State Tournament starts Friday

You always throw your best.  No promise of tomorrow and the last thing you ever want is to head home with your biggest bullet in the chamber.

 

Truth is - to get to this stage of the game you have to have a number of donkeys in the stable.  All of these teams are at least 3 deep with quality arms.  Just comes down to which teams can handle the spotlight.

 

My predictions:

Western Branch 6A

Freeman 5A

Hanover 4A

Loudon County 3A

Maggie Walker 2A

 

Who wants some action on these :-)

 

Hard to go against a Hickory repeat in 5A.

yeah - I was torn on that one - but playing a hunch here... Freeman had their season resurrected from the ashes with the Clover Hill forfeit - My experience tells me that teams with the "Phoenix Factor" tend to ride the lightning to the top of the mountain :-)

 

Just FYI, Loudoun Valley is a 3A school competing in the finals.  Loudoun County is a nearby by totally separate 4A school.

And, I agree you throw your best available.  One question I have is this...with the severe heat expected across the state, how far can even these stud #1 and #2 arms go.  Will be very interesting to see.

I know nothing of the lower classification schools, so I'll stick to the larger ones.

 

6A  Western Branch

5A  Hickory

4A  Hanover

 

In regards to pitching, I agree that you generally throw your best arm.  However, there are situations where "the best" is less defined.  A given program may have two, three, maybe even four kids who are roughly the same (all things being equal).  In such a case, a coach may simply defer to his senior, where someone else may view the junior as "the No. 1". 

 

In another case where a program has multiple great arms, it is not unusual for one kid to be the "No. 1" in March, and then have someone else evolve and grow into that role over the course of the season.  Just a couple examples where the lines may get a little blurry.

I agree throw your best. I wonder where Graasfield would be today if they would have started a more exp. pitcher Stallings (Tenn) rather than starting Purdue (UVA). A really big stage for such a young player.

But as they say: that's baseball

Hanover has to be a pretty strong Favorite in Group 4, working on their 3rd in a row.

 

Hickory and Western Branch are back to defend last years titles.  Hickory may have the best core of any of them though.  I'm leaning in their direction but they'll have to be at or close to their best. 

 

Western Branch has made a habit of winning 1 run games (7 or 8 this season I think) and you'd think at some point that might catch up with them.  Of the three I think they are the weakest pick but still can't go against them.

Are the 6A games on game changer?

Virginia High beats Maggie Walker in 2A semi, 8-3.

Glen Allen beat Fauquier, 6-4, in the first 4A semifinal.

6A Semi: Madison 7 FC 2

 

Brian Eckert (Radford) went 6.1 for the win.

 

Jefferson Forest has defeated Hanover, 4-3, in 8 innings, in the other 4A semifinal.  JF advances to face Glen Allen in tomorrow's championship game.

 

I wasn't there, but what I have heard is that Grey Lyttle started for Hanover and gave up 3 runs, then left with the bases loaded in the 4th.  John Gregory got Hanover out of that jam and put up zeroes until the 8th.  JF got the winning run on a walk, an errant pickoff throw (runner to 3d), and a walk-off single.

5A...

 

 

TITLE GAME! Bulldogs defeat the Rebels of Douglass Freeman 6-0 to advance to the 5A State Final! Brett Kreyer with a one hitter!

— SBHS Baseball (@SB_Baseball) June 12, 2015

Poured in FFX Cty. Aiming for an 8PM start for the other 6A semi.

Midlo...since I was there let me add a LOT of details to your post and advise that maybe you should not post about games that you do not attend!!!

 

First, the game was long.  It was over 90 degrees and humid.  With the help of two rain delays the game that began at Noon finished at 5:10 PM. I'm not one to blame umpires for a loss or slap them on the back for a win.  HOWEVER if this example of umpire is the best that VHSL can find they need to find some new ones.  The plate umpire was not kind to either pitcher nor the batters.  The strike zone was like a chicken on a rotisserie...round and round and up and down.  The only thing consistent was that they were not consistent.  There were several controversial calls by the plate umpire and the 1st base umpire and some no calls that made you scratch your head. 

 

Now on to your uninformed and poor example of your post.  Lyttle started the game for Hanover.  He pitched 3 stellar innings of no hit baseball with 7 strikeouts and one BB.  Somewhere near the end of the 3rd inning he began to rub and shake his pitching hand.  After the third inning, Hanover was up 1-0.  Lyttle started the 4th and again was shaking his pitching hand.  The first and second batters walked with the aid of the ever changing strike zone.  The bases were loaded after a bunt back to Lyttle where he lost footing.  It was then with Hanover still with a 1-0 lead that the pitching change was made.  Gregory came on with bases loaded and no outs in the top of the 4th.  The first batter hit a ground ball that went through the third baseman's legs scoring one run on an error.  The next batter bunted down the first base line and the runner at third was already rolling.  Gregory and the 1st baseman both got to the ball.  There was no play at home and none at 1st because nobody was covering.  Gregory got out of the inning.  At the end of the 4th the score was 2-1 and Lyttle had an ice bag on his pitching hand due to  what was reported an issue with a finger on the pitching hand. 

 

The game was tight with several no calls by the umpire including a catcher interference that should have gone against JF. 

 

This game was exciting and frustrating for both sides.  Hanover went into the bottom half of the 7th with a 3-2 lead.  An extra base hit by the 3 hole hitter put him in scoring position and a good hit by the 4 hitter scored him to tie the game.  The 8th inning started in a 3-3 tie. Hanover could not get a run and in the bottom of the 8th with Gregory still on the mound after the second delay, JF got base runners on and scored on a hit that leaked into left.

 

It was an intense game and JF moves on to play Glen Allen and Hanover will regroup for another run next season as they only lose 4 players to graduation. 

 

Congrats to both teams for great seasons.

 

 

I was there, too.  With all due respect, everything Midlo wrote was correct...other than Lyttle giving up 3 runs.  Pretty sure he wasn't attacking anyone.  I understand big losses can be emotional, but...geez!!!

I will agree that strike zones have me scratching my head.  That is not a complaint (my kid isn't on mound, our squad is winning...many of the calls have helped us so far...), just an observation.

....and the GW hit did not "leak through".  That shows you were not being entirely objective....really, rethink it for a second.

Didn't mean to offend....only meant that the gw hit was not a hard hit shot.  But it was a walk off that got the win and that is impressive in a game like that.  Congrats and good luck tomorrow.

No offense at all.  I'm an objective baseball guy.  My kid is playing now.  I was just watching, and didn't care at all who won or by how much.  GW hit was a medium line drive past drawn in IF.  Period.

Chantilly beats Western Branch 8-3 setting up a rematch with Madison for the 6A state title.

Any word on who pitched for Chantilly?

All North Region finals in 5A and 6A. 

Time to show NOVA some love on this board.

^ This. NOVA baseball has been underrated for a while now and we're finally showing that our teams can compete with the best.

Funny you say that.  I just spoke to John Nolan from PBR down here at Liberty, and he said exactly that. 

Also, Loudoun Valley 6, Rustburg 0 in 3A semis.  DeGroat was as good as ever: 17K, 2 hits (1 a dribbler to 3b and the other botched pop up that fell between 2b and CF).  He sat low 90s and T94.  An incredible performance.  LV plays Lafayette tomorrow.

Glad no one took me up on my offer :-) :-) 

Truth is - I think it is harder to go 0-5 than it is to go 5-0 - especially when 2 picks were reigning State Champs

 

 

Kreskin, out

Matt pitched. Forrest scheduled for today, and very certain he'll be on a short leash given the 6 North title game, with Jared D. ready to jump in at any point. But Forrest had an off day v. Madison, and has learned from that game.

 

Matt Favero should be the starter for Madison, so a real repeat of the title game a week ago. Madison's lineup is very tough: Pete, Matt, Jimmy G., Owen, etc.

 

Wish I was there.

Lafayette 5, LV 4
- exciting game
- congrats to Lafayette, esp the Brothers Lipcius who were the difference today!

My guess is that those who picked Hanover to win in 4A did not pay attention to anything in that region this year.  Glen Allen beat Hanover three times this year, with the last victory a 15-4 drubbing with Gregory and Moore pitching.  They also beat them with Lyttle starting two of the games.  With that said, I would not want to play Hanover next year.  They will be scary good.

I don't think anyone is intentionally trying to disrespect NOVA baseball.  It is a good year for NOVA no doubt.

Since 2003 the Champions have been for Group AAA and successor groups:

 

2003 Great Bridge

2004 Western Branch

2005 Princess Anne

2006 Monacan

2007 James River

2008 James River

2009 Menchville

2010 West Springfield

2011 Great Bridge

2012 Lake Braddock

2013 Hanover

2014 Western Branch, Hickory, Hanover

2015 James Madison, Stone Bridge, Glen Allen

 

So going into this year over the last decade plus it is NOVA 2 Richmond 5 Hampton Roads 7. 

 

After this year it is NOVA 4, Richmond 6 HR 7.  Pretty even and getting more so each season.

 

There is not any question with the growth of the NOVA population that the schools there should be very competitive and since all of the championships above are since 2010 that is borne out.  

 

It is a good thing for the state that there should be intersectional competition that is meaningful.  Further it shows up at the college level as well.  Deeper and better HS baseball is resulting in more broadly competitive college teams populated with VA kids.

 

I like it...give me more.

 

Final Washington Post rankings:

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...53542100c_story.html

 

First, Midlo's post was not perfect but good enough for readers to get the outcome of the game with a few details...not worthy of baseba11dad's comments.

 

Second, baseball11dad, if you want to post this level of detail about the game and you give Midlo a hard time about his brief report, let's get it correct.  We (Hanover) went ahead 3-2 in the top of 8th with an RBI double by Hayden Moore.  In the bottom of the 8th, JF singled, advanced on a WP and scored on a single.  Play stops a second time for rain/lightning.  When play resumes, runner on 1b advances to 3b on an errant throw by the pitcher on a pick off play, and scored on a solid base hit that gets through the 5/6 hole regardless of where the infielders were positioned.  All in all, great game...congrats to both teams on a fine season and congrats to Glen Allen on winning the championship game! 

Thanks for the details.  It's more than I could find in news reports, which is one reason I like hanging out here.

 

At the time of my original post, I was mostly just trying to pass along the outcome swiftly, as a parent had reported it to me not long after the game had ended.  I figured there'd be immediate interest in the outcome.  Had I been there, I would've been happy to provide a detailed rundown, as I have often done when able. 

 

My point in acknowledging that I wasn't there in person was to alert all of you to the fact that the details might well be lacking.

 

Not sure why that elicited an angry response, but I guess the outcome might've left some in a bad mood.

Luv baseball said:

 

I don't think anyone is intentionally trying to disrespect NOVA baseball.  It is a good year for NOVA no doubt.

Since 2003 the Champions have been for Group AAA and successor groups:

 

2003 GreatBridge

2004 Western Branch

2005 Princess Anne

2006 Monacan

2007 James River

2008 James River

2009 Menchville

2010 West Springfield

2011 GreatBridge

2012 Lake Braddock

2013 Hanover

2014 Western Branch, Hickory, Hanover

2015 James Madison, StoneBridge, Glen Allen

 

So going into this year over the last decade plus it is NOVA 2 Richmond 5 Hampton Roads 7. 

 

After this year it is NOVA 4, Richmond 6 HR 7.  Pretty even and getting more so each season.

 

There is not any question with the growth of the NOVA population that the schools there should be very competitive and since all of the championships above are since 2010 that is borne out.  

 

It is a good thing for the state that there should be intersectional competition that is meaningful.  Further it shows up at the college level as well.  Deeper and better HS baseball is resulting in more broadly competitive college teams populated with VA kids.

 

I like it...give me more.

 

 

 

Of course one gets a different impression depending on where the light is being shown.  For example if one where to look back just a little further....say to 1997... a Northern Virginia team has been in the state baseball final 12 of the last 18 years. 

 

1997 Lee-Davis 3 - LakeBraddock 2

1998 West Springfield 6 – George Washington 5

2000 Oakton 1 – Patrick Henry 0

2002 James Madison 2 – JR Tucker 1

2003 Great Bridge12 - James Robinson 3

2004 Western Branch 3 – Westfield 2

2006 Monacan 9 – Oakton 8

2010 West Springfield 10 – Woodbridge 2

2011 GreatBridge 5 - South County 3

2012 LakeBraddock 4 – Kellam 0

2014 Western Branch 6 – Chantilly 4

2015 Madison 6 – Chantilly 5

 

See VHSL records http://www.vhsl.org/about.page197

 

If I’m not mistaken the following teams play in Va Conference 7 and are considered part of Northern Virginia?

 

SouthCounty

TC Williams

West Springfield

LakeBraddock

WT Woodson

Annandale

 

See All Met sports Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...eball-standings.html

 

No need to show poor old NOVA some love… just present all the facts and then judge for yourself 

Why stop at 1997...let's go back to 1968 when the state tournament was resurrected so my Springers can get some ink.

Why stop at 1997...let's go back to 1968 when the state tournament was resurrected so my Springers can get some ink.

 

Springer 80,

Okay… why not go back to 1968 as it was an amazing year in many respects?

 

As far as Virginia AAA HS baseball goes that would be the year James Madison won it’s first state title against your Highland Springs team? They were back in the title game in 1969… won the state again in 1971.

 

Since that time I’m counting NOVA teams in 30 of the 47 state finals. (1968 through 2015).IOW if you have gone to all the AAA state finals in the last 47 years only 17 times was there NOT a team from NOVA on the field.

 

No doubt this past spring was special for NOVA baseball. What is puzzling is why quality baseball in NOVA is being perceived as a recent phenomenon somehow in need of respect.  

 

Who knows…NOVA may have no teams in the finals next year, but as history has shown it won’t be long before they do.

I don't understand why folks feel the need to defend NOVA baseball!  They only have the majority of the population to draw from, in what is the wealthiest part of the state...so in that vain, they should be uber competitive.  For years, schools with 3000 students from Fairfax, and surrounding areas, have been facing off with 1200-2000 student programs from other parts of the state.  So yeah...they have no excuse but to be competitive.  If they weren't, that would be altogether another issue, wouldn't it!

Go Heels said:

 

For years, schools with 3000 students from Fairfax, and surrounding areas, have been facing off with 1200-2000 student programs from other parts of the state.  So yeah...they have no excuse but to be competitive.  If they weren't, that would be altogether another issue, wouldn't it!

 

3000 students? Not this year... and not most years.

 

The enrollment data for VA schools is provided in the link for those interested:

 

http://high-schools.com/directory/va/

 

This years 2015 champs:

 

Madison  – 1,995

StoneBridge – 1.824

 

Runner-ups:

Chantilly – 2,660

Marshall – 1,696

 

Madison and Stonebridge have been beating schools nearly 2X their size for years in all sports. It’s called outstanding traditions and support communities….not “excuse” making.

 

Item:

Sorry Osbourn fans I missed you in the final of 2005….make that 31 NOVA teams in the state final in the last 47 years.

 

Incidentally, 5A champ Stone Bridge beat 6A champ Madison in the regular season this year and last year.  The two programs have always been neck-in- neck over the years… a must see game for NOVA baseball fans. If you are a Tar Heel fan you should recognize the Stone Bridge pitcher throwing against Madison last year.

 

 

Also 5A runner up Marshall HS who has lost in the AAA state final 3X, is another school reclassified not because of baseball talent but student enrollment.

 

http://www.insidenova.com/spor...10-4b4c9330b63c.html

 

So the new classification is pushing some very good NOVA baseball programs down to a competition level in the playoffs which is likely significantly below what they usually face during regular season play. Perhaps more trophies are indeed headed NOVA’s way in the short term future.

 

Eventually though we usually play down to level of the competition…sadly Madison and Stone Bridge will no longer play each other during the regular season which will likely hurt Stone Bridge far more.  

 

 

I wasn't referencing this year.  You're the one that decided to take it back to the Depresion Era.  I said "for years"!

 

Things are different now.  Over time more schools are built, thinning the herd.  Now we have this horrible new classification system.  None of which changes the fact that NOVA schools have historically been much larger than the competition they face at the state level.

 

Further, posting  a YouTube video of Baukaskas accomplishes what?  Are you trying to inform an already informed public that really good players come from Northern Virginia?  I don't get it.  In any case...have fun with that.

Goheels,

I was guessing you were a NC Tar Heels fan, only to happy to be taking talent like Bukauskas out of NOVA and out of Virginia... my mistake perhaps. For years the best talent in Va. went out of state but with three Va teams making the NCAA tournament this year maybe that will be changing. How about those Highlanders and Rams?

 

Better luck to your teams next year. I’m sure y’all will be back at the top before long despite all those formidable obstacles you have to overcome.

 

Happy fathers day all, and GoHoos!