VHSL Class 4 Region C/D Preview

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Welcome to our 2020 VHSL Previews. In each preview, we will give you a brief recap of the 2019 season along with the breakdown of each Region and what the rules are to qualify for postseason play under the new alignment. We will also highlight the top prospects in each Classification, as well as some teams to watch during the 2020 season.

In 2019, Lafayette won the State Championship. Riverside defeated Kettle Run to capture the Region C championship, with the Rams ultimately finishing as the State Runners-up. Liberty Christian won Region 4D, defeating the 2018 Class 4 State champs, Salem. LCA fell to Lafayette in the State semifinals.

As for realignment's impact on Region C, in comes Broad Run and Tuscarora, who both move down from Class 5 to join the Class 4 Dulles District. Culpeper County remains in the Northwestern District but slides from Class 3 to Class 4 for the postseason. Out go Riverside and Woodgrove, who both move up to Class 5 and shift over to the Potomac District. Region D got a lot smaller. Headed out is Bassett, Carroll County, Charlottesville, Liberty Christian, and William Byrd. Entering is Halifax County, coming down from Class 5.

Top Prospects Regions C and D

2020 Region C

*Italicized teams played in the 2018 Region C tournament

Teams to Watch Regions C and D

Amherst County
The Lancers struggled in 2019, finishing with a losing record and struggling to find consistent quality performances on the mound. Their offense was solid and it should be again this spring, with athletic junior infielder Christian Martin (Virginia Tech) as the centerpiece to the lineup.

Broad Run
The Spartans were a young team in 2019 coming off of a few down seasons in a row. After a solid regular season, they got hot in the playoffs and rolled into the State tournament as the Class 5 Region C runners-up. This year, they drop down to Class 4 and haven't lost much outside of bats Ryan Gorey (Mary Washington) and Cameron Wayt. Both senior arms are back, with Justin Rebok (Towson) and Ethan Snyder (William & Mary) topping a rotation that has a third horseman in junior lefty Connor Hale. All three will be lineup pieces, along with senior Quinn Stromberg and juniors Jake Flicker and Julian La Bella. La Bella and sophomore lefty Ethan Walker will provide depth behind the top three in the rotation. After gaining experience in last year's postseason, Broad Run is set to roll and should be in the mix in late May in 2020.

Dominion
The Titans had a strong 2019, but finished in a tie for third in the Dulles District and didn't earn a playoff berth. A pair of graduation departures are going to hurt Dominion this spring, with ace lefty Matt Weber (CNU) gone as well as two-way talent Cortland Lawson (Tennessee). There is a group of seniors back that will allow them to be in the mix for a winning season, led by catcher Nick Barenz (Widener) with shortstop Matt Turk and Mario DeCanestro also back in the mix. Look for Xavier Ruley to potentially offer a two-way contribution for a lineup that should be solid. If the Titans can find some quality innings they could challenge for a playoff spot.

Fauquier
The 2018 Region C champs took a step back in 2019, but they did put together a winning season and were in the hunt for a Region tournament bid late in the season. Harrison Whitt and Carson McCusker (Roanoke) have graduated, depriving Fauquier of their top two arms and a pair of middle of  the lineup bats from last spring. There are still a few seniors left that contributed to that 2018 team, with Clay Goff and Nate Winebarger back. Fellow senior James Swart (Bridgewater) should see some more innings on the mound this spring as well as contribute again to the offense.

Halifax County
The Comets reached the Class 5 State semifinals in 2019 and have been a fixture in the Class 5 State tournament in recent years, including finishing as the 2017 State runners-up. The Comets drop down to Class 4 this spring and lose a lot to graduation with the departures of Drew Harlow (Radford), Troy Ferrell (Roanoke), Alex Lowery, and Shaun Perkins (Patrick Henry CC). Despite those losses, look for Halifax to be among the best teams in Region D as they bring back senior Christian Worley (Virginia Tech), who will see an expanded role and is the latest in a long line of Halifax flame throwers. Junior Joey Duffer has a strong arm and some thump at the plate. Juniors Jaxon Lloyd and Leo Noblin have a lot of upside and should pick up some of the innings behind Worley.

Heritage (Leesburg)
The Pride put together a winning 2019 season, but missed the small Region C playoff field. Look for Heritage to fight for a playoff spot this spring with a team that is built around senior pitcher Dylan Saale and junior two-way talent Grant Barberich. Heritage's group of seniors will add depth to their lineup with infielder Colin Troilo (Eastern Mennonite), outfielder Anthony Iannizzi (Penn State-Altoona), and catcher Nick Hemstreet all back this spring.

Jefferson Forest
The Cavaliers had a strong 2019, putting together a very good record, but they came up just short of a State tournament berth, falling in the Region D semifinals to Salem. The Cavaliers lose their ace to graduation with Griffin Agee (Virginia) moving on to college. While Agee is gone, junior Connor Maggi emerged last spring as a second good arm and will move to the top of the rotation. JF has plenty coming back in the lineup and will be stacked offensively this spring. Senior Jackson Cherry (Mercer) will be back at the top of the lineup, with seniors Lucas Bosiger and Jaylen Calloway also back in the middle of the order. Senior Powers Muller is also back and adds depth to the lineup for what should be one of the top teams in Class 4 this spring.

Kettle Run
The Cougars had a good 2019, finishing as the Region C runners-up and advancing to the State Tournament. Caden DeCroo and Zach Ewald (CNU) have graduated, but the Cougars do bring back Joe Vogatsky (James Madison), who is probably the best arm in the Region this spring and is going to get some draft interest this spring. Other seniors who are back for Kettle Run include Bryce McKenna (Shenandoah), who along with Vogatsky will anchor the middle of the lineup. Look for interesting youngster Harrison Yergey to potentially pick up some innings and contribute this spring.

Liberty (Bealeton)
The Eagles showed improvement in 2019, but still came up short of challenging for a Region C berth. There are some solid seniors back that should make the Eagles tough in 2020, led by catcher Logan Rodney and two-way player Colby Neal (Patrick Henry CC). 

Loudoun County
The Raiders had a down 2019 season and lost Donovan Burke (James Madison) to graduation. While County has some work to do on the mound to challenge for a postseason berth, they have some interesting pieces in the lineup and should put some offense together. Senior Sean Garvin (Mount St. Mary's) and junior Sean Goodhart are a strong core to the lineup, with senior Stephen Sommer (Hood College) also adding some depth to the middle of the lineup.

Loudoun Valley
Valley is coming off of a winning 2019, but finished third in the regular season and missed a Region C berth as a result. Ace Michael Grupe (Virginia Tech) has graduated, as has David Gingras (Frederick CC) and Reese Goodlin (Ursinus). The VIkings should have a bit of a rebuilding season, but there are some interesting young players to check out, highlighted by juniors Matthew Courchaine and Evan Pittsman. Look for senior Ryan Dudak to potentially pick up innings as well.

Millbrook
The Pioneers had a strong season, but missed the Region playoffs in 2019. Millbrook has been gutted by graduation with the departure of Chandler Ballenger (Alderson Broaddus), Luke Churchill (Lackawanna JC), John Rosa, and Jalen Tyson. The Pioneers do bring back junior outfielder Yogie Hartigan (George Mason), which gives them probably the best hitter in Region C this spring. 

Park View (Sterling)
The Patriots had another rough season in 2019, but they did win multiple games and were more competitive throughout the season. There are a few solid players on the team, including senior pitcher Bryce Hartman. Hopefully Park View continues to trend upward in 2020.

Salem (Salem)
The 2018 Class 4 State Champs went back to the State Tournament in 2019, but fell in the Quarterfinals. The Spartans get one more run with their core from that State Title team and are poised to run deep again in 2020. Seniors Zian Honaker and Hunter Tensen are both back to anchor the rotation. The centerpiece to the offense will be also back in senior Parker Stallard (Virginia Tech) with fellows seniors Michael Morrison and Jadon Fetrow back for one more run as well. The Spartans will score and are athletic on defense with quality arms in the rotation, they are built to win again this spring.

Sherando
The Warriors put together a dominant 2019 and won the Northwestern District and advanced to the Region tournament. They lost to Riverside in the semifinals and missed a State tournament berth. A big part of Sherando's 2019 success was the dominance of ace Hunter Entsminger (James Madison) on the mound, and he has graduated. There are some key pieces coming back this spring, including middle of the lineup masher Payne Bauer and senior righty John McIntyre (Montgomery JC). 

Tuscarora
The Huskies move down to Class 4 after spending the last few years in the Class 5 Potomac District. In 2019 Tuscarora had a tough season and missed the Region tournament. Senior Phaly Moravek (Montgomery JC) is back this spring and will be the center of the Husky offense, and junior Colin Welsh showed well at early spring showcase events and could contribute some more this spring.

More 2020 Previews