GROUP 6A
Thomas Dale has a veteran lineup, led by Collin Fleischer (.385, 18 RBIs) and Maurice Gothe (.404, 16 RBIs). Fleisher (4-1, 3.23 ERA) and Tommy Barron (5-1, 2.10 ERA) are two veterans on the mound, but Dale will need some new guys to fill the gaps between them.
James River has a good group of pitchers, including Austin Arnold (5-1, 2.20 ERA) and Austin McClellan (2-2, 2.73 ERA), but none of them has significant varsity experience.
GROUP 5A
Deep Run, coming off an uncharacteristic 4-14 season, returns a lot, including INF Jack Click and C Mike Orcutt. Deep Run will have more pitching this year and will mix veteran players with young ones.
Mills Godwin is young and will look to David Parkinson (3-1, 3.00 ERA) on the mound and C Ryan Grubbs (.348) to lead the lineup.
Atlee loses every starter off last year's team. Collin Bazemore (2-1, 0.89 ERA) leads an inexperienced bunch that will look to get better as the season progresses.
For Highland Springs, Jalen Carter is the best hitter (.363, 10 RBIs) and pitcher (4.02 ERA). The Springers will mix their seniors with a few freshmen.
Henrico will be without three-year starter and P Elliott Cliborne, who had back surgery in the fall. Sophomore Tyriq Branch will step up to fill the missing innings. Henrico will have a speedy outfield.
Hermitage is led by C Dylan Stowell (.271, committed to Methodist) and CF Kendal Jordan (.284, 9 SB). Nick Orf (1-2, 6.00 ERA) is the top option on the mound, but the Panthers have question marks as to who will fill the other roles. A few of their players are getting over injuries, too.
Patrick Henry has a good middle infield with Chesdin Harrington and Tyler Starling.
Prince George is looking for pitching to go with its veteran offense. Seniors Mark King (26 Ks, 7 BBs) and Joey Runion are the leading options. Travis Wyatt (.432) and Montae Bradshaw (.393) are the top returning hitters.
Manchester will rely on its pitching (Nick Butts and Alexander Mauricio) to carry a young lineup that will need to improve.
L.C. Bird (9-8 last year) looks to seniors Logan Mills and Darius Gillus on the mound and at the plate.
GROUP 4A
Only two starters return for Glen Allen. Luke Ransom leads the lineup, and the Jaguars will look to juniors Austin Slough and Patrick Hall on the mound.
Dinwiddie returns six starters from a team that went 13-7 last year. Rashad Stewart (.436 BA) is the leader in the lineup and at the plate. The Generals' pitching staff will be young and inexperienced.
J.R. Tucker is young and needs to replace its middle infield. Chase McPherson (2-0, 1.96 ERA) and Temple Derico (1-4, 2.48 ERA) return on the mound. The outfield is the strength of the lineup, led by CF Randy Neisz (.326).
Midlothian has a corps of talented sophomores that could better the team's 8-11 record from last year. The pitching staff has depth and is led by senior Cory McCollum (3.14 ERA). Transfers Scott Carter and C.J. Friedman add strength on the mound and at the plate. The Trojans start the season with a tough schedule.
Powhatan loses All-Metro OF Tyler Allen, and will look to Luke Rogers (.469, 14 RBIs) and others to replace his bat.
GROUP 3A
All-state DH Kevin Karaffa (.475) returns for New Kent, which went 17-6 last year. Michael Carpenter (.361) will pitch and play second base.
Colonial Heights has a 6-foot-6 sophomore pitcher in Noah Murdock, who has committed to Virginia.
Petersburg won five games last year and is improving each season. William Peterson (.364) was named second-team all-Central District last year. In Conference 26, Petersburg has a fighting chance.
Kenyun Hill (4-1, 1.20 ERA, .289 BA) will lead Armstrong on the hill and at the plate. The lineup is filled with underclassmen.
Thomas Jefferson returns a lot of hitters, including 1B Miles Braxton (.320) and RF Hahns Rozier (.325). But the pitchers are young and inexperienced.
Hopewell returns six starters, but still has a youthful squad.
GROUP 2A
King William went 17-5 last year and returns all of its pitching, including Daniel McGehee (0.87 ERA) and Justin Balderson (1.16 ERA). The lineup is less experienced.
Goochland has some good young hitters coming up from the junior varsity, including Cory Alexander (.459) and Coleman Duty (.333). They'll match up with Goochland's more experienced players, including Joe Cutchins (.367) and Reid Chenault.
Richmond Times Dispatch
Thomas Dale has a veteran lineup, led by Collin Fleischer (.385, 18 RBIs) and Maurice Gothe (.404, 16 RBIs). Fleisher (4-1, 3.23 ERA) and Tommy Barron (5-1, 2.10 ERA) are two veterans on the mound, but Dale will need some new guys to fill the gaps between them.
James River has a good group of pitchers, including Austin Arnold (5-1, 2.20 ERA) and Austin McClellan (2-2, 2.73 ERA), but none of them has significant varsity experience.
GROUP 5A
Deep Run, coming off an uncharacteristic 4-14 season, returns a lot, including INF Jack Click and C Mike Orcutt. Deep Run will have more pitching this year and will mix veteran players with young ones.
Mills Godwin is young and will look to David Parkinson (3-1, 3.00 ERA) on the mound and C Ryan Grubbs (.348) to lead the lineup.
Atlee loses every starter off last year's team. Collin Bazemore (2-1, 0.89 ERA) leads an inexperienced bunch that will look to get better as the season progresses.
For Highland Springs, Jalen Carter is the best hitter (.363, 10 RBIs) and pitcher (4.02 ERA). The Springers will mix their seniors with a few freshmen.
Henrico will be without three-year starter and P Elliott Cliborne, who had back surgery in the fall. Sophomore Tyriq Branch will step up to fill the missing innings. Henrico will have a speedy outfield.
Hermitage is led by C Dylan Stowell (.271, committed to Methodist) and CF Kendal Jordan (.284, 9 SB). Nick Orf (1-2, 6.00 ERA) is the top option on the mound, but the Panthers have question marks as to who will fill the other roles. A few of their players are getting over injuries, too.
Patrick Henry has a good middle infield with Chesdin Harrington and Tyler Starling.
Prince George is looking for pitching to go with its veteran offense. Seniors Mark King (26 Ks, 7 BBs) and Joey Runion are the leading options. Travis Wyatt (.432) and Montae Bradshaw (.393) are the top returning hitters.
Manchester will rely on its pitching (Nick Butts and Alexander Mauricio) to carry a young lineup that will need to improve.
L.C. Bird (9-8 last year) looks to seniors Logan Mills and Darius Gillus on the mound and at the plate.
GROUP 4A
Only two starters return for Glen Allen. Luke Ransom leads the lineup, and the Jaguars will look to juniors Austin Slough and Patrick Hall on the mound.
Dinwiddie returns six starters from a team that went 13-7 last year. Rashad Stewart (.436 BA) is the leader in the lineup and at the plate. The Generals' pitching staff will be young and inexperienced.
J.R. Tucker is young and needs to replace its middle infield. Chase McPherson (2-0, 1.96 ERA) and Temple Derico (1-4, 2.48 ERA) return on the mound. The outfield is the strength of the lineup, led by CF Randy Neisz (.326).
Midlothian has a corps of talented sophomores that could better the team's 8-11 record from last year. The pitching staff has depth and is led by senior Cory McCollum (3.14 ERA). Transfers Scott Carter and C.J. Friedman add strength on the mound and at the plate. The Trojans start the season with a tough schedule.
Powhatan loses All-Metro OF Tyler Allen, and will look to Luke Rogers (.469, 14 RBIs) and others to replace his bat.
GROUP 3A
All-state DH Kevin Karaffa (.475) returns for New Kent, which went 17-6 last year. Michael Carpenter (.361) will pitch and play second base.
Colonial Heights has a 6-foot-6 sophomore pitcher in Noah Murdock, who has committed to Virginia.
Petersburg won five games last year and is improving each season. William Peterson (.364) was named second-team all-Central District last year. In Conference 26, Petersburg has a fighting chance.
Kenyun Hill (4-1, 1.20 ERA, .289 BA) will lead Armstrong on the hill and at the plate. The lineup is filled with underclassmen.
Thomas Jefferson returns a lot of hitters, including 1B Miles Braxton (.320) and RF Hahns Rozier (.325). But the pitchers are young and inexperienced.
Hopewell returns six starters, but still has a youthful squad.
GROUP 2A
King William went 17-5 last year and returns all of its pitching, including Daniel McGehee (0.87 ERA) and Justin Balderson (1.16 ERA). The lineup is less experienced.
Goochland has some good young hitters coming up from the junior varsity, including Cory Alexander (.459) and Coleman Duty (.333). They'll match up with Goochland's more experienced players, including Joe Cutchins (.367) and Reid Chenault.
Richmond Times Dispatch
