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Preseason Elite Eight: No. 1 Team in Class A

March 23, 2014

By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

In the spirit of March Madness the first rendition of the Prep Baseball Report Elite Eight Rankings are being released this week. We have been counting up to No. 1 and today we release the Preseason No. 1 team in Class A baseball.

 

class a:  No. 1 - notre dame

A preseason ranking is nothing more than a pat on the back and some motivation to prove the prognosticators correct. For Notre Dame high school the Preseason No. 1 ranking in the state pales in comparison to their ultimate goal, a Class A state title.

The Irish came within one win of the Class A state title game in 2013 and return everyone. With every single player returning from a squad that went 23-11 and played into June the biggest concern will be the proverbial bullseye that will be on their backs this season. Coach Patrick Marozzi will be in charge of seeing that Notre Dame stays focused and working towards a return to Charleston at the end of the 2014 season.

ACCORDING TO THE COACH:

"The 2014 season could be a very special one for us. We return all 9/10 starters from last season's state semifinal team. With pitching being our strong point, we think that this year's team will contend for a state championship. Our entire pitching staff who combined for a 1.90 ERA is all back. We hope to repeat as Mason Dixon Conference Champions, as well as sectional, and regional champions. Our goal is pretty simple, get back to Charleston, and hopefully with a different outcome. We haven't had a senior in two years, this year's team will feature six seniors. Two of them are first team All-Staters. We have a lot of experience that will lead this year's team. Our sectional is a best of three series with our cross county rival South Harrison, I look for them to be vastly improved from a year ago. It's always a battle with them, so hopefully we can come out on top, and move on to the Regionals. In the Regionals we would play the winner of Tygarts Valley and Tucker County. I also look for both of those programs to be improved from a year ago. And finally the Regional Final with either (Moorefield, East Hardy, Pendelton County, or Pocahontas County.) We have been fortunate to play in the Regional Final the last two years, and have had great battles with East Hardy. I know Moorefield and Pendelton County are both well coached, and will be right there as well. If we are fortunate to make it to back-to-back state tournaments, we will have earned it for sure."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Chris Petrucci, SS/RHP, Class of 2014 (1st Team All-State 2013 & 2014)
TJ McKinsey, RHP, Class of 2014 (1st Team All-State 2013)
Spencer Harlow, RHP/C, Class of 2015 (2nd Team All-State 2013)
DJ Murphy, OF, Class of 2014 (1st Team All-Harrison County 2013)
Josh Baker, 1B/LHP, Class of 2016 (Ranked No. 5 in WV Class of 2016)
Jordan Miller, 3B/C/RHP, Class of 2016 (Ranked No. 10 in WV Class of 2016)

 

complete preseason elite eight team rankings

 

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