The 2011 Liberty District baseball season promises

to be an exciting one. Many of the teams are entering the season with

renewed optimism you normally find this time of year. Several coaches

commented to us that they felt the district would be more competitive than in

recent years. McLean Coach John Thomas (pictured-right( said "I think you will see

many of the teams improved over a year ago and I don't think anybody's going to

go 14-0 or 13-1 this year. There will be a log jam of teams in the 8-6, 7-7, 6-8

range in district play. Should make for a real fun year in our district"

Madison coach Mark "Pudge" Gjormand

(pictured left, photo by Albert Jacquez)

told us "The cool part about our district is that everyone has a number one if

not a legitimate number two pitcher. The Liberty District is going to be

strong as far as how many good teams there will be. Every night will be a

battle and it hasn't always been that way. Go ahead and ring the bell and

lets get this fight started." Coach, we could not have said it better ourselves.

COMPLETE Liberty District Preview,

Rick Freeman takes over the head coaching

position this season at Fairfax, replacing Kevin Simonds who became the school's

varsity football coach last year. Freeman returns to the Rebels after

leaving three years ago to work at Flint Hill.

Fairfax returns a good core group this spring,

including senior Joseph Vanderplas (LHP/1B-pictured), a first team all district, second

team all region pick a year ago (pitcher) who has signed with Tennessee.

Junior Sean Ranson (3B/RHP) is also back along with sophomore catcher Brandon Ginch.

A key returnee who missed last season due to

injury will be junior utility player Mitch Ardinger. He started on the

varsity as a freshman and can play in the outfield as well as the infield.