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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

As we enter March, the high school season is quickly approaching. As we approach opening day, we will continue our look at high school programs throughout our coverage area as they prepare for the 2016 season.
 

Team: James River (Midlothian)
Nickname: Rapids
Class: 6A South
Conference: 3
Coach: Pete Schumacher
Twitter: @We_Are_JR
2015 Record: 16-4
2015 Post Season: Conference Semifinals
Returning Starters/Position: 3
Returning Pitchers: 1
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tucker Bushby (OF, 2018) Bushby is a quick outfielder that gets good routes in the outfield and has the makings of a good arm to go with a line drive stroke.
Mitchell Carmody (C, 2016) Hampden-Sydney
Thomas Jordan (SS/RHP, 2018)
Peyton McCann (RHP, 2017)
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, 2016, Old Dominion) Pasquantino was invited to play on the San Diego Padres Scout Team at the Arizona Senior Classic and is currently ranked 54^th in the PBR VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Korey Singh (1B, 2016, James Madison) Singh is currently ranked 79^th in the Class of 2016 Rankings.
Tyler Smith (LHP, 2016, Randolph-Macon)
Tanner White (3B/RHP, 2017) White is an athletic two-way talent who is in the low-80s on the mound with room to add velocity and feel for a good curveball and slider. At third he is a good fielder with a clean exchange and a bat with line drive to gap power that could turn into pull power. White is currently ranked 62^nd in the Class of 2017 Rankings.

 

SEASON OUTLOOK
James River is coming off of very good 2015 campaign which saw the Rapids dominate regular season play before falling in heartbreaking fashion, 1-0 in extra innings, in the Conference 3 Semifinals and missing the 6A South Regional tournament. The Rapids lost their top four arms to graduation and are also turning over a significant portion of their lineup this spring. Singh and Pasquantino will make for a dangerous middle of the order when Singh returns from injury during the middle of season. White and Smith will be asked to contribute on the mound and replace the lost innings from last year’s squad. James River has a team full of talented youths that should develop and improve as the season progresses. When the playoffs start in mid-May, the Rapids will have a dangerous middle of the order with good complementary pieces around them, a solid defense, and talent on the mound, all of which will make James River dangerous in the Conference 3 Tournament and a threat to reach the 6A South Regional and do some damage.