2022 VISAA Preview: Division I
March 4, 2022
As the season approaches, we will go around the Commonwealth and DC and preview the action to come this spring, our first full season for all teams since 2019. In each preview, we will break down the Top Prospects in each Classification and Teams to Watch.
2021 saw the VISAA mostly return to its normal format aside from a few schools with local restrictions. Since we returned to a normal format, we were given the gift of a Saturday in May State Championship Day from Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights. As usual, the day did not disappoint. In the nightcap of the Championship tripleheader, unbeaten St. Christopher's played Benedictine in an entertaining back-and-forth affair that ended with Benedictine capturing the 2021 Division I State Championship.
TOP PROSPECTS
Name | High School | Position | Year | Commitment |
Landon Abrahamson | Miller School | OF | 2022 | Dayton |
Corey Adams | Benedictine | SS | 2022 | William & Mary |
TJ Brooks | Miller School | RHP | 2022 | James Madison |
Yoon Chae | Cape Henry | SS | 2023 | |
Harper Cox | Cape Henry | OF | 2023 | Virginia |
Jacob Exum | Miller School | RHP | 2022 | Virginia Tech |
Derrell Fletcher | Benedictine | RHP | 2022 | VMI |
Bradley Garner | St. Christopher's | SS | 2023 | |
Silas Gwathmey | Collegiate | SS/RHP | 2023 | |
Josiah Harrison | Trinity Episcopal | OF/RHP | 2022 | Longwood |
Logan Janney | Trinity Episcopal | 3B | 2023 | Longwood |
Charlie Knighton | St. Christopher's | SS | 2023 | |
JT Landwehr | Flint Hill | RHP | 2022 | Mt. St. Mary's |
Daniel Lingle | Benedictine | RHP | 2023 | |
Carson Mayfield | Bishop O'Connell | RHP | 2022 | Cornell |
Robert McDonough | Bishop O'Connell | RHP | 2022 | William & Mary |
Jason Mendler | Flint Hill | OF | 2022 | High Point |
Wil Moore | Benedictine | LHP | 2022 | VMI |
Noah Murray | Miller School | 3B/RHP | 2023 | Duke |
Cam Nuckols | St. Christopher's | RHP/1B | 2022 | VCU |
Jack O'Connor | Bishop O'Connell | RHP | 2022 | Virginia |
Alex Peltier | Paul VI | SS/RHP | 2024 | East Carolina |
Tyler Rowling | Paul VI | SS | 2024 | Penn State |
Kenny Schaedel | Cape Henry | OF | 2022 | Georgia Tech |
Jackson Sirois | Paul VI | SS/RHP | 2024 | Virginia |
Laken Tignor | Miller School | OF | 2022 | Patrick Henry CC |
Parker Wright | Cape Henry | LHP | 2024 | |
Vincent "Tank" Yaghoubi | Woodberry Forrest | OF/LHP | 2022 | William & Mary |
TEAMS TO WATCH
VISAA I
Benedictine
The defending State Champs will need to find out who will throw the big innings that Jay Woolfolk (UVA) has thrown for the past couple of years, as well as Connor Handy (New Orleans). Handy came on and was a strong second arm in a rotation that led them to another VISAA title. Daniel Lingle showed the ability to perform under pressure last spring and has made a nice jump since that time. Who will accompany him? A few names to remember will be a pair of VMI commits in Derrell Fletcher and Will Moore. Corey Adams (William & Mary) and Moore will help pace the offense, but they will need to get some help from players like Terrence Rhodes. Another name to remember for this spring will be Ethan Loucks.
Bishop O'Connell
The Knights will be previewed in next week's WCAC Preview
Cape Henry
Cape Henry possesses a plethora of depth and talent on the offensive and defensive side. They are athletic, versatile, and have the capability to produce runs at will. Once again, like in 2021, where are the big innings on the mound going to come from? Parker Wight was one of the best arms for the Dolphins in 2021 and should they have Yoon Chae ready to go that will give them a strong 1-2 punch on the mound. Offensively Harper Cox (UVA) and Kenneth Schaedel (Georgia Tech) should pace the way and will be joined by Yoon Chae, Parker and Garrison Wight, Andrew Hart, Tanner Schaedel, Josh Holland, Cooper Angilly, and Macaddin Dye. The Dolphins are extremely deep and talented, but they will only go as far as their arms will take them. If this is the year that someone unseats the “blue blood” VISAA powers, then the team to do it might just be Cape Henry.
Collegiate
Collegiate is young again, but they may be the most athletic and versatile offensive and defensive team in VISAA. One of the fastest players in the state is centerfielder and leadoff man Donovan Williams. He will more than likely set the tone for the offense. In the mix for offensive production are names like Hayden Rollison, Silas Gwathmey, Hartley Rahman, Will Slater, Carter Mitchell, and Eric McDaniel (Mary Washington). Those are just a few of the names to know for the Cougars. On the mound is where the Cougars will be most tested. While they have some solid upperclass, experienced arms with Pearse Riendeau (DePauw) and Eric McDaniel, they will need to see who can be the guy that throws the big innings.
Miller School
In 2021, the Mavericks reached the VISAA semifinals before falling to the eventual champ, Benedictine. Gone to graduation is Miller's top arm from last spring, Drue Hackenberg (Virginia Tech). Aside from that, the bulk of Miller's core returns this spring. Seniors TJ Brooks (James Madison) and Jacob Exum (Virginia Tech) will lead a rotation that has a ton of depth behind them. Brooks especially is poised for a monster 2022 season. Offensively, the outfield is stacked with senior bats Landon Abrahamson (Dayton) and Laken Tignor (Patrick Henry CC) providing power and speed. Junior Noah Murray (Duke) has started on the infield since his freshman year and will continue to be a major factor in the offense. Look for Patrick Rakes to also move into a prominent role in the offense for a team that will again be amongst the top ones in Division I.
Paul VI Catholic
The Panthers will be previewed in next week's WCAC Preview
St. Christopher’s
The Saints lost a wealth of talent, experience, and leadership with the departures of Griffin O’Ferrall (UVA) and Harrison Coble (Pittsburgh). However, they return the core of their lineup in Carter Schmitt (Randolph-Macon), Camden Nuckols (VCU), Kyle Haynes (Randolph-Macon), Bradley Garner, Jacob Carnley, and Charlie Knighton. That group will have the ability to produce runs for a pitching staff that has talent, but is not deep in terms of experience. As the Saints work on building the depth on the mound, the offense should be able to carry the load and get them back to Shepherd Stadium in May.
Trinity Episcopal
The Titans are as deep and talented as they have been in years. That talented group is led by Josiah Harrison (Longwood), Logan Janney (Longwood), Carter Schuma, and JD Stemhagen. Harrison should be the workhorse on the mound and drive in the runs at the plate. On the mound Trinity has some arms, that while they may not front-line shutdown stuff, they have the ability to throw strikes and get outs keeping them in games and letting a strong, versatile offense carry the weight.