VA/DC Pick 5 Draft: 757
January 18, 2022
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Recently our staff held a Pick 5 Fantasy Draft for all regions of the state. Jerry Shank, John Nolan, and Jason Burton made their picks in true fantasy draft fashion to reveal who are some of their favorite players in the respective region.
Here are our picks for the 757/Beach area, in snake draft order, with a small quote detailing what stands out and a video from game action.
Burton's Picks:
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Luke Hanson SS / RHP / Lafayette, VA / 20221st Overall Pick "Hanson brings a maturity to the game that is lacking in a lot of high school players. As talented as he is, Luke has the ability to slow the game down and affect it in a multitude of ways. Hanson is the best positional draft prospect in the state."
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Cullen McKay RHP / OF / Maury, VA / 20226th Overall Pick “McKay is an under the radar kind of guy. Coming off of the covid year when there weren’t many eyes out, he made a considerable jump, and then was a little dinged up last spring. He is now fully healthy and has some of the most electric stuff in the state and region. McKay is probably the biggest draft sleeper in the state.”
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Kenneth Schaedel OF / 3B / Cape Henry, VA / 20227th Overall Pick “The Future Games alum has some of the loudest tools of any positional player in the state. Physical, power in the bat, runs well, and versatile defender at the corners. Schaedel offers a lot of intrigue in the future, as he still has plenty of ceiling to his game.”
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Michael Irby RHP / 1B / Cox, VA / 202312th Overall Pick “Irby is a big physical arm that shows pitchability on the mound. We have seen him up to 87 last spring and he simply gets outs. As a first year varsity player, the ECU commit turned into Cox’s most consistent and efficient arm on his way to a state championship last spring.”
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Harrison Didawick OF / 1B / Western Branch , VA / 202213th Overall Pick “6-5 long athletic frame with room to fill. Fell in love with the UVA commit’s swing the first time we saw him at a committed workout two years ago. He can handle the bat, adjusts to counts, and is a strong defender in the outfield.”
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Shank's Picks:
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Blake Dickerson LHP / Ocean Lakes, VA / 20232nd Overall Pick "So much to like about Dickerson on the bump. Long framed left handed pitcher who likes to compete. Fastball shows a lot of life with velo, and the secondary shows potential to be advanced. I really like the makeup and the future for this talented 2023."
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Jerry Barnes III C / 3B / First Colonial, VA / 20225th Overall Pick "Barnes really blossomed into a high level player in 2021. You saw the work put in with the strength added to his frame, and his continued desire to get better. An excellent backstop who will make any staff feel comfortable, plus offensive ability that puts this catcher to another level."
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Bubba Sawyer SS / 2B / Greenbrier Christian, VA / 20248th Overall Pick "I love watching players who change the game every time they are at bat or on basepaths. That's what Bubba brings: Havoc. It's pressure instantly and tends to create runs. Add the natural stroke from the right side and the sure-handedness in the middle, and the future is bright for this talented 2024."
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Jordan Crosland SS / 2B / Nansemond Suffolk Academy, VA / 202311th Overall Pick "I love the game and upside that Crosland brings. It's a versatile bat that could fit in multiple places in the lineup, plus shows plenty of ability in the middle. Think there is a lot more left with a bright future. Honestly I think he is one of the more underrated players in the beach area who is poised to have a strong campaign this 2022 spring."
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Ethan Blakeney OF / RHP / Bayside , VA / 202314th Overall Pick "Ethan is another player who still has another level he is going to reach. Really athletic arm on the bump, and definitely has an opportunity to do both with ability at the plate. Really competes as well. Controlled aggression on the bump who constantly challenges the hitter. Breaking ball is a solid second pitch and should only get better. Speed and short simple stroke. Going to be fun to continue to follow and see what the future holds for this talent."
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Nolan's Picks:
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Austin Younce C / OF / Greenbrier Christian, VA / 20223rd Overall Pick "Younce is a versatile bat that fits in multiple places in a lineup and has speed that can impact the game as well. He is versatile defensively with the ability to be good behind the plate or in the outfield which allows his coaches more options to build the best lineup around him. He is a great dugout presence as well."
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Clay Grady SS / 2B / Nansemond River, VA / 20224th Overall Pick "Grady is one of the best pure infield defenders in the Commonwealth with outstanding quickness and speed to go with great hands. His speed is impactful on the bases where he is a threat and a headache to deal with at the top of the order where he has also started to show some extra base power."
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Cooper Newell RHP / OF / Hickory, VA / 20229th Overall Pick "Newell is the latest righty with a big arm to come out of Hickory. He is lanky with a lot of projection in the frame and a quick arm that has flashed higher velocity that he has a chance to access more consistently in 2022. Shows feel for multiple offspeed pitches and is an arm to watch this spring for the Hawks."
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Austin Irby 3B / OF / Cox , VA / 202410th Overall Pick "Irby was a key piece of the Class 5 State Champs' offense as a freshman in 2021 and will be again for a three more years at Cox. Versatile player who provides power at the plate and athleticism on the bases and defensively. Carries himself well and has a very mature approach, he is a prototypical 3-hitter and already among of the best players in the Commonwealth regardless of class."
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Harper Cox OF / LHP / Cape Henry, VA / 202315th Overall Pick "Cox has a chance to be one of the most impactful players in all of VISAA this spring for Cape Henry. He is a lanky lefthanded hitter with a fast bat and a lot of natural raw power at the plate. Also watch for his athleticism in the outfield and on the bases to play up this spring as well for the Virginia commit."
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