High school baseball season preview

Indian River made a surprising sprint last season to the program’s first Group AAA state tournament appearance. “We’re trying to build on that,” coach Steve West said, adding the Braves have “improved in most areas.”

In the Southeastern District, Indian River is expected to better its fourth-place finish, while at the Beach, preseason favorite Cox “learned a lot of tough lessons” after an 0-7 start last season, said coach Bill Conroy. Maury is the preseason favorite in the Eastern District.

Here’s a look at The Pilot’s Top 10:

1. Cox – Expectations are high for the Falcons, who welcome back SS Chris Taylor (.430 BA), who signed with Virginia.

2. Greenbrier Christian – An already stout Gators squad gets a boost from CF James Taylor, a transfer from Kellam.

3. Indian River – Coach Steve West calls this group “experienced” and “tested” after last year’s state tournament run.

4. Great Bridge – The Wildcats are relying on some youngsters to play key roles, but toppling them won’t be an easy task.

5. Maury – The Commodores’ one-two pitching punch – Coby Cowgill (7-2, 1.57 ERA) and John Garrett (4-0) – is as good as any in South Hampton Roads.

6. Kellam – Nine upperclassmen, paced by RHP Jeff Di Fulgo (6-3, 1.87 ERA), should propel the Knights into contention.

7. Princess Anne – The roster features nine seniors, including a talented rotation led by RHP Dylan Hudson and LHP Ross Cardwell.

8. Nansemond River – The Warriors, anchored by ace RHP Erickson Keeton, look ready to make a district title run.

9. Ocean Lakes – The defending Beach District tourney champs could be ready to make another postseason run.

10. Landstown – The Eagles have some key losses from last season’s district-title winning team, but should be a tough out in a wide-open Beach District.

In the Beach District

- Bayside lost 11 seniors to graduation after last season, although OF Leonard Mitchell has transferred in from Green Run.

- Cox’s holdovers include CF Kyle Profilet (.333 BA), 3B Zac Bach (.305) and the pitching duo of Ryan Mattes (5-4) and Richie Salter (5-2). “It should be a great year if we play to our potential,” coach Bill Conroy said.

- At First Colonial, C Blake Boyce is joined by returning infielders Jordan Egan (1B), Cam Stevenson (2B) and Trevor Hinson (3B), and the Patriots welcome SS T.J. Costen, a transfer from Norfolk Academy.

- Green Run returns only there starters, but C David Dean batted .435 last season as a freshman.

- Kellam’s lineup features Patrick Harrington (.395 BA), Ryan Kilmon (.390) and George Brown (.380). Harrington, one of several Knights at new positions, moves from catcher to centerfield.

- Kempsville has a new coach in John Cinnamond, C David Hughes, CF Kyle Carlson and OF/P Steven Whitmire are back.

- Landstown won its first Beach District championship last season, but the Eagles must replace starting pitchers Kyle Lawhorn, who is academically ineligible; and Cameron Butler, who graduated. OF Mike Feduniewicz (.406) returns, along with OF Cameron Day and RHP Michael Curry (2-1, 2.13 ERA). Infielder Scott Hurrell, hindered by a torn quad muscle last season, should give Landstown’s lineup a boost.

- Ocean Lakes coach Gary Spedden, in his 15th season, has a soild mix of youth and experience. LHP/1B Shawn Morimando (1-1, 2.63 ERA) returns, as do .300 hitters Ryan Slater and Alex Lambert.

- Princess Anne coach Jimmy Hunt says the Cavaliers “have more power than last year,” and a talented group of sophomores. RHPs Greg Tomchick and Chase Lemaster figure to be in the starting mix. PA opened the season with a loss to Salem.

- Salem lost slugger Robbie Newman to graduation, but Reymon Centeno (3-2, 3.97 ERA) and Zach Moore (1-1, 3.00 ERA) highlight a solid pitching staff. And coach Pete Zell calls his freshmen class perhaps the “best in 10 years.”

- Tallwood started mostly sophomores last season, so coach Monty Hilliard expects the Lions to be more competitive. RHP Larry Montgomery (1-4, 5.46 ERA) returns.

In the Eastern District

- Churchland expects to start only one senior, but that’s star RHP/C Andrew Montague, who batted .435 last season. Sophomore Stephen Butt, last season’s starting third baseman, also returns.

- At Lake Taylor, coach Vince Zebro welcomes back seniors P/SS Sean Rascoe, P/1B Kyle Marshall and 2B Tony Wiggins and expects the Titans to “be solid up the middle with good team speed.”

- With only two players gone from last year’s 20-4 team, Maury figures to be a handful come postseason. Coby Cowgill’s 128 strikeouts in 67 innings led South Hampton Roads last season, while 3B John Garrett batted .428 and 1B Doug Hatcher hit .435.

- Coach John A. SanGiovanni expects Wilson to have more pitching this season, and the lineup features 1B Anthony Lee (.380), C/3B James Journigan (.418) and SS/3B Michael Strobel (.420).

In the Southeastern District

- Deep Creek’s roster includes only three returning players. Among them is C/OF Mike Cole, who batted .404 last season.

- Brennen Iley, Grassfield’s versatile star, batted .454 with 13 RBIs last season as a junior. Whether the Grizzlies are ready to compete with the district’s heavyweights could hinge on their youthful pitching staff.

- Great Bridge’s senior core includes outfielders Patrick Cody, Austin Jones and Evan Polk, 2B Austin Craig and P Eddie Perkins.

- Hickory has a young, inexperienced team after losing stars Gary Ward and Brett Harris to graduation.

- Indian River’s remarkable postseason run last year came with a host of youngsters. Now, stalwarts Lance Alley and Justin Shockley are seniors and Dean Ali and Matt Dickason are juniors.

- Lakeland’s pitcher-catcher combo of brothers Jarrett and Jeremy Hagwood returns after batting .382 and .412, respectively. The Cavaliers were 4-14 in the district last season, but coach Bruce Hagwood says “guys are eager to win, work very hard and will be as gritty and tenacious as any team in the district.”

- Nansemond River’s Erickson Keeton led the district in home runs with eight last season and batted .394. He’s joined by SS Ombri Rivers, 1B Johnny Pitt and C/OF Jordan Long, a transfer from Western Branch. The Warriors opened the season with a loss to Western Branch.

- Oscar Smith, coming off a 1-19 season, is loaded with youth, although senior infielder Zach Ryan returns.

- OF Jordan Kidd (.468) and SS/RHP Nicholas Thompson bolster a Western Branch squad that must replace seven seniors from last year.

In the private schools

- Freshmen brothers Steve and Jeff Swoope are expected to provide pop at Bishop Sullivan Catholic. The Crusaders also have back a pair of .400 hitters – P/3B John Leidig and Sean Watson.

- Cape Henry has just one senior in C/OF Tyler Faubert, who batted .400 last season. He’s joined by junior 3B/SS Blake Whited (.397).

- Greenbrier Christian, coming off back-to-back private school state championships, has pitching – RHPs Eddie Butler (6-1, 1.96 ERA) and Josh Richardson (2-0); and hitting – 2B/SS Sammy Serafine (.447 BA, 15 SBs) and 1B Mike Olivo (6 HRs, 30 RBIs).

- Nansemond-Suffolk’s savvy senior class includes CF/RHP Isaac Ballou, who has signed with Marshall; and RHP/SS Mike Coburn and RHP/3B Coli Oliver.

- Norfolk Collegiate has a young, unproven pitching staff, but welcomes back three seniors: OF/C Tom Markey, LF/P William Odell and P/SS Brandon Matthews.

- Alliance Christian won a private-school state title last season, but coach David Mitchell says the Patriots are rebuilding after the loss of nine seniors to graduation. RHP/C Joe Riggs, who drove in the game-winning run in the state title game, is back along with outfielders Cory Triplett and Tucker Noia.

- Atlantic Shores is led by three seniors: P/OF Josh Healey (.391), C/3B Cory Hendricks (.405) and P/OF Mike Johnson (.371).

- Isle of Wight Academy welcomes back .400 hitter Jeremy Davenport and RHP Taylor Outland (3-1).

- Youth is in at Portsmouth Christian, which has a pitching staff made of up underclassmen.

- Southampton Academy’s returnees include SS/P Tyler Lass (.433).

Jami Frankenberry, (757) 446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com