2008 saw a great state tourney between 4 very talented teams across the state from the private school ranks. St. Chris, St. Anne's, Paul VI and St. Stephens & St. Sgnes were the big schools for D1. A surprise Steward school made a run in D2 against Greenbriar, etc..
Any thoughts about the 2009 season? Who and What teams should we keep an eye on? I know its early, but, pitchers & catchers do report in 10 days, ya know......yippee
Posted on 1/29 1:26 PM | IP: Logged
In DII of course Greenbriar Christian, also Liberty Christian sounds to have received some strong new recruits. I would also watch out for Miller, they have been consistantly near the top and seem to have a chance at another good run.
Posted on 2/12 10:32 PM | IP: Logged
In no particular order, I'll throw these out on the table....the teams that should make some noise. Greenbriar, Paul V1, St. Stephens/St. Agnes, STAB, Notre Dame, Bishop O'Connell and Collegiate. Exceptable?
Posted on 2/4 12:36 PM | IP: Logged
I hear that the St. Anne's - Belfield program has about 8 sophomores, 4 that started as freshman on its #3 ranked D1 team last year, returning this year. St. Christophers usually has the pitching to complete for the state title, but it lost its two key guys to D1 programs. You can never count out Paul V1. I think it will a very good prep year for baseball. I'm looking forward to the games this year around the state.
Posted on 3/2 8:02 PM | IP: Logged
Heard that STAB won at James River (AAA) in scrimmage this past Saturday. James River still has potent offense but has lost all their pitching from the last two championship years (same happened to Monacan after their 2006 championship). JR has no "proven" pitching returning this year.
Posted on 3/2 9:44 PM | IP: Logged
STAB should have a deep pitching staff with Goodloe, Spinosa Brothers, and A good Lefty. idk who will be filling in at first base for the Long boy? they leave for FLorida on Saturday
Posted on 3/3 11:53 PM | IP: Logged
STAB and St C will be class of Prep league. Collegiate cupboard is dry and Tom Nuckols has moved to St C as pitching coach. STAB has Goodloe and Spinosa on the mound. St C probably better position by position than last year's state runner-up team. Henkel and Fleming (transfer from Louisa)on the mound will be very little drop off from two seniors last year.Question is pitching depth. Paul VI will be there again. Costello is among the best pitchers around.
Posted on 3/3 10:56 AM | IP: Logged
Paul VI has several pitchers that will help support Costello. If hitting is there, they will be repeating. I think besides Goodloe, STAB has the brothers' Spinoza to compliment. Should be an exciting year.
Posted on 3/3 2:51 PM | IP: Logged
Unless the rest of the WCAC is down, PVI lost way too much to repeat, even with Costello.
Posted on 3/10 11:59 AM | IP: Logged
Been able to see about a dozen prep school games this season, and I am finding that we have some great baseball in the state. So far, I've noted Greenbrier, Trinity, STAB and St. Chris look good. Greenbrier may be the best of the bunch early out of the gate, but its still early. Has anyone seen the St. Albans team? I believe one of there pitchers from last year is playing at UVA.
Posted on 4/3 9:20 AM | IP: Logged
Haven't seen St Alban's yet this year. St Christopher's plays them at 100PM on Sat, April 18 at StC.
Danny Hultzen is the kid you are referring to . He is a weekend starting pitcher at UVA, plays 1st or DH when not pitching. 5-0 as pitcher, low 2-somthing ERA, struck out 16 against FSU earlier this year. UVA has had 4-5 freshman A-A in O'Conner's time as coach. Hultzen should be the next.
Posted on 4/5 10:24 AM | IP: Logged
Thanks for the information. I believe St. Alban's visits St. Anne's - Belfield later this month as well. BTW, a local passed along some information that Greenbrier lost to STAB 6-3 this past weekend down at Greenbrier. Some timely hitting (home run in the last inning with 2 outs), solid pitching and good defense provided the difference. After a early giv-a-way loss to St. Chris, this young STAB team is beginning to show its strength.
Posted on 4/6 9:08 AM | IP: Logged
You must a STAB fan (tongue in cheek here). Just FYI-- the "give away"-- guess you did not see it. Timely hitting by StC and walk-off HR by StC senior catcher was the difference. BTW StC gave STAB two unearned runs (and a misplayed fly ball for another run).
later in the week, Goodloe pitched tremendously to shut the Saints out. Don't know that they would have ever scored off him with the stuff he had that night, but 3-0 game included again two unearned runs given up by STC. StC pitcher was almost as good.
Who knows where these two teams will be next time they play but STAB has two senior pitchers, one headed to a mid D-1 program. Little bit of a stretch to call them young.
Posted on 4/6 2:24 PM | IP: Logged
Your correct about me being a STAB fan. (that obvious, huh?) I have friends who's kids play there, but always enjoy good baseball. I played and coached collegiately, so I find watching the prep league games here in the state very competitive. I actually watched both STAB/St. Chris games..... big rivals in the prep league. A number of the players play together in the summer for the Richmond Braves National teams.
Based on what I've seen at STAB, it's 1,2& 3 pitchers are a senior (Goodloe) junior (Saunders) & a sophomore (Spinoza). The 2nd senior has not pitched in 3 years (shoulder issues), so he's really a WIP. I believe he gave up the 2 run bomb in Richmond. But when catcher, 1st, 2nd, lf and rf are soph's. SS & CF are juniors, I would consider them more on the young side. (Although it is nice to have Goodloe holding down the fort). St. Chris had 2 great senior pitchers that led the way last year, and it looks like they have solid pitching again. Should be fun to watch.
(I'll also try to limit the bias... : ))
Posted on 4/6 3:36 PM | IP: Logged
I'll try to limit bias also. My name gives me away. Campbell Henkel is my son.
The real shame is that StC had to play Trinity and STAB so early in the year and the Prep League gave up the season-ending tourney a couple of years ago. Although I think when we are done this year, all three will be in State.
StC is young also, though. Top 3 pitchers are juniors, 2nd,SS and one starting OF are soph.Starting C, a JR is out after shoulder surgery (although Freeman a capable replacement behind the plate --could always hit as evidenced by his walk-off against STAB). Should be a good rivalry for a while.
Posted on 4/6 8:14 PM | IP: Logged
Notre Dame? Their past does not portend their future. They graduated key players, had several starters/potential starters leave, and have not brought in the type of players they have in the past since the school changed its outlook, coaches, and approach. I suspect their days at the top of the division are a thing of the past.
Posted on 2/5 9:26 PM | IP: Logged
I would not be stunned if Notre Dame does not have enough players to field a team. The new coach seems like a great guy but I'm not so sure the current administration has not mislead him about how they think athletics are important to the school. If they play they will be pretty bad.
Posted on 2/6 10:43 AM | IP: Logged
Thanks for the info. Last I heard, they were bringing in new coaching and a couple of pitchers. Your right about past years. Knowing several of those past players, the team would enjoy some of the historic success of years gone by.
It still has several good one's there. I wish them well.
Posted on 2/6 10:40 AM | IP: Logged
Last I heard, several Notre Dame starters left for Paul VI due to Notre Dame imploding beyond its athletics program due to administrative and funding issues...If true, I hope it works it way back to health.
Posted on 4/15 2:31 PM | IP: Logged
Any details on the STAB-TES game on Tuesday? Wasn't in the Richmond paper.
Posted on 4/17 3:35 PM | IP: Logged
STAB beat TES 5-1 on Thursday, home,(postponed Tuesday). Then lost on Friday,away,, 7-0. STAB, St. Chris and TES all tied, I believe, for 1st in prep league. Stab hit the ball well and early on Thursday, and TES provided itself the same success on Friday.
Posted on 4/18 8:09 AM | IP: Logged
New rankings out as of the 23rd...
Bishop Ireton Saw the latest D1rankings. The top 4 are.....
Bishop Ireton St. Chris Paul VI STAB
Others follow (Trinity, Flint Hill, Etc....)
Does this look right?......thoughts welcome. I think the only change would potentially be flipping Paul VI and STC. And let's not forget Trinity. Haven't seen BI play, but if they lead the division Paul VI plays in, they must be strong this year. States should be interesting.
Posted on 4/25 8:37 AM | IP: Logged
RTD had linescore of STAB-Benedictine. Looked like wild game.
Any details?
Posted on 4/27 11:16 AM | IP: Logged
sorry, but was out of town....it was a heck of a game. Benedictine hit the ball very well. Goodloe finally was human....It went 11 innings. We brought in Spinoza (soph) in the 6th. He was un-hittable, however, walked 7, hit a batter and walked in the winning run.
STAB could have won it in the 7th with runners on 2nd & 3rd, no outs, but did not get the run in. Ben. deserved the win.....but yor're correct, it was pretty wild. Benedictine is such a quiet team... ; )
Posted on 4/28 3:03 PM | IP: Logged
Ireton has been slipping lately. They are not the top team in the VISAA right now. I'd give that to St. C since they recently beat St. Albans.
Posted on 4/28 9:20 AM | IP: Logged
StC, Trinity and STAB split 2 games each this year and should end up in 3-way tie for VPL championship. StC has big game against Benedictine on Sat nite at RF&P Park in Richmond. BHS has won 5 in a row. Big game because the two schools ahve not played in any sports for 2 years. Should be another indicator of where these teams fit. Trinity is good also- not getting respect they deserve with offense they have.
Posted on 4/28 11:22 AM | IP: Logged
Trinity and Benedictine play on Wed of this week also.
Posted on 4/28 11:25 AM | IP: Logged
Haven't seen BI either but agree that if they are leading that DC/NOVA league, that means something. Paul VI coming on after early losses but may not be as deep as last year's team.
St C snapped St Alban's 11 game win win steak last weekend (granted- you never know what pitchers are throwing in weekend games- just as STAB did not use Goodloe against PVI last week).
Rankings are probably as good as you can get right now with exception of Trinity not getting the respect they deserve. Their pitching is probably not as deep as others but Bradley is throwing as well as anyone. They hit really well deep into the line-up (although power --HR#s are skewed because of squirrelly outfield dimemsions- 265 Ft to RF, no more than 290 to RCF). They should be ranked higher.
St C - Benedictine have a game next Sat at 700PM at RF &P Park in Richmond. First time in 3-4 years these two have met.
Posted on 4/25 9:14 AM | IP: Logged
Private D1 Rankings as of April 29th.
St. Chris Paul VI Bishop O'Connel STAB Trinity
Bishop Ireton dropped a bit with a losing string lately. With St. Chris, Trinity and STAB all splitting their series this year, I'm assuming its a matter of who you play outside of the conference that is determining the seedings. Interesting to see what will happen if St. Chris & Trinity get there games in against Benedictine.....
Any thoughts....its sure a tight bunch..
Posted on 4/30 1:02 PM | IP: Logged
Anyone know how St. Chris did against Benedictine this past weekend? I believe Benedictine defeated Trinity earlier in the week.
Posted on 5/4 4:23 PM | IP: Logged
Postponed Sat nite due to wet field. Trinity lost twice to Benedictine last week.
StC and Benedictine rescheduled for Wed, but with weather possibilities and Catholic State Tourney starting Thursday, may not get it in.
Posted on 5/4 6:27 PM | IP: Logged
New poll comes out later this week. Last week's poll below as an FYI...potential changes coming..
1. St. Christopher’s 13-4 2. Paul VI 13-8 3. Bishop O’Connell 11-6 4. St. Anne’s Belfield 12-5 5. Trinity Episcopal 13-3 6. Flint Hill 12-5 7. Bishop Ireton 11-8 8. Benedictine 11-6 9. Liberty Christian 9-5 10. Bishop Sullivan 9-5
Yahoo! Sports
