my top 10 and predictions

Less than a month to go until the games start.

I think Cox will do better than is listed here. May not be a total reload but they probably have more than people think.

Nans River might be a little high but I do expect them to make 6 team playoff. I think NR, IR, OS, are fighting for two spots behind Hickory, GF, WB and GB.

Play ball!

OFS10 - where do you see the private schools placing and can any on your list take down GCA and or Cape Henry. This should get people talking

quote:

Originally posted by Ace 45:
OFS10 - where do you see the private schools placing and can any on your list take down GCA and or Cape Henry. This should get people talking

Are you talking just Hampton Roads privates?

Prep - I think top ten could be anywhere in Virginia. I was curious as to the top 10 in Hampton Roads. I'm sure there is a private school or two that could be up there. Or for that matter, top 10 schools in the State?

ofs10, see that you have 3 teams from the beach, peninsula and southeastern districts. Would like to hear more about the peninsula teams.

private school that would be in top 10 is Greenbrier.Yes Cox maybe a little low and Gloucester maybe a little low and woodside a little high.and yes i see Nansemond River 3rd.i believe they return alot.there will be some upsets yes this year that will make it interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Ace 45:
Prep - I think top ten could be anywhere in Virginia. I was curious as to the top 10 in Hampton Roads. I'm sure there is a private school or two that could be up there. Or for that matter, top 10 schools in the State?

Benedictine and StC finished in the Richmond Times Dispatch final Top Ten last year. Benedictine should be back there this year (top two pitchers back and solid line-up). May be a stretch to put StC there this year Pre-season. Lost top 3 pitchers, including VISAA POY (two of which were #3 and #4 hitters also). Also lost SS, lead-off hitter and 3 year starter at Catcher.

Look for early season match-up (March 12 I believe) when GCA and Bishop Sullivan play at StC. BTW, don't know if top privates get to play top publics in Hampton Roads often, but last 3-4 years in the North-South Spring Break Tournament held during public spring break- Freeman, Henrico, Lee-Davis and Atlee have hosted Matoaco (# 1 or 2 in Richmond polls all last year), Dale (I think), StC and Benedictine. Four games in two days. StC and Benedictine have gone 3-1 or 2-2 each year. Because publics have limits on # of games they can schedule, don't get many chances to go head to head but this has been a good chance for the top Richmond privates to play some publics.

St Annes is loaded too. That is a private school team that will give anyone fits. Their line-up is filthy top to bottom. Everyone can hit, everyone can run.

quote:

Originally posted by wahoo24:
St Annes is loaded too. That is a private school team that will give anyone fits. Their line-up is filthy top to bottom. Everyone can hit, everyone can run.

I think we had this discussion on another post re: VPL-- STAB gets described on this and other posts every year "as nasty", "everyone hits -one thru nine", etc. And they won 3-4 State titles ten years ago and are always around at States, AND I believe they will be back this year . But in recent years, something trips them up along the way, as can happen in "one loss and out" tourneys. My question is pitching depth-- lost Saunders (who had one of the great years as two way player in recent memory). Before that had K. Long as ace. Spinosa has lots of potential and has done well in #2 role (although lost to Benedictine in semis last year). Needs to step it up as real ace--has potential to do so. Question is-- will they have pitching depth to go against Benedictine or Paul VI or possibly StC, when #2 or #3 pitchers have to get on the mound.

I agree with the question on pitching depth, I don't think anyone private school wise has a 1-2 punch like Benedictine has with Woods and Joseph. I can't speak to the history of STAB, I have been back in Richmond a couple of years and started working as an assitant in the VPL last year but I can tell you STAB has a lot of talent. Spinosa is a good ace and their line-up is loaded. Kevin White is the prep league player of the year-good behind the plate, can move on the bases and flat out mash the ball. He already holds the STAB career homerun record with a year to go. On top of that they return three other guys who made all prep and I think Shifflett is back too and I can't believe he has never made all prep. St C lost a LOT of talent. Henkel and Fleming were huge losses and then you add in McCann, Wagner and a kid I thought was very underrated in Bannard and they have some work to do. Fox is a stud and they have some good youngsters in Yorgen and Reinhart but this team will be very different than teams in the past. This is STABs league to lose. Although one thing to watch this year is the development of Michael Taylor at ChristChurch. That kid is gonna be nasty

quote:

Originally posted by wahoo24:
Although one thing to watch this year is the development of Michael Taylor at ChristChurch. That kid is gonna be nasty

He should be a 2011 grad.

He was a soph last year though

quote:

Originally posted by wahoo24:
He was a soph last year though

Yes...he was re-classed last year when he entered ChristChurch.

quote:

Originally posted by wahoo24:
I agree with the question on pitching depth, I don't think anyone private school wise has a 1-2 punch like Benedictine has with Woods and Joseph. I can't speak to the history of STAB, I have been back in Richmond a couple of years and started working as an assitant in the VPL last year but I can tell you STAB has a lot of talent. Spinosa is a good ace and their line-up is loaded. Kevin White is the prep league player of the year-good behind the plate, can move on the bases and flat out mash the ball. He already holds the STAB career homerun record with a year to go. On top of that they return three other guys who made all prep and I think Shifflett is back too and I can't believe he has never made all prep. St C lost a LOT of talent. Henkel and Fleming were huge losses and then you add in McCann, Wagner and a kid I thought was very underrated in Bannard and they have some work to do. Fox is a stud and they have some good youngsters in Yorgen and Reinhart but this team will be very different than teams in the past. This is STABs league to lose. Although one thing to watch this year is the development of Michael Taylor at ChristChurch. That kid is gonna be nasty

I agree. This year it is STAB's to lose. Talent is experienced (which may mean that StC is a year away from being back where they have been-aside from Fox, best players are sophs). One thing about privates vs publics-- the top privates, STAB, Stc, Benedictine, Steward, GCA, maybe others--play 3 games a week, 22-28 a year, therefore absolutely need 2 stud pitchers and often a 3rd and 4th. Publics play 2 a week and can get by sometimes with one stud and a couple of decent guys at second and third spot, particularly since they don't play teams twice in same week like VPL does. Taylor is a stud but don't know what CCS has behind him and when they play STAB, StC, TES, Collegiate twice in the same week, may find they beat anyone with Taylor on the mound and can be beat by anyone without him.

quote:

Originally posted by luv baseball:
Nans River might be a little high but I do expect them to make 6 team playoff. I think NR, IR, OS, are fighting for two spots behind Hickory, GF, WB and GB.

As much as I hate to admit this, I think Nansemond River is the top contender for the 3d spot and here's why...

Same team as last year that beat Hickory one out of the two games played.
3 very solid high school pitchers with Kyle Moore, Travis Johnson, and Tyler Brown. Ryan O'Hara can eat up some innings as well. All pitched on the varsity level last year.
Very solid core group of young men who have played together for years and all are juniors. At least 7 maybe 8 starters return. They will be even better next year.

Hickory lost 8 seniors, of those 4 were used as starting pitchers leaving only T.J. Lighton as the returning pitcher with varsity experience.
Hickory has only 4 starters returning in Matt Campbell (UNC commit), Tyler Best, Evan McCloud, and T.J Lighton. They do have some additional players that were on the varsity last year but saw limited playing time. An even bigger question will be …who will fill the big void at the catcher’s position for Hickory left by Danny Grauer.

Now all that being said... Hickory still has the talent pool that Nansemond River wishes they had (that is no slight on NR but based on smaller demographics). The juniors that are making their debut on the Varsity are all solid and they have a couple of freshman that may even make the team. Luckily, Hickory did not miss a beat during the summer and fall as the program has very solid off-season leadership. Bottom line (IMO), the new coach will have to pull it all together to finish in the 3d spot.

Could be right about NR particularly next year when I think they will contend for the district. Looking forward to seeing how it plays out

Beach
-OL is tops until someone can knock them off. With the top arm in the district, I'm not sure that will happen this year.

-PA needs to score runs. They had trouble doing it last year with some bigger bats. I would guess teams will figure out quickly to not let Tomchik's bat beat you (and make the rest of the lineup do it)


SE
-KF will not be last in the district.

I agree with Redbird, OL has the the top if not 1A pitcher at the Beach and he can beat you with the Bat too, OL also returns most of last years team, they are the team the beat, but the Beach this year will be more then a 2 or 3 team race, Landstown will be strong, Kellam is solid, P.A has pitching, F.C has a ton of talent, I can see the Beach District Champ with 3 or more loses.
Also,Just wanted to say that this web site is great for learning about other schools, districts, players, Midlo Dad and WB reporter are money, those guys really are on the mark with their post.

I think Ocean lakes will be tops in the beach, followed by FC, and then Landstown & PA battling for the 3 & 4 spots. I think princess anne just has too many issues with scoring to win the district or make a run at regionals. I also agree though, that the winner of the beach will have 3-4 losses, and there might be a tie at the top of the district.

Nansemond River will be solid and compete for the 3rd place slot. While they have some solid pitchers they are missing a dominant arm.

No doubt, OL will be in the mix. I'm sure scheduling/weather will play a major factor in determining the winner of the beach. If we see lots of rain, no way OL can come out on top, if they have to play more than two games a week. I believe there will be an issue with pitching depth. Offensively, they will be able to run up the score and I believe they will have to win at least half of their games this way. I see alot of high scoring games.

I know PA will have their issues with run scoring, but their three pitchers will keep them in most games, and I will take their #2 and #3 against most other teams #2 and #3.

OL will have to work out the pitching but i feel they will work it out, They have 3 10th grader that will be able to log innings, There is a kis by the name of Riley that will help out big time great arm and is very accurate. Going to be fun to watch the under classman and how the coach uses them and don't forget at Pat,

Look for Jordan Fairbanks, Eric Zirnheld, JR McCoy, and Cameron Begley to add punch to PA's batting line-up this year. They will be solid.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
Beach
-OL is tops until someone can knock them off. With the top arm in the district, I'm not sure that will happen this year.

-PA needs to score runs. They had trouble doing it last year with some bigger bats. I would guess teams will figure out quickly to not let Tomchik's bat beat you (and make the rest of the lineup do it)


SE
-KF will not be last in the district.