladd	Tunstall	RHP	2023
Trey Ludy	Cave Spring	SS/RHP	2023
Micah Matthews	Turner Ashby	OF/RHP	2025	South Carolina
Owen Prince	Lord Botetourt	OF	2022	VMI
Caden Richter	Fort Defiance	OF	2023	Dayton
John Simmons	Liberty Christian	3B	2023	Liberty
Hunter Sipe	William Byrd	LHP	2022	VMI

TEAMS TO WATCH

 

3C

Broadway
The Broadway Gobblers have one of the more electric arms in the western portion of the state with William & Mary commit Noah Hertzler. Hertzler has a chance to carry the inning load for Broadway and when he is on, he is as good as any arm around. They lose a big offensive piece in Bryce Suters, who is now down the road at JMU. If some young bats like Bransen Hensley (West Virginia) and company can manufacture some runs, then look for the Gobblers to challenge in Region 3C. 

Fluvanna
The Flucos bring back one of the best 1-2 punches on the mound in the entire state. WVU commit JJ Glasscock and VCU commit Joe Gomez have the stuff to shut down any opponent on any day. The pair of ‘23 arms will need some help from their bats if they want to hang with some of the firepower in their region. 

Liberty Christian
One of the more complete teams in the state resides in Lynchburg. Liberty Christian returns a strong contingency of experience, depth on the mound, and offensive firepower. Sullivan Holmes (Liberty), Benjamin Blair (Liberty), Ben Blondino (King), Will Palmer, Lane Duff, and Matt Vine give them a very deep pitching staff that is a nice mix of youth, experience, and high level stuff. The lineup is nothing to sneeze at either. Senior leaders in Logan Duff (Randolph-Macon), Tanner Thomas (Longwood), Dillon Stowers, and Andrew Burns (Liberty) should anchor the lineup. 2021 Future Games alum John Simmons (Liberty) brings plenty of versatility with the bat and he should continue to be a driving force in the LCA lineup. 

Spotswood
Noah Burtner (Bluefield) and Benjamin Moyer should be two of the leading arms for the Blazers this spring. Couple those two arms to go along with the athleticism and versatility of Shenandoah commit Luke Keister and the strong bat and defensive ability of Witt Scafidi, Spotswood has a chance to make a run in Class 3.

 

3D

Abingdon
The 2021 Falcons were unblemished until falling in the State Championship game to Independence. The top of Abingdon's lineup has graduated as well with the departures of Chase Hungate (VCU), Luke Francisco (Carson-Newman), and Caleb Collins as well as regular starters Brody Dotson, and Jake O'Quinn. Hungate was also one of the Falcons' top two arms last spring. Back for 2022 for Abingdon will be seniors Ethan Ketron and Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech), both of whom are two way contributors and look to jump up the order and top the rotation for Abingdon this spring.

Lord Botetourt
The Cavaliers had a solid 2021 finishing with a winning record before falling in the Region tournament to Tunstall. Carson Peggins, Matt Oliver, and Luke Richards have graduated, taking away LB's top two arms from 2021 as well as three starters. The core of the lineup does return for one more season with a trio of seniors at the center of it in Connor Fuhrman (South Carolina), Owen Prince (VMI), and Nate Prince (Roanoke). If Botetourt can figure out its pitching, that middle of the lineup will make them trouble in the postseason.

Tunstall
The Trojans reached the Region semifinals in 2021 after capturing a share the Piedmont District title, ultimately falling to Abingdon. A big part of their success last year was the emergence of 2023 Raymond Ladd on the mound, and he will be back to anchor the rotation. Offensively, Dylan Young and Hunter Yeatts have graduated, but senior Elijah Byrd (Ferrum) and Caulier Barker returns to the lineup this spring, while sophomore Carter Richardson could move up the order as well this spring.

William Byrd
The Terriers capped off a great 2021 season by reaching the Region Championship game and only falling in a walk-off to an unbeaten Abingdon team. Graduation did a number of Byrd, taking Tyler Dean (Virginia Tech), Isaac Fix (Dayton), and Dylan Hatfield (Virginia Tech) off of their roster and not only taking three bats out of their lineup but a dangerous one-two punch on the mound. Byrd does bring back senior lefty Hunter Sipe (VMI) to move into the top spot of the rotation this spring.