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By Greg Williams
West Virginia Director of Scouting

 
Today we continue our season preview content which will run for three weeks leading up to the start of the 2016 high school season. We will take a look at all four regions and each classification in those regions separately. Today we turn our focus to Class A teams that compete in Region III. 

PRESEASON Forecast

The Man Hillbillies have become the perennial favorite in this region but will have to find a way to replace 2015 Player of the Year Braden Griffin if they want to advance to Charleston for the third consecutive year. The Hillbillies will rely heavily this year on John Thomas Keffer (.274 avg., 4 HR, 22 RBI) and Kenny Jo Adkins (.328 avg., 11 2B, 31 runs scored). Look for Greater Beckley Christian to supply the biggest road block to Man's return to the state tournament. The third year program made great strides in 2015 (21-10) and appear to be on the verge of making some noise in this region.

preseason player of the year

John Thomas Keffer, 3B/RHP, Man (Class of 2016)
The 6-foo-1, 230-pound three sport standout has signed to play football at Glenville State. Keffer threw for 1,730 yards and connected on 27 touchdowns while also rushing for nine more as a senior this past fall. Keffer has been a big contributor in Man getting to the state finals in each of the past two years. The right-handed hitter drove in 35 runs while belting four home runs during the course of his junior season.

SEASON PREVIEW SCHEDULE

3/5   - Class AAA - Region IV
3/7   - Class AAA - Region III
3/9   - Class AAA - Region II
3/11 - Class AAA - Region I
3/13 - Class AA - Region IV
3/15 - Class AA - Region III
3/17 - Class AA - Region II
3/21 - Class AA - Region IV
3/23 - Class AA - Region III
3/25 - Class AA - Region II
3/27 - Class AA - Region I