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By Greg Williams
West Virginia Director of Scouting

 
Today we continue our season preview content which will run for three weeks leading up to the start of the 2016 high school season. We will take a look at all four regions and each classification in those regions separately. Today we turn our focus to Class A teams that compete in Region IV. 

PRESEASON Forecast

Wahama is the favorite to advance out of Region IV on the heels of their Class A state title in 2015. Six of nine starters in the state tournament return for the White Falcons including Preseason Player of the Year in the region, junior RHP/C Philip Hoffman. Wahama should be especially tough defensively up the middle returning Mason Hicks behind the plate, Kaileb Sheets at shortstop and Jared Nutter in center field. 

preseason player of the year

Philip Hoffman, RHP/C, Wahama (Class of 2017)
A 1st Team All-State selection as a sophomore Hoffman finished 2015 with a 1.40 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. He displayed a power fastball topping at 88 mph in the first inning of the 2015 West Virginia Class A semifinals. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righty settled in at 85-86 for the remainder of his complete game performance registering nine strikeouts. Hoffman displayed good tilt to his fastball and a hard-biting curveball early at 71-73. He works from a high 3/4 arm slot and has a physical frame that should lead to additional velocity spikes moving forward.

top prospects

[mouse over pics for player names] 

1. Philip Hoffman, 2017, RHP/C, Wahama
2. Cary Casto, 2016, 1B, Parkersburg Catholic
2. Drew Lett, 2016, SS/RHP, Doddridge County
3. Zach VanCamp, 2017, RHP, Parkersburg Catholic

SEASON PREVIEW SCHEDULE

3/5   - Class AAA - Region IV
3/7   - Class AAA - Region III
3/9   - Class AAA - Region II
3/11 - Class AAA - Region I
3/13 - Class AA - Region IV
3/15 - Class AA - Region III
3/17 - Class AA - Region II
3/21 - Class AA - Region IV
3/23 - Class AA - Region III
3/25 - Class AA - Region II
3/27 - Class AA - Region I