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Region Preview: Class AA - Region III

March 5, 2014

By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

With the start of the high school season 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.

                 Class AA - Region III

Preseason Favorite

Independence (21-11)

Independence returns eight starters from their roster that made a trip to Charleston last year. They are the prohibitive favorite to win the region and make a trip back to the state tournament in 2014. Last year's state semifinal loss, which ended on a walk-off home run, will be extra motivation for the Patriots.

 

In the Hunt

PikeView (26-11) / Liberty Raleigh (24-9)

PikeView lost a nail biter (4-3) to Independence in the Region finals last year. Although the Tigers lost just two players to graduation, 2B/RHP Kevin Cottle will be difficult to replace. Cottle's nine wins on the mound and 28 RBI will be a tall order to fill.

Liberty spent much of the year ranked near the top of the state Class AA rankings. Gone from that roster that notched 24 wins are just three seniors, but two of them were captains Austin Lyons and Joey Lacek. The Raiders will once again have to get by Independence in the Section I tournament in order to have a shot at the region title. 


Wyatt AdkinsPreseason Player of the Year

Wyatt Adkins, SS/OF, Independence HS (Class of 2014)

Adkins is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound SS/OF that was named 1st-Team All-State for his play in 2013. The West Virginia Wesleyan recruit hit .386 with 10 doubles, 40 runs scored and 30 RBI. Adkins was right at home on the big stage in the state semifinals last year. In the walk-off loss to eventual state champion Herbert Hoover, Adkins went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Adkins run in the 5th inning appeared to be the game winner for Independence until a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th ended the Patriots season.


Top Prospects

Bluefield

Robert Bourne, 3B/RHP (Class of 2015)
Trevor Mulliins, SS/RHP (Class of 2015) 

Independence

Wyatt Adkins, SS/OF (Class of 2014, West Virginia Wesleyan recruit)
Brad Huffman, 3B/RHP (Class of 2014, WV Wesleyan recruit)
Jeremy McGinnis, C/RHP (Class of 2014)
Brian Sexton, RHP/1B (Class of 2014)

PikeView

Hunter Moses, C (Class of 2014)
Zach Meadows, RHP/1B (Class of 2014)
Austin Cordell, LHP/1B (Class of 2015)
Carter Shrewsbury, OF/RHP (Class of 2016) 

River View

Dee Duff, LHP/OF (Class of 2014)

 

view all Region previews & preseason players of the year by conference


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