Virginia 2004 Commitments

Brett Walker - Pitcher, Cox H.S., Va. Beach to VCU

Aaron Hurwitz, RHP, Norfolk Academy - College of William & Mary

redbird,

Is William & Mary looking at Hurwitz as a pitcher or an infielder? I hear he's a very good 3rd baseman.

Brad Stephenson, Catcher, Great Bridge HS - East Carolina

Kyle Byler, Shortstop, Hickory HS - Kansas State

Robert Poutier, RHP, Grafton High School - UVA

Redbird, I would agree with VaDad. Aaron also has very good stick. When he was at Perfect Game he was a positional player, and not a pitcher.

I think you will be surprised and pleased at the players from the NE coming in

TRhit

trhit,

the more good players coming in the better for all the teams both in competition and in rankings. I hope some are going to William & Mary and the other CAA schools.

Tres Wolfford, catcher, Notre Dame Academy has committed to play for Liberty University.

Sorry, I should have said:

Hurwitz - IF/RHP

Skip -

You have a personal PM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Tres on his committment to Liberty.. Liberty is getting themselves a great ballplayer and an even better young man. Another Hillcat/Oriolander success story



_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

Skip,

Congratulations to Tres and family. It has been exciting to watch him progress along with the others from the Culpeper area.

Tres is a fine young man as well as a fine ballplayer.





CV

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

Earl Weaver

Congrats to Alex Di Dio a right handed pitcher from North Stafford High School. He commited to VMI!!!!

Congrats To Alex and his parents! VMI's getting a good one! Alex just remember to stay out of the barrack and close to your...... you know the rest!

I talked to Johnathan Spears (Salem HS VA Beach) and he said he will making a committment with Radford any day now...also, whats the word on Randy Buffington? Where is he going?

I hope Buffington finds someone to help him with his mechanics. He could probably add 3-5 mph by tightening up his delivery.

BigSkip...

Great news to hear Tres will be attending Liberty. Coach Royer landed a good young man and excellent ballplayer with a "gun arm".

Tres will have a great time when he plays some of his old HS classmates at Coastal... Donnie Pressley and Grant Flowers.

I can see it now, Donnie will hit one to the gap and get on first. (Ist inning)

Grant will lay a bunt down and with blazing speed, he's safe at first. (3rd inning)

NOW... here's the big question - Is Tres going to let either of these players steal a base on him as the Liberty catcher... stay tuned folks!

The game is May 14-16 at Liberty University's home field.

Hint: I don't think either runner will make it! lol

Skip, please tell Tres we send our best wishes and will stop in for a game next season.



Learning day by day on the hsbbweb...

Congrats to Tres, and to Big Skip, and to all the other parents that can now exhale, if their son is done! Breathe folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. to Big Skip-it's been a long road since Ft. Myers and Perfect Game. Liberty will be a much shorter drive. Nice job!

Jake Rule - P - Stuarts Draft High School to
William & Mary.
This may be the only Valley District early sign this year. The recruiting for 2004 players in Virginia seems light.

Joe Florio S.S. (Blair Academy, New Jersey) just signed his NLI with UVA. Good Luck !!!!!

Ben Hildreth, P, Brookville High School has signed with Winthrop University

zeke,

I have had several coaches offer the opinion that this year's class is very thin in comparison to the last several year's talent pool. I quess we will see more movement after the Spring season.

VA Dad -

I have been told the same thing about the 04's versus the 02/03 class of players. Team One noted it one of their reports as well..

04 players - I ams ure though that each of you that has the desire, skills and grades will find your school. Be patient and remember it doesnt matter when you find it, it just matters that when you find it.. its the right one for all the right reasons.

_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

You are probably correct regarding D-1 players.
However, there is still a lot of talent in Hampton Roads that will fill a lot of roster spots for many DIII schools.

Wayne Renfrow from Va. Beach has committed to VCU for the 2004 season.Renfrow graduated from Kellam High School in 2002 and will be joining one of his old teamates John Leonard at VCU.

baseball dad - reference Renfrows committment to VCU? Didn't he pitch for Guz last yr @ ODU. Isn't this a transfer? If so he won't play with VCU until the 2005 season.

fc v dad

Renfrow transfered to Louisburg for this season.
At least he was at Louisburg this fall. Can he transfer again?

Renfrow is at Louisburg this year and has committed to VCU for the 2005 playing season.

I thought John Leonard was at Clemson...

John Leonard was at Clemson last year. Will he also have to sit out a year?

I am not an expert on determining if a player has to sit out a year or not.

But if I recall, Orendorf transfered from George Washington to VCU and did not sit out a year.

Like Pirate Fan, I too am not an expert on NCAA eligibility, but I believe that Leonard redshirted @ Clemson last year. I don't know if that makes a difference w/ his eligibility w/ VCU or not.

Perhaps some of the more knowledgable posters that view this site could clear this up.

A PLAYER MUST SIT OUT A YEAR UNLESS HE GETS A RELEASE( ORENDUFF GOT A RELEASE FROM G-W) JR COLLEGE PLAYERS CAN LEAVE ANY TIME( AFTER FIRST OR SECOND YEAR OR EVEN IN MIDDLE OF YEAR (IE D-1 SCHOOLS GET JC GUYS IN JAN

REDSHIRTING NOT RELEVANT- IF ON TEAM ON TEAM A PLAYER GETS 5 YEARS(from jc or 4 jr enrollment) to play 4 ie could play any combo of d 1-3 after i or 2 yrs in jco

If the player was rostered officially with the NCAA and obtains the correct releases from school "A" they player can request that he be allowed to play the following year at school "B" but the NCAA does not have to honor the request is how it was explained to me byt he NCAA last season.. Depends on the individual circumstances and the coaches involved.. if school "A" wants him out for the year.. he is out for the year usually.. Whole thing is very complicated but it is done so that schools can't steal players without paying a price...

Moose - Please refrain from typing in all caps.. It is a form of internet yetlling and also makes it difficult to read. I see you are new member to our boards, welcome I am sure you will enjoy your time here and learn a great deal as well. The regulars on this board are the very best.

_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

The Daily Press reports inf Greg Maliniak from Menchville HS has committed to William and Mary. Maliniak hit .427 with 2hr in 2003.

Perfect Game is reporting 3b Chad Murray from Colorada has signed with William and Mary also.

Perfect Game's commitment list includes Kubin to the University of Florida.

http://www.worldwoodbat.com/news-details.asp?generalnewsid=81

asnyder549,

thanks good catch.

Who did JD Wyatt sign with?

Josh Eason- Smithfield, RHP/SS, NSU

Just a question...if a player plays a year for a division 3 school and, in the following year, transfers to a division 1 school, do they have to sit out a year?

Thanks

GO CUBS

No ... a player would not have to sit out a year. I don't believe, however, that player is eligible for any baseball scholarship money.

Wnyskip:
In checking with the NCAA a baseball player transferring from a D3 to a D1 school is elibible to play immediately and not sit out and is also eligible for scholarship money. The only sports that are not is basketball and football.

Josh Verts
Handley HS, Winchester
Indiana University

Just got it confirmed.. Congrats to Josh

_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

What position does Josh Verts play?

Josh is a multi positional player who also pitches. I am not sure where Indiana is looking to use him but it sounds like pitching more than anything else.

Josh is a really good kid, who I have watched grow up over the years as a member of opposing summer teams. He then played with my son on the Oriolanders where we were able to get to know him a bit more. He has had lots of ups and down and I am very happy he has found a college home..



From the IU webpage:

Josh Verts
Right-handed Pitcher • 6-2 • 230 • Winchester, Va. • John Handley HS
Verts is a three-year letterman for coach Eddie Simmons at John Handley High School in Winchester, Va. He has played first base, third base and pitched while in high school. Verts was a three-time All-District selection, a two-time All-Region honoree, and added All-State to his list of honors as a junior in 2003. After being honored for his play at third base as as freshman and sophomore, Verts was selected as a utility player last season. Also a four-year letterwinner in football, Verts was a standout quarterback at John Handley as well.

Coach Morgan On Josh Verts:
“Josh is a big, strong power pitcher who throws in the high 80s. Josh can possibly be a two-way player as he is both an outstanding hitter and pitcher. He was a very good high school quarterback as well.”

_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

Does anyone know if Mark Beppler from Hickory has committed anywhere? or is looking at any schools?

I have been to IU. Very nice field and facilities. Coach Morgan has his hands full with Ohio State but what a great place to go to college. Good luck to Josh we'll be following him.

Beppler?

There are a lot of unsigned players
Nachion Moore - Greenbrier
Jesse Freeman - Salem
Ryan Sykes - FC
Zach Haney - Catholic
Kelly West - Greenbrier
Mike McConnell - Poquoson
Aaron Mania - Kempsville
Billie Mueller - FC
Adam Huneycutt - Kempsville
Steven Parsons - Hickory
Randy Buffington - Salem
I'm sure there are more. Looks like a lot of Spring commitments are in the making.

Let's hope that all of these young men remember to keep their grades up and to work on their SAT scores. That way when opportunity knocks they will be able to take advantage of it. Many more people sign in the Spring than in the Fall.

Off to College

Aaron Mania goes to Cox

EMINEM
Mania played for Kempsville last yr. Are you saying he transfered to Cox this year.

fc v dad

Does COX have enough innings for ALL the pitching they have. They had a good pitching staff before Mania transfered. GOODLUCK to coach Conroy.....

fc v dad

yes Mania does go to cox

Mania, Martin, Stenger, and Walker what a pitching staff

sorry for posting twice

just edited it

VaDad,

Is signing in the spring usually a reflection of schools missing out on prospects they had hoped to land and turning to fallback plans, or more a result of players blossoming their senior seasons?

EMINEN

Your looking at 2 games a week with a total of 14 innings, if they have tough games. The question is does Coach Conroy put Mania in front of kids who have been in his program for 3 years? I don't disagree with transfering, everybody has to do whats best for there son. I would think that making the move his junior year may have made it easier on the coach.

Philler,

Probably a combination of both.

have any of these players signed or committed?ryan o'donnell,spencer martin,tim rohman,kreg
savoie,ryan pond.

yobo

I don't believe any of these pitchers have committed yet.

I do know that all these player's pitched for Team Virginia at the Team One South Showcase at Georgia Tech

btw

Congrats to Aaron Mania (41) Kreg Sovoie (42)
Team One Top 70 LHP

does anybody else know the rankings of any other virginia pitchers and players

Thanks

In today's Virginian-Pilot

Zach Haney - Bishop Sullivan - Salisbury University

Randy Buffington - Salem - Virginia Tech

Jon Spears - Salem - Radford

Jesse Freeman - Salem - Virginia Wesleyan

Robert Schroeder - Salem - Virginia Wesleyan

Congrats to all.
Now enjoy your Senior Year.

Pirate fan,

what positions do these players play?

Haney, Buffington and Freeman are all RHP
Spears-OF
Schroeder- C

Wow Buffinton to Tech.. Nice catch for the Hokies..

Congrats to all these players

_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

Andrew Duke, First Colonial, committed to Bluefield College. Middle infielder. Great young coach (Billy Berry) that is dedicated to putting them back on the baseball map !

Congrats to Randy and family. He and my '05 played together on Team VA last year at William & Mary in the Blue-Grey. Saw them again this Jan. at Perfect Game I enjoyed talking with his dad at both events. Randy can bring it, Hokie you'll be happy they got him.

CV

Mark Beppler, LHP, Hickory HS - Radford

Philler,

Please be careful in making such announcements. There has not been anything in the paper on this. Unless you can substantiate your statement, do not hinder any options that Mark might have available to him.

OTC,

Your comments are appreciated; however, we wouldn't need to post anything to the board under this topic at all if every commitment were promptly printed in the paper, right? A reputable source confirmed this decision to me.

Well there was a lot of time and thought put into the final decision and his parents are really proud to announce

Kevin Hill
First Colonial High School
Left Fielder

Hampden-Sydney Tigers

fc v dad & mom

Way to go Kevin! Your having a great year in school and in BB. Good luck and we will keep track.

Charlie,

COngrats to Kevin. He will do well.

Congrats and good luck to the Hills! H-S couldn't be getting a better baseball family. Hard work and a good attitude do pay off.

way to go kevin ! sounds like a great fit. just keep that never say never attitude going ! another case of hard work paying off for a fine young man. congrats charlie !

Congrats to Nathan Wormley OF, Class of 2004 Culpeper County High School, Commits to Potomac State College.

Go Nate !

CV

Nachion Moore, Catcher, Greenbrier Christian - Radford

Brandon Hendricks
Princess Anne High School
RH Pitcher / 3rd baseman

Virginia Wesleyan College

Richard Fee
First Colonial High School
RH Pitcher / 1st Baseman

Greensboro College

Along with Alex Didio, I have heard of some local ball players heading to the Rat Line. Steve Parsons (Hickory) Trey Barham (Greenbriar) anyone hear about these or more?

Shenandoah University
Hunter Calloway-Glouchester
Drew Dobbins-Waynesboro
Bobby Collier-Brentsville
Jason Byrne-Handley
Bobby Anthony-Osburn Park
Sammy Fullerton-Osburn Park
David Devine-GW Danville
Wes Fry,Jasen Eberz and to many more to list.

Chris Dorney, OF, has signed with Norfolk State. He is a 2003 graduate of Poquoson High School and transfer from Louisburg (N.C.) College. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

james adams (cox) -radford

Any kids from the Eastern District, or from Deep Creek HS?

The TCIS is having its fair share of players moving on to the next level. Some investagating reporting has revealed the following:

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy - Bo Gardner, OF/RHP - Randolph Macon College
Todd Harrell, IF/RHP -Hampden-Sydney College

Norfolk Academy - Arron Hurwitz, IF - William & Mary

Norfolk Collegiate - Matt Venazula - OF- Young Harris JC

Bishop Sullivan - Billy Martin - RHP- Anna Maria College
Zach Haney - RHP - Salisbury University
Garrett Parker - 2B/SS - Mary Washington College

Greenbrier Christian Academy - Trey Barham - LHP - VMI
Nachion Moore - C - Radford
Chase Townsend - Mary Washington College

Cape Henry Collegiate - Mike Gerdes, RHP/1B - Randolph- Macon College

Has Aaron Mania from Cox signed yet?

Ryan Sykes
First Colonial High School
Right Field

Hampden-Sydney Tigers

Kyle Shea
Cox High School
Shortstop

Hampden-Sydney Tigers

Spencer Martin
Cox High School
Pitcher/Outfield

Methodist College

2004 USA South Conference Champs
2004 Division III South Regional Runner-Up

Spencer was also first team all-beach

Chris Deanes
Princess Anne High School
Outfield

Virginia Wesleyan College

2004 ODAC Champs

Chris was also first team all-beach