Is it time to start talking about the upcoming season yet?

By VHSL rule, tryouts and practice can't begin until Feb 23rd.  First game no sooner than March 16th.  It's more than just a few weeks.

By comparison, my son's D2 university starts play on January 31st.

Thank you for the information.  I am aware of when the season starts!

Certainly, four weeks is greater than a "few".  Next time I'll be sure to use the correct verbage...perhaps th word "quadrible" will do?!?!?!  

Tryouts for public schools begin in a quadrible of weeks!?!?!?!

That was kind of funny, but to answer your question -- sure lets start talking, any specific school you have in mind?

Not in particular.  I am curious as to how the other areas of the state are stacking up.  I am familiar with the Tidewater area, along with certain programs of interest in the central and northern part of the state.  Otherwise, which programs are stacking up to be contenders this year, in the 4A-6A brackets????

In Texas, tryouts are next Friday the 30th.  So, I guess it's time to get the discussion started.  My soph. is eat up with this game and needless to say we've been ready for the season to start for a long time.  My wife got the oil changed in her car, the stadium seats have been dusted off, and the blankets loaded.  Oldest starts his college career on the 5th of February.  Needless to say, the 95 personal days I've accumulated will be used in the next few months.  My wife and I will high five in the driveway for the next few months as we split time between the two.  Wouldn't trade it for anything.   God has blessed us a million times over!

In your 4A

the north i think you will see alot of similar teams, Conference 21 Millbrook i think could be the team to beat again, they return alot from last years state runner up, Sherando is always tuff but did lose alot, It will be interesting to see how woodgrove does, Conference 23 Louisa and Amherst should be ok, Eastern View, Chancellor and Fauquier i think out of conference 22, i dont know crap about conference 24. 

South:

Should still be Hanover, it will be interesting to see Midlothian or Monacan will do, Jamestown and Grafton should be good and Powhatan is always tuff, Dont know much about conference 17 or 18. 

But there are always surprise teams. 

In the 4A South, I fully expect that Nansemond River and Hanover, (those two being the most talented with depth) along with Midlothian, Jamestown, and Grafton to be in the mix.

The names that you have dropped in 4A North seem to be somewhat usual suspects as well, though I admittedly know next to nothing about them.  (Other than Millbrook)

In 4A:

Given that Millbrook had two very young starting pitchers take them all the way to the finale last year, you'd have to think that pair, with another year's seasoning/development, would put them into position to dominate.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hanover there against them in the championship game again this year.  They continue to be just loaded with pitching depth as well as position player talent.  I honestly don't know how some guys on that team who are really excellent pitchers are going to get many innings in a typical, 13-14 inning week.

In 6A:

James River might be in a very good position this year.  They have 2 very strong, experienced, D1-committed RHP's in their senior class, plus a top 2-way junior and another strong 2-way sophomore, and one of the area's better catchers.  Very solid nucleus.  In recent years they have been very strong defensively but I think most of their infielders graduated so that'll be a point to watch.

Cosby has, IMHO, the area's top hitter in Jake Huggins.  I'm having a hard time remembering who all they had who's coming back from last year's very loaded team; they certainly lost a ton to graduation.  But they have been so stacked that it's quite common for them to have strong sophs left on JV, resulting in new faces coming to the varsity year after year as juniors only to play at a very high level.  I always assume they'll be there come playoff time.

Among private schools, I see some depth at St. Chris and at STAB, but ... not sure anyone can put the team on the field that you'll see at Benedictine.  Roth, Leonard, Geary, older Ottinger, plus a core of younger guys including younger Ottinger, Vergara and Lingle.  I have to believe they are going to challenge for a state title.

I don't know much about the other conferences - still trying to wrap my head around the new conference set up. I'm still use to the old districts.  That said I agree with Zeus that Eastern View, Chancellor and Fauguier will probably be the preseason favorites in conference 22.  King George has only three returning (11 seniors on last years squad) of which only one was a starter.  i have no idea who is coming up from JV.  Still too early to tell what impact the MS team has had.

5A North Conf 15

Potomac is likely the favorite - consistently strong program

North Stafford is always tough they will return Austin Meyer (King University Commit) as well as Austin Gregory (VCU Commit)

Mt. View will be very interesting they have a very talented group of Juniors led by Dylan Hall and their returning all conference catcher. 

Massaponax - Lost five starters will be relying on some 2017s to step up and fill holes.  Pitching and defense should be the strength -- scoring runs will be the question.

Brooke Point - Lost a number of starters to graduation...not much insight there.

MidloDad Benedictine is going to be good but STAB is going to be filthy.  Catcher committed to Harvard, 1B/P to UVA, 2B is a freshman who is a big time prospect, SS/P is a really good player, 3B/P committed to UVA, CF committed to UVA, 2 corner OF's who can really play.  The state runs through Charlottesville for D1 private schools.  

This is going to the deepest year in D1 privates in a while.  St C, Benedictine, Collegiate will all be strong from Richmond as well.

Thanks, I knew of Harrison and the Morris brothers, but apparently there are many more of whom I was unaware.

I'll make a note to be there when STAB comes to town to play the Cadets!

The best of the bunch may be a kid named Bobby Nicholson their 1B and ace.  Low-Mid 90's on the mound and a beast at the plate, an athletic 6-3 200lbs as a soph last year.

My bad in not mentioning him before, I am indeed aware of him, and would say only that you could replace "may be" with "is" in your first sentence.  I think he's PG's # 1 2016 VA player, right?

I think there may be 3 D1 pitchers at JRHS?  Arnold (Cornell), Winder (VMI), and Roberts (Wake).

Midlothian should be solid again - they lost virtually nobody from last year's squad.  No big studs and not a lot of power, but everyone contributes.  Very good defensively, plays smart.

I had missed the memo on Austin Arnold, congrats to him!

Also -- wasn't there another pretty decent arm who was hampered by an injury and didn't pitch last year?  Is he still there this year?  (I think his name was McClellan.)

Midlo Dad, Austin McClellan graduated last May.  I was hoping, but didn't see him listed on a D3 roster this season.

Unfortuately, L.C. Bird is going through another change in coaching staff. The past three years have been a struggle. Currently still looking for a Varsity and JV head coaches.  However, the players are determined to have a great season.   

What happened to Doug Wagner?

Any insight on Tidewater?

In 6A

I think the contenders will come down to Western Branch, Grassfield, and Woodside.

Western Branch lost a lot from their State Championship team, but also return a very good group of seniors.  I would not expect them to be dominant, but they should be very good, and should contend.  Many of the current crop of seniors have been two or three year starters already!  Very talented group.

Grassfield has to be considered one of the top two or three teams in the area in 2015, and a State Championship contender in 6A, IMO.  Three legit D1 arms (maybe more), along with a very tough lineup.  This should be the year they take a big step forward.

Woodside should have some say in the matter, from the Peninsula.

In 5A

Hickory, Great Bridge, Kellam, and Gloucester

Similar to Western Branch, Hickory loses quite a bit from a State Championship team, yet returns plenty of talent and experience.  Having a dominant LHP and the best power hitting bat in the area (maybe the state) doesn't hurt!

I admittedly know very little of Gloucester, but have heard that they will be very competitive this spring?!?!?!

In 4A

Nansemond River, Grafton, Jamestown

Nansemond River: returns a number of key players from a team that lost 3 games last year.  All three losses were to eventual State Champions.  (WB, Hickory, and Hanover)  They are a very talented group that should compete for a State Championship.

Grafton and Jamestown are not as deep and talented, top to bottom, as Nansemond River, but both have legit D1 arms, to go along with some position talent.  I expect that they will be there come tournament time.  They each have a top tier starter that can win a decisive game.

In the cold, desolate 6A Northern Region...

With the caveat that I have little visibility into Conference 8, Madison looks to be a powerhouse yet again with very few holes: those kids can hit. Out of the old Concorde there will be usual battles, but Chantilly looks to be the one to beat: their rotation is maturing and getting stronger. Oakton may give them fits (with two D1 commits and at least two more in the pipeline), but I wouldn't be surprised to see Chantilly go on the same run as last year. Lake Braddock's program continues to roll along with a strong group of position players.

Scrimmages start early March, when its expected to be the usual wind chill 25 degrees. I'm considering taping together hand warmers into a full body suit.

6A: I think you have to take a serious look at Grassfield.  If any of you have read my posts in the past, I am big on defense and pitching.  Grassfield certainly has 2 stud arms returning, and picked up a Sophomore RHP (UVA commit) this year as well.  While their lineup may not have the sticks that WB will have, they have the arms to compete with anyone.  WB lost a ton of talent, but they also HAD a ton of talent.  They do have a strong lineup still, just not 1-9 like last year.  Pitching will be the key more so this year for them than last year.  

http://youtu.be/JcVDfmXy3T0

Looking forward to his senior season.

In 6A

I think that there is going to be a lot competion in this division, but the top two contenders are going to be Western Branch and Grassfield, WB may have lost a lot of talent but they also have a lot returning and they have six starters (two pitchers)  returning from the 2014 state championship team.  They are still going to be a very good team

And as for grassfield, they have a lot of talent and two very strong arms that are going to take them deep into the season and win them a lot of ball games, but my concern is their hitting.... they have had dominant pitching before (cox) and havent been able to go very far.  So we will see how this season plays out.

Good luck to both of these teams this season. 

4A

i believe that hanover and nansmond river will be the two contenders in this divison

Nansemond River will have good offense and a good defensive positional team.  They are younger I think this year, but the youth has the varsity experience.  My only concern would be the pitching for them.   Will they have enough to take on the likes of Hanover?  

Nansemond River lost 3-2 in extra innings to Hanover in last year's playoffs.  This year's version of each team should be quite good!  I expect that those two have to be considered two of the best teams in the state, regardless of classification.

The talent at NR is young-er, but experienced.  Depending on tryouts, a couple of sophomores and a healthy junior class will complement a small, but very good group of seniors.  Regarding the pitching, NR returns 99% of last year's innings, to include three young men who have either given a verbal or are receiving D1 interest.  A fourth will likely commit to a D3 school in the near term.

The most likely lineup will include a college level prospect/commit, one thru nine.

I see NR, Grassfield, and WB as the top teams, regardless of classification in Tidewater. Nansemond River and Grassfield will open the season against one another on 3/17!

Regarding Grassfield, I saw them in the fall.  They will be just fine offensively!  Further, they have no less than THREE very strong arms.  Stallings, Smith, and Perdue...all going to D1 programs.  

Grassfield certainly has the arms....for sure.  Who are the arms for NR?  I know Holt (2016)...has he committed anywhere?

Grassfield's offense will be led by Bullock & Riddick.  Coach Spedden likes to bunt so I would bet that will be a big part of their offense.

As for NR's Holt, he has not committed yet.  He's worked very hard this offseason on his Velo program and made some very nice gains.  

Good group of arms there.  I have seen an increase in the bunting/small ball game in this area as well.  Definitely using more speed and hit/runs, making the catcher position that much more vital.  I witnessed a big reason for WB success last year was nobody could/would run on Fisher.  Makes life a lot easier when you have a stud behind the plate.  Hickory has Polansky...that's the big name I know of in the Tidewater area.  Mariana at WB also....although I think his future may be OF at VT.  (both VT commits)

Millbrook has lost one of their pitchers due to an injury not related to baseball.  However, they should be just fine as their catcher Alex Amos is rumored to be moving out behind the plate somewhere on the field as well as on the bump as he was topped out somewhere around 86-87 during the summer.  

Millbrook has more younger talent coming thru their JV program as well.  This area of Frederick County along Rt. 7 corridor is an area with new housing is being constructed, so they will always getting new folks moving in as well as Sherando's zone has a lot of new homes being constructed too.

Until Frederick County constructs the 4th high school, IMHO ... Sherando should be moving up to 5A on the next cycle.  With all of that new construction, IMHO ... I don't see how they are going to avoid it.

They avoided going AAA several years ago by moving 60 students over into the James Wood zone.  How 'bout that!

You have to hand it to Roland Wright at Western Branch.  They have built a program that should be very sustainable at the highest level for years. 

They have done a nice job of tying into the WB youth baseball feeder system and as much as any HS the kids in WB identify with being Bruins very early.  Unlike GB, GF and Hickory that split the feeder league 3 ways in Southern Chesapeake the kids don't really think about the HS team until they are in Middle School.

They also have had the good fortune of having some outstanding youth coaches there for the last 10 years that have done a tremendous job of developing players.

One thing that is kind of sad though is that they play GB on March 30 and that is the only time they will cross paths.  Those two had some tremendous battles between 2008 and 2013 when every single game meant something and the talent on the field was for all practical purposes a college game.  Not to mention Wright vs. Lee in the dugouts.  Also playing NR and Hickory once each as well.

I am sure the new alignment will create new rivalries the loss of some of the traditional ones takes a little out of it.  I don't know if we'll ever see that kind of thing again with the SED spread fairly evenly across 3 Classes. 

So you're saying the Administration and Staff at Sherando should have to deal with a 20% greater student population than the other two Frederick County schools?? 

Why????

The attendance zones should be redone so that all the schools have the same numbers.  How 'bout that????