2017 Baseball Preview

By ROBERT STOCKS | The Winchester Star Mar 8, 2017

WINCHESTER — After going 73-19 over the past four years, Millbrook enters the season with some key spots to fill after five seniors graduated last year.

Middle infield and pitching depth are the biggest concerns for Pioneers coach Brian Burke.

The Pioneers graduated shortstop and Conference 21 West Player of the Year Alex Amos, second baseman Trenton Burgreen and pitcher Trey Braithwaite (both first team all-conference selections). It’s not a big loss in terms of quantity, but it is in terms of quality production.

Amos (.429 batting average, 19 runs last year), now a freshman at Pitt, and Burgreen (21 runs), now a freshman at Shepherd, filled the top two spots in the Pioneers’ batting order in addition to solidifying two key spots in the middle of the infield.

Senior Nate Jaye and junior newcomers Alec Rudolph and Bailey Collins are the contenders to fill the spots left by Amos (a second team All-Group 4A selection) and Burgreen in the middle of the infield, and Burke said the team needs players to fill the void both offensively and defensively.

“Amos’ on-base percentage was .632 last year, and that made it easier for our guys to score him,” Burke said. “Trenton had a good season as well and led the team in runs. Those guys set the table for our 3-4-5 and it’s a little bit scary now [without them]. Who will be the guys who step up and set the table for the middle part of the lineup? What guy will step up in absence of guys that have held those positions for four years? It’s a little uneasy. We have guys capable of doing it. But we feel like we’ve got our work cut out for us if we want to be where we were the last few years.”

The good news for the Pioneers is three players in the middle of the batting order — Conor Hartigan (.340 batting average, 12 RBIs, 15 runs last year, first team all-conference, first team All-4A West Region, second team All-Group 4A), Ryan Kennedy (eight doubles, 13 RBIs) and Gavin West (.318, 19 RBIs — area best for public schools — 13 runs, first team all-conference designated hitter) — all return.

“Conor gave us a solid season last year,” Burke said. “He missed about three games with injuries. Obviously we’re hoping he can get through the season healthy so we’ll be counting on him a lot more. With him and Ryan Kennedy — we’ll be counting on them to drive in runs in the middle of the lineup. Gavin ended up leading us in RBIs. He’s a kid that produced for us late in the lineup and we’re expecting him to be somewhere in the middle of the lineup to drive in runs for us. But we’ve got to get guys on.”

Another question mark for the Pioneers comes on the mound.

Braithwaite graduated last year, and senior Anthony Simonelli (8-1, 71 strikeouts in 49 innings) is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Seniors Austin Murphy and Kennedy, a lefty (1.22 ERA in 34 IP), should both see more time on the mound this year, but the Pioneers will need other players to provide depth.

“We’re going to have to replace two starters that contributed a lot of innings last year,” Burke said. “Austin pitched sparingly last year and he’s going to have to take on a much larger role than he had as a junior. On the mound we’re having to replace 91 innings between what Anthony and Trey gave us and a 13-2 combined record and 132 strikeouts. Both had sub-one earned-run averages [Simonelli 0.57] and [Braithwaite 0.98]. Our most experienced pitcher [Kennedy] pitched 34 innings.

“We’ve had the luxury of arms in the past. This year we’re still searching for a third, fourth and fifth guy who can contribute on regular basis and throw consistently.”

Burke said that Simonelli — who will be on the Pioneers’ roster — is progressing well with his rehab, but he does not expect to see the right-hander on the mound this season.

“Right now we’re not counting on using him this spring [on the mound],” Burke said. “We’re not counting on him for any innings at all at this point.”

With Simonelli, a first team all-region and second team all-state selection, out, West and junior newcomer Clay Stopha appear to be the leading candidates to pick up innings.

With some roster turnover for the Pioneers, James Wood coach Brent Lockhart said the area race for the district and conference titles might be more wide open than it has been in recent years.

“Overall, I think this year is going to be very evenly matched all across the board,” Lockhart said. “Sherando is going to be pretty decent. I know Pat [Wingfield at Handley] will have his guys ready and each year he’s been improving his program. Woodgrove is always good, so across the board it will be a toss-up for everybody. It’s exciting. It’s unpredictable across the board with all the teams, as well as my team.”

Although Sherando coach Pepper Martin said the conference race could be a little more balanced this season, he believes that defending-champion Millbrook remains the team to beat in both the Northwestern District and Conference 21 West races.

“Millbrook will be solid like they usually are,” said Martin, who enters his 24th season with the Warriors. “They won our district and conference last year, so right now they’re the defending champs. They’re probably the favorites. In our conference, Woodgrove puts a very competitive team on the field every single year. They seem to always have a couple pitchers that are exceptional.

“From our viewpoint, Millbrook is still the team to beat in our district and conference. Even with the loss of Anthony [Simonelli], they still have a couple real good arms back.”

While Millbrook still returns some solid pitching, Sherando might boast the deepest pitching staff in the area.

Warriors starters Ravyn Rouse (a left-hander, 3-1, 1.11 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 312/3 innings), Michael Usa (4-2, 1.28 ERA, 35 strikeouts in 381/3 and Hunter Entsminger (2-1) all return, and Sherando also added more depth on the mound with Strasburg transfer Adam Miller — who also plays in the outfield. The Warriors’ relievers include Brett Bodenschatz, Frank Ritter, Tad Dean (another lefty) and Caleb Peacher.

“We have eight guys who can pitch,” Martin said. “We think we have a pretty strong staff. The addition of Miller helps us considerably and gives us another starter on the mound.”

The Virginia High School League has new pitching rules based on pitch counts this season.

The maximum allowed number of pitches for any pitcher in one day is 110. Any pitcher who throws 101 or more pitches must have four days rest in between appearances.

The other pitch count rules mandated by the VHSL with required rest days are as follows:

• 76-100 pitches — three days rest

• 51-75 pitches — two days rest

• 26-50 pitches — one day rest

• 1-25 pitches — no rest (but 51 pitches on two consecutive days requires one day of rest between appearances).

“I like the pitch count better than the previous [innings] rule,” Burke said. “Time will tell when you look at the schedule and then when you throw weather in you’re going to have to get a little creative with how you use your pitchers.

“I’m hoping that [pitchers] will be in the strike zone a little more and coaches will stress getting ahead in counts and maybe pitch more to contact. That might be something we see more of this year. I’m anxious to see how it works out. I like the rule and I think it’s a good thing.”

Martin said the new pitch count rule shouldn’t change the way his team uses its pitchers.

“It’s not going to affect us,” Martin said. “We’ve been pretty cognizant of pitch counts with our pitchers and that’s not going to change. It’s a good thing, but it’s a very difficult thing to keep track of. They’re going to have it online, but some of those parameters haven’t been explained and that’s [less than] two weeks away from opening the season.”

Clarke County baseball coach Jon Novick resigned back in the fall after guiding the Eagles for the past eight seasons.

Mike Smith, who has been an assistant at Clarke for the past two seasons, takes over as head coach of the Eagles’ varsity program.

It’s Smith’s second stint as head coach at Clarke. He guided the Eagles to a 43-27 overall record from 2001-03, winning the Bull Run District and Region B championship in 2003.

Following is a glance at the area teams:

Millbrook

Coach: Brian Burke, 7th year

Last year: 18-3, 6-0 Northwestern District, Conference 21 West tournament champs, lost in 4A West Region semifinals.

Key losses: Alex Amos (first team all-conference), Trey Braithwaite (first team all-conference), Trenton Burgreen (first team all-conference, second team all-region and all-state) and Josh Sherman.

Top returnees: Conor Hartigan, Sr. OF (first team all-conference and all-region, second team all-state); Austin Murphy, Sr. P; Kyle Keenan, Sr. C (second team all-conference); Ryan Kennedy, Sr. LHP/1B and Kelby Leberknight, Sr. UT, Zach Rogers, Sr. OF (10 RBIs last year); Nate Jaye, Sr. IF/OF (13 runs); Gavin West, Sr. IF/P (first team all-conference DH, second team all-conference 3B); Anthony Simonelli, Sr. P (Conference 21 West Pitcher of the Year, first team all-region and second team all-state).

Key newcomers: Clay Stopha, Jr. P; Alec Rudolph, Jr. IF, Bailey Collins, Jr. IF.

Burke’s outlook: “We’re going to have to fill the void of Amos and Burgreen defensively, and we’ve got to replace those guys at the top of the lineup. We’re trying to find out who is going to step up in those spots. We want to be strong up the middle and losing two key guys — we’re going to have to figure it out. We may not know until the first game. There’s a lot of question marks and things we need to get answered.”

First game: March 17, vs. Freedom, 7 p.m.

Sherando

Coach: Pepper Martin, 24th year

Last year: 14-8, 6-2 Northwestern District, lost in conference tournament semifinals.

Key losses: Austin Simmons (second team all-conference), Tyler Tinsman, Brett Griffith and Colin Painter and Aaron Banks.

Top returnees: Myles McPartland, Sr. OF (11 RBIs, 21 runs, (second team all-conference); Frank Ritter III Jr. SS/P (.369, 21 runs, 14 RBIs, 13 SBs, (second team all-conference); Pearce Bucher, Jr. 3B (10 RBIs); Caleb Peacher, Sr. C/P; Ravyn Rouse, Sr. P/1B (.365, 13 RBIs, (second team all-conference); Brett Bodenschatz, Sr. P/OF (second team all-conference); Lucas Barbe, Sr. 1B; Michael Usa, Soph. P/3B (second team all-conference); Hunter Entsminger, Soph. C/P/OF; Jack Duvall, Soph. 2B.

Key newcomers: Adam Miller, Sr. P/CF/SS (second team All-Bull Run District); Tad Dean, Jr. OF/LHP; A.J. Wunder, Jr. 2B; Kolby Schlag, Jr. C

Martin’s outlook: “Last year we started three sophomores and two freshmen and we got a year of experience under our belt. We’re excited to be on our field [with the mild and relatively dry past few weeks]. We’re definitely further along than we’ve been in many previous years. We think we should have a pretty solid offensive lineup if everyone performs up to their capabilities.”

First game: Monday, at Broadway, 6 p.m.

James Wood

Coach: Brent Lockhart, 4th year

Last year: 8-13, 2-5 Northwestern District, lost in conference tournament semifinals.

Key losses: Eli Warren, Cody Polk and Cameron Gross, Ethan Lieberman.

Top returnees: Joel Smith, Sr. IF/P (5-3, 33 strikeouts); Ben Russo, Sr. P/OF (.386 13 runs, (first team all-conference); Brady Renner, Sr. P/IF, Tyler Matthews, Sr. OF/DH;

Key newcomers: Tanner George, Jr. UT; Trenton Campbell, Jr. IF/P; Mitch Craig, Jr. P.

Lockhart’s outlook: “We’ve got a great group of kids. Depending on how well they want to compete and work, I think we can have a pretty successful season. When we have our best 9 — or 10 with a DH — we don’t have any holes. All 9 players are going to be evenly skilled at positions. We’re not going to have any weak positions.”

First game: Tuesday, at Warren County, 6 p.m.

Handley

Coach: Patrick Wingfield, 4th year

Last year: 1-17, 1-7 Northwestern District.

Key losses: Matt Wagner, Dylan Van Laeken, Travis Painter (first team all-conference) and Aidan Marshall.

Top returnees: Cam Bentley, Sr. OF (second team all-conference); Jimmy Vitola Sr. C; Dwight McGinnis Sr. P/UT; John Rosa, Soph. SS; Webb Bentley, Soph. OF; Clay Curbow, Sr. 1B/OF (.360).

Key newcomers: Logan McGinnis, Fr. IF/P; Cameron Mintz, Fr. P/3B; Ryan Swinton, Sr. OF; Tommy Downey, Soph. C/3B; Alex Madigan Sr. OF.

Wingfield’s outlook: “We have a little more depth and a lot more competition to get in the starting lineup and with our pitching staff. We’re still pretty young pitching-wise, but we have a lot more experience and guys who have grown up pitching. Our lineup is more versatile this year.

“In the past we’ve had to rush some kids to varsity and I think right now we’ve gained experience that they’ve needed. I think we’re not putting kids out of their comfort zone and having them trying to play up. I think we’re all maturing at the right time.”

First game: Tuesday, at Riverside, 6 p.m.

Clarke

Coach: Mike Smith, 1st year

Last year: 13-8, 7-6 Bull Run District

Key losses: Cody Santmyer (first team All-Bull Run District and All-Conference 35), Jordon Turner (first team All-Bull Run District and All-Conference 35), Zach Melusen and Isaac Heavener.

Top returnees: Colt Webb, Sr. P/1B (2 HRs, 12 runs/5-2, 2.18 ERA, 65 strikeouts, (first team All-Bull Run District and All-Conference 35); Kaden Warren, Jr. C/P (.357, 13 RBIs, 14 runs, (second team All-Bull Run District and first team All-Conference 35); Chris Davis, Sr. 3B/P (.375, 17 runs); Sam Fairman, Sr. UT; Mike Zuleger, Sr. CF (15 RBIs, 16 runs); Duff Bloomingdale, Sr. OF/DH (3 HRs, 14 RBIs).

Key newcomers: Colby Childs, Fr. SS/P; Peyton Rutherford, Fr. OF; Danny Lyman, Fr. IF; Michael Edwards, Fr. IF; Eamon Juday, Soph., C/OF.

Smith’s outlook: [The key] is going be getting the old guys to lead the young guys. This group can do good things. It’s going to be getting these young guys up to the [varsity] level of play. The Bull Run District in general is going to be tough. Madison is really good with a lot of guys back, and Strasburg has a lot of kids back. It’s going to be a dogfight right to the very end. We’ll be as good as Colt and [our] pitching is going to be.”

First game: Tuesday, at Luray, 5 p.m.

— Contact Robert Stocks at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow on Twitter @WinStarSports1