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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 AA teams that compete in Region II. 

PRESEASON Forecast

Fresh off of a Class AA title in 2015 the Bridgeport Indians are the prohibitive favorite to advance out of Region II and make an attempt to win a third consecutive state title. The Indians are the three-time defending AA West Virginia state champs in football and this senior class of athletes is looking to make it a three-peat in baseball as well. Many of the current contributors on the diamond have also played large roles in the success of the football program including 2016 SS Dante Bonamico and 2016 C Elijah Drummond, who are both West Virginia football recruits. The Indians graduated three starters from their 2015 title run, but return the remainder of their everyday lineup and their entire pitching staff in tact. A pair of seniors, LHP Logan Smith and RHP Jared Cleghorn, return at the top of the rotation. Smith tossed the state semifinal game last spring while Cleghorn went the distance in the championship.

preseason player of the year

A 5-foot-9, 170-pound shortstop, Dante Bonamico has helped lead Bridgeport (37-3 in 2015) to consecutive state titles at the 2A level in West Virginia. Hitting from the left side, he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields and puts pressure on the defense with his 6.8-second speed. He’s a fluid defender and covers a great deal of territory, making plays on the move look routine. Bonamico will play football at WVU and is currently the No. 4 baseball prospect in West Virginia’s 2016 class.

top prospects

[mouse over pics for player names] 

1. Dante Bonamico, 2016, SS, Bridgeport (WVU football)
2. Logan Smith, 2016, LHP, Bridgeport
3. Drew Hefner, 2017, C, Bridgeport
4. Jared Cleghorn, 2016, RHP, Bridgeport
5. J.T. Harris, 2017, 2B, Bridgeport
6. Hunter Haddix, 2016, RHP, Bridgeport
7. Joseph Dodrill, 2016, OF, Bridgeport
8. Gordon Swiger, 2017, RHP/3B, Bridgeport
9. Elijah Drummond, 2016, C, Bridgeport (WVU football)
10. Garrett Lord, 2016, RHP, Berkeley Springs

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
3/19 - Class AA - Region I
3/21 - Class AA - Region IV
3/23 - Class AA - Region III
3/25 - Class AA - Region II
3/27 - Class AA - Region I