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Region Preview: Class A - Region I

March 24, 2015

By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

With the start of the high school season is less than a month away we will be previewing each region in each classification statewide. In addition to a look at the top teams we will also highlight some of the top prospects in each region. Look for our initial Elite Eight team rankings in each classification to appear later this month.

Class A - Region I

Preseason Favorites

Bishop Donahue (14-12) / Clay-Battelle (11-6)

In what appears to be a wide open race, Bishop Donahue and Clay-Battelle appear to have the greatest chance of making a march to Charleston for the state tournament come June. Both teams advanced to the regional tournament in 2014 and return significant portions of their rosters making them the early season favorites in what should be one of the more interesting region battles in the state.

Preseason Player of the Year

Kurt LatochaKurt Latocha, C, Clay-Battelle HS (Class of 2015)

Latocha has been a 1st Team All-State selection in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Latocha registered a 4.40 home-to-1B time and showcased pop times of 2.16-2.18 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch at a PBR event in 2014. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitter displayed a 78 mph bat exit velocity during his round of batting practice. Latocha starts from a slightly open stance with a high hands load and displayed the ability to use all fields with a line drive approach.

Top Prospects


Bishop Donahue 

Alex Riedel
      Reidel 

Alex Riedel, C (Class of 2015)
Jesse Padlow, RHP, Class of 2015 (went 5-2 in 2014)
Brett Moore, IF/OF, Class of 2015 (hit .365 as a junior)

Cameron

* The Dragons graduated just one senior from last year's roster that finished with a record of 3-13.

Clay-Battelle

Kurt Latocha
      Latocha

Kurt Latocha, C (Class of 2015, ranked #46 in class)
Josh Lemley, RHP (Class of 2015)

Hundred

* The Hornets suffered through a winless season in 2014.

Madonna

Kaleb Baire

Kaleb Baire, SS/2B (Class of 2015)

Magnolia

 * The Blue Eagles look to build on a 13-8 finish in 2014.

Paden City

* The Wildcats lost just two seniors from their roster following a 9-14 campaign in 2014.

St. Marys

* The Blue Devils will have to contend with the loss of 10 seniors following a 31-3 season that culminated in a trip to Charleston in 2014.

Trinity Christian

http://www.ncsasports.org/seoj/system/client_photos/athlete_468344_profile.jpg

Justin Everly, OF/RHP (Class of 2015)

Tyler Consolidated

 * The Knights look to build on an 11-13 season in 2014.

Wheeling Central

Nate Bakaitas, UTIL (Class of 2015)
Bryan Campbell, OF/RHP (Class of 2016)

Valley

* After a win over Tyler Consolidated in the 2014 sectional tournament, Valley suffered back-to-back losses to St. Marys by a combined score of 34-0.

>> View all region previews & preseason players of the year by region


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