PRESEASON TOP 10
1. James River
2. Cosby
3. Patrick Henry
4. Hanover
5. Douglas Freeman
6. Dinwiddie
7. Deep Run
8. Mills Godwin
9. Matoaca
10. Henrico
Here’s a preview of the top teams in each
district.
CAPITAL
DISTRICT
ATLEE
2007 record: 8-4 Capital, 13-9
Coach: Will Hicks, first season
Key players: Chase Worthington, Sr., SS/P; Ryan Kontra, Sr., OF; Ryan Farrar, Jr., P/1B, Taylor Sandefur, Jr., P
Outlook: Worthington, Kontra and Farrar were all honorable mention all-region last season. The Raiders have strong pitching and defense that should keep them in games. Depth and experience at the varsity level may hurt them.
HANOVER
2007
record: 11-1 Capital, 14-9
Coach: Charlie Dragum
Key players: Jacob Mayers, Sr., P; Laine Denton
Outlook: The Hawks finished on top of the Capital District standings last year and will try to continue their success behind Mayers.
HENRICO
Coach: Ken Schrad, fourth season, 28-32
2007 record: 7-5 Capital, 13-9
Key players: Seth Cutler-Voltz, Sr., P/OF/3B; Adam Toombs, Sr., 2B/SS; Taylor Smith, Sr., 3B; Michael Mansfield, So., C/OF; Landon Prentiss, So., SS
Outlook: Click here for the Henrico baseball preview
LEE-DAVIS
Coach: Kenny Lewis
2007 record: 8-4 Capital, 12-8
Key players: Nick Frame, Jr., P; Jordan Walton, 1B
Outlook: Click here for the Lee-Davis baseball preview
CENTRAL
DISTRICT
DINWIDDIE
2007
record: 14-0 Central, 18-4
Coach: Shawn Wynn, second season, 18-4
Key players: Colton Warren, Sr., C; Justin Clay, Sr., SS/P/1B; Chad Jones, Jr., 3B; Taylor Perkins, Sr., CF/P; Chris King, So., 2B/SS/P; Alex Christopher, Sr., 1B/P
Outlook: Six starters return from an impressive season where the Generals went undefeated in district play. Perkins leads the way with a .466 batting average and an 8-1 record on the mound. Clay (.390, 5-2) and Christopher (.355, 4-0) will also provide offense and good pitching.
HOPEWELL
2007
record: 4-8 Central, 8-12
Coach: Ricky Irby, third season, 23-37
Key players: Ryan Bradshaw, Sr., P; Adam Capps, Sr., 3B/SS; Adam Wagner, Jr., 2B/SS; Chris Pisarek, Sr., C/P; Joey ***, Jr., OF/C
Outlook: The Blue Devils have all nine starters returning giving them experience all over the field. Bradshaw had a record of 4-2 and a 3.65 ERA last season. Capps (.460, 3 HRs, 18 RBI) is the best bat in the order.
MATOACA
2007 record: 8-6 Central,
12-9
Coach: Fred Stoots, sixth season, 64-45
Key players: Matt Gwaltney, Sr., INF/P; Matt Richardson, Sr., INF/P; David Palisano, Sr., OF; Austin Kilbourne, So., OF/P; Logan Walker, So., INF/P; Joey Andrews, Sr., INF/P
Outlook: Matoaca is inexperienced but got their season started off with a bang with an out of district victory over Cosby. Only two starters are back. Palisano, Kilbourne , Gwaltney and Walker will head the offense attack.
THOMAS DALE
2007 record: 9-5 Central,
11-12
Coach: Chris Marshall, second season, 11-12
Key players: Kevin Curd, Sr., SS; Ryan Carter, Jr., C; Michael Green, Jr., OF; Kirk Jennings, Sr., P/DH; Bill Cullen, So., P
Outlook: Cullen is the No. 1 starter but the team still needs a strong No. 2. Carter (.310, 3 HRs, 20 RBI), Green (.397, 15 SB, 13 RBI) and Curd (.362, 4 HRs, 21 RBI) look to build on last season.
COLONIAL DISTRICT
DEEP
RUN
2007 record: 12-1 Colonial, 25-4
Coach: Grant Odell
Key players: Brooks Martin, Sr., OF; R.C. Orlan, Jr., P; Marshall Halbeib, Sr., P
Outlook: The Wildcats have won the district title the past two seasons and were region and state runner-ups last year. Martin, Orlan and Halbeib will try to keep the team as one of the squads to beat in the district and region even with the loss of stars Deck McGuire and Brett Entz.
DOUGLAS FREEMAN
2007 record: 7-7 Colonial, 13-9
Coach: Ken Moore, 26th season
Key players: Will Hudgins, Sr., P/OF; Dustin Galbraith, Sr., P/INF; Stephen Oswald, Sr., LF; Ciaran Maguire, Sr., DH/OF
Outlook: The Rebels beat Deep Run 2-1 in nine innings to begin the season. Hudgins and Galbraith will need to perform on the mound and Oswald and Maguire will need to swing the bats well for the team to claim the district crown. Pitching and speed are the strengths of the team.
MILLS GODWIN
2007 record: 9-4 Colonial,
14-8
Coach: John Marano, 17th season, 183-54
Key players: Reed Gragnani, Jr., SS; Robbie Garrett, Sr., P; Kyle Gragnani, Sr., 1B; Travis Lane, Sr., CF; Ryan Ross, Sr., P; Nick Caporale, Sr., P/OF
Outlook: All five pitchers return including Ross, who was injured, and Caporale, a transfer from Deep Run. Garrett is the No. 1 pitcher while Reed and Kyle Gragnani will power the offense. Two sophomores and freshman will start but the team should be solid defensively.
PATRICK HENRY
2007 record: 10-4 Colonial,
17-7
Coach: Sam Hart, 13th season
Key players: Kyle Stanley, Jr., 1B/P; Derrick Brewer, Jr., P/OF; Taylor Seay, Jr., P/OF; Ryan Smith, Sr., SS
Outlook: Behind Seay, Brewer and Stanley the Patriots should have a strong pitching staff. Their infield play will be a strength but the team is inexperienced in the outfield. Smith (.400) is one of Patrick Henry’s better hitters.
DOMINION
DISTRICT
COSBY
2007 record: 12-3-1 Dominion, 17-5-1
Coach: Tim Lowery, second season at Cosby, 26th overall, 293 wins
Key players: Jake Lowery, Sr., C; Ronnie Shaban, Sr., SS/P; Tadd Bower, Sr., INF/P; Dustin Sollars, Sr., OF; Bradley Shaban, Jr., INF
Outlook: Click here for the Cosby baseball preview
JAMES RIVER
2007
record: 15-1 Dominion, 26-2
Coach: Pete Schumacher, second season, 26-2
Key
players: Robert Oldham, Sr., OF; Jack Cleary, Sr. C; Ian Harvey, Sr., OF; Austin Stadler, Sr., P/1B; Daniel Marrs, Sr., P/1B; Jake Mathews, Jr., P
Outlook: Click here for the James River baseball preview
MIDLOTHIAN
2007 record: 12-4 Dominion,
15-6
Coach: Scott Hueston, 4th season, 44-22-1
Key players: Ryan Mallory, Sr., 1B/P; Kevin Sias, Sr., C; Blaine Jones, Sr., SS; Ryan Barto, Jr., Util.; Chris Helbig, Jr., Util.; Nick Davis, Jr., Util.; Miles McQuag, Jr., Util
Outlook: Mallory and Sias will lend senior leadership to a team full of junior talent. The Trojans have a lot of offense but pitching may be a question. Finishing first or second in the district might be tough but the third spot is definitely a possibility.
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