2008 high school baseball previews

Dogwood District

Appomattox
--OUTLOOK: The Raiders are moving from the Seminole to the Dogwood District but coach Joe Caruso is quick to point that they shouldn’t take anything for granted. “I’ve been telling my team that it’s not a big step down. There’s some pretty good baseball played in the Dogwood.”
Pitching will definitely be a strength for Appomattox and it starts with senior left-handed pitcher Timmy Dudley (6-4, 1.19 ERA, 119 strikeouts, 10 walks and 70 innings pitched). They also return senior Josh Bradshaw, who will serve as closer when not anchoring the defense at shortstop. Junior Gary Crawford pitched just one game at the varsity level last year but is was a shutout of Nelson County. “If we catch the ball and score a few runs here and there we will be pretty good.”
--COACH: Joe Caruso
--2007 RECORD: 11-10 and lost in the first round of the Seminole District tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: P/1B Timmy Dudley Sr.; SS/Closer Josh Bradshaw Sr.; C Ryan Handy Sr.; DH/1B Damien Turner Sr.; OF Jack Jobe Sr.; OF/SS Kenny Scott So.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: P Gary Crawford Jr.; C/INF Brett Dill So.; 2B Patrick Mayberry So.
ALTAVISTA
--OUTLOOK: Coach Jason Kilbourne hopes experience breeds success. Justin Kopanko was a first-team all-Dogwood pick and an honorable mention all-Region B selection, and Cory Angell and Chris Robertson earned second-team all-Dogwood honors. The pitching is young, and the Colonels need to do a better job of finding the strike zone. Hitting is also an early concern.
--COACH: Jason Kilbourne
--2007 RECORD: 6-15
--POSTSEASON: Lost to William Campbell in first round of Dogwood tournament
--TOP RETURNERS: SS Cory Angell (.333, 9 RBIs, 13 SB); 1B Chris Robertson (.286, 2 HR, 15 RBIs); UTIL Justin Kopanko (.250, 14 runs, 11 RBIs).
--TOP NEWCOMERS: C Trevor Yeatts; 3B/P Leighton Bennett
GRETNA
--OUTLOOK: Coach Calvin Takata looks at the upcoming season as a test for a team of young players and only one senior. He says that they struggled last year because of inexperience but most of the team has at least a year under its belt now. Takata considers Gretna’s defense to be it’s bread-and-butter and says that junior, and third- year player, Corey Owen may have a breakout season as a pitcher. Ethan Winn, a starter from last year, may be out for the season with a shoulder injury.
--COACH: Calvin Takata
--2007 RECORD: 5-13
--TOP RETURNERS: P/SS Corey Owen; CF Jonathan Pingilley; C Branson Cocke; RF Tyler Lecik; 3B/P Tyler Rouff.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: 1B Rece Wilmant; SS/ P Ryan Gibson; OF Mark Marstin
NELSON COUNTY
--OUTLOOK: Coach Scott McGarry expects the Governors to be strong up the middle defensively. Chris Jones was a second-team all-Region B pick last year, but he hasn’t had much time to practice because he was a key player on Nelson County’s Group A, Division 1, state champion basketball team. Ben Ponton is the top pitcher, but there’s some inexperience on the mound after that.
--COACH: Scott McGarry
--2007 RECORD: 6-15
--POSTSEASON: Lost to Chatham 6-5 in Dogwood tournament semifinals
--TOP RETURNERS: 2B Chris Jones (.313, 13 SBs, 13 RBIs, 1st team all-Dogwood); RHP/3B Ben Ponton (.313, 2 HR, 7 RBIs); C Andy Gordon; RHP/SS/3B Josh Ferguson; 1B Jared Truslow; CF MJ Wells
--TOP NEWCOMERS: 2B/SS Jordan Wooten; OF/LHP Eric Mays

WILLIAM CAMPBELL
--OUTLOOK: The Generals return three pitchers from last season, two seniors and a junior. Campbell struggled early but started to play well in the postseason, going 1-1 in the Dogwood tournament to finish second. The pitching will have to carry the team early, because Campbell is young. Cohesiveness and chemistry will be key if the Generals want to contend for a Dogwood title.
--COACH: Andy Haga
--2007 RECORD: 4-4 Dogwood District
--POSTSEASON: Dogwood tournament runner-up; lost to Goochland in Region B tournament
--TOP RETURNERS: 3B/P Adam Holbrooks; C Trip Green; P/1B Robbie Poole; SS Cody Rudder; RF Geffery Waller; P Darrell Ensley
--TOP NEWCOMERS: CF Austin Fisher, 2B/DH Baron Adams

Seminole District

Amherst
--OUTLOOK: The Lancers return plenty of firepower in seniors Ashton Paige (CF), Jody Ramsey (C) and Josh Herb (2B). The key will be who fills in behind senior Jacob Sale on the pitching staff now that Steven Evans has graduated. “Our pitching staff doesn’t have a lot varsity experience but we have some talented guys. We are going to have to piece some games together with three or four guys,” coach Mike Padgett said. “We have a great core and expect a lot this year.”
--COACH: Mike Padgett
--2007 RECORD: 16-8
--POSTSEASON: Lost to William Byrd in the first round of the Region III tournament.
-- TOP RETURNEES: CF Ashton Paige Sr.; C Jody Ramsey Sr.; 2B Josh Herb Sr.; P Jacob Sale Sr.; SS Chris McDaniel So.; LF Andrew Anderson Sr.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: P Dakota Stinnett Jr.; P Cody Stinnett Jr.
Brookville
-- OUTLOOK: The Bees will be young. No, really young. Four freshmen and three sophomores will receive extensive playing time. The Bees have just three seniors and one junior who will be regulars. “This year is a learning experience,” coach Jim White said. “I am really enjoying this team and their enthusiasm. They are soaking up as much as possible.”
--COACH: Jim White
--2007 RECORD: 12-7
--POSTSEASON: Lost to Blacksburg in the first round of the Region III tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: C/P Johnny Howard Sr.; DH Kris Tolle Sr.; SS/P Jay Graham Jr.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: OF/P Alec Thompson So.; P/OF Jeff Myers So.; P/2B Randy Brooks So.; Jeff Maxwell P/OF Fr.; 1B Will Parsons Fr.; SS/3B Ben Simmons Fr.; 3B Ely Ferguson Fr.

Heritage
--OUTLOOK: The Pioneers should be able to score some runs with seniors Jarith Davis (CF), Gregg Chewning (SS/P), Jon Dansby (OF/C), Thomas Moore (RF) and junior Chris Ellis (3B) returning. Though, Heritage will need to fill in the pitching staff behind Chewning after losing Brett Haas to Ferrum. “It’s still early,” coach Paul Johnson said. “Were sorting it out. We just need to take it one game at a time.”
--COACH: Paul Johnson
--2007 RECORD: 12-8
--POSTSEASON: Lost in the first round of the Seminole District tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: P/SS Gregg Chewning Sr.; P/OF/C Jon Dansby Sr.; OF Jarith Davis Sr.; OF Thomas Moore Sr.; 3B Chris Ellis Jr.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: 2B Trevor Stevens Jr.; C Eric Coleman Jr.; P James Womack Jr.
Jefferson Forest
--OUTLOOK: The Cavaliers return seven of their nine position players including three first-team, all-district players (catcher Josh Huffman, third baseman Ragan Rudisill and outfielder Bobby Shelton). However, JF will be relying on almost a completely new pitching staff now that Matt Hawkins, Jared Millner (Lynchburg College) and Brandon Goddard (Shenandoah University) have a graduated. “We lost guys that pitched 95 percent of our innings from last year,” coach Ryan Gilleland said. “It still up in the air but we have a lot young guys.”
--COACH: Ryan Gilleland
--2007 RECORD: 18-7
--POSTSEASON: Seminole District regular- season and tournament champions. Lost to Hidden Valley in the Region III semifinals.
--TOP RETURNEES: C Josh Huffman Sr.; 3B Ragan Rudisill Sr.; 2B/1B Dylon Higley Sr.; OF/P Bobby Shelton Jr.; OF Tyler Brown Sr.; SS/P Hunter Gordon So.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: P Trevor Johnston So.; P Vince Claudio Jr.
Liberty
-- OUTLOOK: The Minutemen are also going to be very young, as well. They graduated 11 seniors and have to replace eight starters including pitchers Matt Morgan (Lynchburg College) and D.J. Turpin (Patrick Henry Community College). Liberty is getting back SS/P Ethan Tanner, who missed nearly half the season with a bad knee. “We are going to be extremely young,” coach Stewart Grant said. “But, we are learning.”
--COACH: Stewart Grant
--2007 RECORD: 15-9
--POSTSEASON: Lost in Region III quarterfinals.
--TOP RETURNEES: SS/P Ethan Tanner Sr.; 1B Anthony Cottrell Sr.; 2B/P Eric Lafon Sr.; C Aaron Lafon Jr.; C John Hatcher Jr.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: SS/2B/P Jake Tanner So.; 3B/P Clay Carimi Jr.; OF Thomas Schacter Fr.; OF/P John Petersen Jr.
Rustburg
--OUTLOOK: The Red Devils might have the most experienced returning pitching in the district with senior Blake Forslund and Andrew Kasecamp. “The key will be our pitching and defense,” coach Barry Godsey said. “We’ll see how we hit. We’re still sort of feeling things out.”
--COACH: Barry Godsey
--2007 RECORD: 10-11
--POSTSEASON: Lost in the Seminole District tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: P/SS Blake Forslund Sr.; P/1B Andew Kasecamp Sr.; 3B Matt Cook Sr.; LF Casey Tyree Sr.; OF Sammie Goff Sr.
Staunton River
-- OUTLOOK: The Golden Eagles have the most experienced team in the Seminole. Staunton River lost only two starters from last year’s team and the Golden Eagles have upperclassmen up and down the lineup. “Our pitching and defense will be key for us,” coach Brian Divers said. “Hopefully, we do enough to score some runs.”
--COACH: Brian Divers
--2007 RECORD: 4-16
--POSTSEASON: Lost in the first round of the Seminole District tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: P Michael Williams Jr.; P Chris Terry Sr.; P. Daniel Kim Sr.; SS Joey West Sr.; OF Josh Ferratt Jr.; C Zach Divers Jr.; 1B Josh LaPrade Sr.; OF Daniel Orange Sr.; DH David Berger Sr.

Western Valley District

E.C. Glass
--OUTLOOK: The Hilltoppers have eight starters returning but don’t have a lot of depth behind them. Glass has just 14 players on the roster. “We’re a pretty solid club and we’ve got a team that could compete with G.W. Danville and Halifax,” coach Kevin Brown said.
--COACH: Kevin Brown
--2007 RECORD: 11-9
--Postseason: Lost in the Western Valley District tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: 3B/P Gip Hobbs Sr.; SS/P Mike Bergin Sr.; OF Lucas Signor Sr.; C Joey Koes Sr.; 1B/P Mac Ware Sr.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: 2B Parker Vukich Fr.; OF Kent Brizendine Jr.

Va. Independent Conference

Holy Cross
--OUTLOOK: The Gaels are returning to the field one year after there wasn’t enough interest to field a team in 2007. Holy Cross will be playing a full VIC schedule with a very young team. “I like that our team is young and eager to learn,” coach Billy Wesley said. “This will be a year to learn and grow.”
--COACH: Billy Wesley
--2007 RECORD: Did not field a team.
--TOP RETURNEES: P Chris Suldowski Sr. INF Chris Roy So.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: SS Zach Keaton 8th grader; P/OF Isman Knight 8th grader.
LCA
--OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs are still very young but gained a lot of experience last year by playing as many as six freshmen. The addition of pitcher Brock Wilson, a transfer from Jefferson Forest that is a potential Division I player, is a huge boost. “We are expecting nothing less than a conference title and spot in the VIS state playoffs,” coach Ronnie McGuire said. “We’re still very young but we have our expectations set very high.”
--COACH: Ronnie McGuire
--2007 RECORD: 9-11
--POSTSEASON: Lost in the VIC tournament.
--TOP RETURNEES: 2B/P Seth Good So.; SS/P Desmond Rice So.; Colton Brooks P/1B Sr.; OF Brandon Knight Sr.; C Josh Rowland So.; DH Dallas Slater Jr.; P/1B Matt Williams So.
--TOP NEWCOMERS: P Brock Wilson Jr.; 3B Dylan Sligh Fr.; OF Corey Rose Fr.