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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: Loudoun Valley
Nickname: Vikings
Class: 4A West
Conference: 21B
Coach: Wayne Todd
Twitter: @LVHS_Jungle
2015 Record: 23-3
2015 Post Season: Conference 27 Champions, 3A East Co-Champs, 3A State Runner-up
Returning Starters/Position: 7
Returning Pitchers: 2

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Justin Ager (RHP, 2016, Yale) Ager is a big righty with a projectable frame. He has a high 80s fastball that has a lot of downward plane on it. He has a good curveball and change-up to go with his fastball. Ager is currently ranked 21^st in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Matt Eberhart (OF, 2016)
Hunter Gore (C, 2016, Liberty) Gore is a big, powerful, lefthanded, middle of the lineup bat who has power to all fields and very real pull power. Gore is athletic behind the plate and has a strong arm. He is currently ranked 49^th in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Adam Lockhart (1B, 2016) Lockhart has a big, lanky frame and a pretty swing. He works the middle of the field and hits for a high average. He has gap power and the potential to grow into more power as he continues to fill out.
Trey McDyre (SS, 2016, Liberty) McDyre is an athletic middle infielder with the potential to have big power. He has gap power to all fields and soft hands at short to go with a solid arm. McDyre is currently ranked 53^rd in the VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Kurtis Meyer (2B, 2016)
Conner Reed (OF, 2016)
 

 

SEASON OUTLOOK
Loudoun Valley had an outstanding 2015 season as the Vikings reached the 3A State Championship game for the second straight year, this time falling behind Lafayette early, rallying back to tie the Rams, and then losing by one in the last inning in what was an outstanding game. The Vikings have been affected by VHSL reclassification this spring and have moved up to 4A, where they will join a very deep 4A West Region. The Vikings did not lose a lot of bodies to graduation, but the ones that they lost will be missed greatly as they look to replace staff ace and 3A State Player of the Year Jack DeGroat (Liberty) as well as All-State outfielders Sam Urban (Liberty) and Kyle Bowles and super utility man Andrew Lohr. Despite those losses, the Vikings seem to be loaded for another deep run in 2016. The lineup again have Gore, Lockhart, and McDyre to anchor the middle and should be balanced from top to bottom. The Viking defense will again be fundamentally sound as it always is and led up the middle by Gore behind the plate and McDyre at short. Ager will move into the role of ace and the Vikings will look to their youth for other guys who can fill out the rotation. Loudoun Valley should be one of the best teams in an insanely competitive 4A West as the Vikings look to make their third straight trip to Liberty for the State Tournament this spring and bring back a championship like the 2014 team did at 3A.