Baseball in Virginia

Lake Braddock

I'd ask the person to further explain their definition of "best program".  Do they want the school with the most wins?  Coach with the most wins?  Most District or Region appearances?  Most state titles?  The best coaching job for a team without the notoriety?  Public vs. private?   Last 5 years vs. 30 years?  You know there is no one answer to that question so further definition of the question is where I would start.

okay, "PROGRAMS" consistently playing at a high caliber, or having consistent winning seasons at championship level or just winning seasons.  Years no matter most of us will know.  I was just curious what school names would come off of peoples tongue and as to why.  Private or public. 

For example :

Colonial Forge would be "ONE OF THE TOP" in my opinion.. always consistently winning, players going to the next level, good fundamental coaching, i think 10 championship games in 14 years.  

Since 2007, Cosby and James River qualify as two of the top 5 programs.  2007 was both Cosby's first year, and JR's first year under the current head coach (resulting in the first of two consecutive state titles).  In terms of consistency, Cosby has the edge.  JR is the one with the two state titles and four final four appearances over the past 7 seasons, but JR failed to make regionals twice in between while Cosby has never failed to advance to regionals in its program's history.  Both programs have had scores of players go on to college ball and some pro drafts in there as well.

Hanover might belong on a top 10 list, though IMHO some of their perennial success is fueled by the weak level of competition in the Capital District.  I could say the same for Matoaca in the Central District.

Used to be that Madison (Vienna) was always in the discussion, but in recent years it seems like things rotate around up there in NoVa more.  West Springfield, Lake Braddock and some others have challenged up there in maybe 2 out of every 3 seasons.

Same in the Eastern Region.  Great Bridge, Western Branch, Princess Anne, Menchville and others have all had their top years.  I'm not sure who could lay claim to being there virtually every year.

I think I would also put South County on the list- if looking at NOVA schools.  They have only been open for 8 years.  5 district championships, 1 regional and 2 state appearances.

How about in the private schools with Benedictine or Paul VI Catholic?

For you southern schools, watch out for Madison this year, they're back. They have a date Monday with Lake Braddock if both win tonight.  

You can add Hylton and Battlefield in the Northwest Region and Oakton and Westfield in the Northern Region. So basically there are a lot of "great baseball programs" in the state.

If you look at these public school programs, they all have excellent feeder systems (Little League and or travel ball) in place before these kids get to high school.

Since you are discussing baseball and HS programs...what do you think next year will be like for these schools with power ratings and confereces, 6 state titles?? Will it be better then the current system, or will it take a few years to work the kinks out?? 

Both programs are consistently very competitive.

In the VISSA Division 2 I'd say Greenbrier Christian and Atlantic Shores

Battlefield and the newest on the block Patriot HS

I don't know that I would call it better.  Here's what I do think.  I think the division of the current system into 6 classifications will unveil other very good programs who flash from time to time, but play in brutal districts.

For example, the Southeastern, Dominion, and say the Patriot up north;  Those three districts have between 3-5 very high quality programs each and every year.  Only two can even make it out of their district.  Then they may have a tough matchup in the 1st round of regionals.

I think the new system will benefit programs like a Nansemond River, Hanover, Dinwiddie, and others like them, in regards to wins and losses.  They have been extremely competitive, strong programs the last number of years and will now be playing to their enrollment in 4A.

ie, you won't have a Great Bridge, Western Branch, Hickory, Nansemond River, and this year Grassfield, truly battling for two sports.  Whether one views that as "better" or not, is a matter of perspective.

If I had a very good ballplayer 8th grade and younger (talent based more on potential rather than current ability*) and was moving into Northern Virginia I would Look at LB and Westfield.  Lake Braddock because Rutherford puts in the time to maintain his program.  He is very active with the younger kids.  Westfield because they have the best facilities and money to maintain them.  I think Walsh is leaving so not sure who the new coach would be. 

*  I have seen to many Little League All-Stars who have topped out, mature and full grown.  As my buddy says if they have hairy legs they are done growing.  Give me the kid who can compete at that level with no peach fuzz.

...may be Rutherford...

Of Schools not mentioned already that i have told people about have been in no particular order:

Osbourn Park

Colonial Forge

Albemarle

Osbourne

Others have been already mentioned such as James River, Great Bridge, Kellam, Lake Braddock, West Springfield, south county and cosby. these are all teams that when people ask me who i felt was a top tier program in the state.