"Our" Projected Starters for Eastern Regional Tournament
May 25th Old Dominion University
10am Maury (Coby Cowgill) vs Western Branch (Nick Thompson)
1pm Cox (Richie Salter) vs Bethel (Justin Shively)
4pm Indian River (Dean Ali) vs Granby (Louis Singleton)
7pm Menchville (Ethan Carter) vs First Colonial (Jordan Egan)
Maury At the top of the line up Drew Williams has gotten hot and will go at 2b or rf, the bulk of the firepower comes from 2-5. Scott Overcamp (C), Coby Cowgill (RHP/1B), John Garrett (pic r) (3B/RHP) Eastern District POY, Tyon Ore(CF), Brian Bashara (SS). The only slow down Maury had this year was over spring break, since then they have gotten back on track.
Western Branch Young. Jordan Kidd (OF) is the only 2009 the Roland Wright leans on for offense. Kidd provided speed on the bases and very good arm strength in the OF, then begins the youth movement, Shane Johnsonbaugh 2011 (LHH) brings consistency, Nick Thompson (pic-l) brings expereience (2011-RHP/SS), Brandon Doggett (2011-3b) very good glove at 3b and pop at the plate, Garrett Brooks (2012-OF) adds speed. James Fierello (2009-C) can get hot and has had some big games. A few players have gotten hot in the tournament and have added multiple hit games including CJ McAndrews and Tyler Manugo. The Bruins fought with younger players to get experience this season and had to play hard in many games to win. A few losses expected and a few games did get away. Bats have come alive in post season and could be the hottest hitting team in the tournament. Peaking at the right time. Nick Thompson and Shane Johnsonbaugh should be the 1 and 2 on the mound.
Cox Have won all year and done so by coming from behind in most games. They seem to take a few innings to get started which could be a problem against very good defensive teams. Chris Taylor (pic-r)(2009-SS) Beach District POY, Zach Bach (2010-3B), Kyle Profilet (2009-OF), Chase Kyriacou (2010-OF), Austin Erb (2009-C), and Richie Salter (2009-RHP/DH) make up the meat of the line up. Sleeper could be Brian Lee (2011-2B) coming off the bench in pinch hit role. Look for Bach and Taylor to have big games, both are used the college fields and big games. With the top pitchers for Cox able to spin the ball, Austin Erb (C) will have to work hard to keep the ball off the deep back stop at ODU.
Bethel Fought from third post in the Peninsula District tournament and earned the ticket to the Regionals with a hard fought win over Gloucester. Coming off a district tournament that saw the Bruins face three pitchers in the upper 80's,Coach Bret Wheeler's Bruins should be ready for any arm thrown at them. Defense could play a role with Bethel having some lapses in the field during the district tournament. As usual look for Bethel pitchers to pester the base runners and pick a few guys off the bases. Power will come form Shane Hoggard (2009-1B) and speed from Dakari Cook (2010-OF). Cook can also add power and showed it off in the distric tournament), Jack Maxey (2010-RHP/SS), Jarrett Jeffries (2009-SS) recent defensive move to SS, Jamie Scott (2009-CF) will add big range to center field. Scrappy bunch who always get up for big games. They like the role of underdog and have the resources to advance. Pat Ryan (2009-LHP), Jack Maxey (2010-RHP), Justin Shivley (2009_RHP) (pic-r) man the mound.
Indian River Top team all season out of the Southeastern District. The Braves have depth and a like playing hard. Dean Ali (pic-r) (2010-RHP/OF) and Southeastern District POY, will take the ball in game one and also deliver at the plate, Ali can drive the ball and hit a HR at Harbor Park earlier this season. Speed at the top with Lance Alley (2009-OF) who has can cover ground in the outfield (usually the RF but has made a move to CF with the absence of Sean Wolfe), Matt Dickason (2010-SS) provides punch at the top of the line up and has had a very good year (quietly), Chris Cartwright (2010-1B/LHP) can swing it from the left hand side and should really like the gaps at ODU, Justin Shockley is solid behind the plate and can add offense but his main chore is the block the ball and keep if off the ODU backstop, and Sean Wolfe (2009-OF), we are unsure if he will be available.
The Braves showed strength all season and added Coach Steve West with his 400th career victory. The Braves have shown they belong in the Regionals two season in a row and they know they can win. No longer the Cinderella story.
Granby The team most "under the radar". Granby will bring John Medder (2B), Jeffrey Sullivan (3B), Andrew Frazier (SS)is tested and had a very good day at ODU in last years regional, Avery Upshur (2009-OF), Charley Taylor (OF) adds arm strength in RF. Louis Singleton (pic-l) add the number one arm on the mound with Greg Abetz (2009-RHP) ready to go, and is used to the ODU mound from regional and district play from last season, . Played a tough game against Churchland to earn the trip to the regional, Granby comes off a loss the Maury in the meaningless district final. Granby will have to work hard to get the upper hand against a "deep" Indian River team.
Menchville Strongest from top to bottom. Big season with only one loss. Coach Phil Forbes has multiple players already committed to colleges and plenty of "big" pitching, Menchville has all the pieces to run out of the regional as the number one seed. Matt Armstead (2009-OF/RHP) adds speed and range in CF as well as lead off quickness at the plate. Hunter Lewis (2010-1B) two hole hitter provides hit and run threat, Jeff Grey (2011-C) solid behind the dish and used to catching high velocity pitchers, Devorn Lake (OF) big games in district tournament and hot right now, Jharel Cotton (2009-OF) bounced around the field some this season and adds big threat on the bases, Ethan Carter (pic-r)(2009-RHP/DH) big frame and can lift the ball, Austin Chrismon (2010-RHP/3B)another power type swing and uses the whole field at the plate, Trey Steele (2009-2B) scrappy and hit lower in the line up but has has some big games at the plate and always seems the be scoring. Menchville will be tested when runners get on, defense can have rough innings. Top seed in our view, but will have to stay focused with a bulls-eye on their backs.
First Colonial Battled all season to try and lock down the top spot in the district, and they had a very tough game against Kempsville just to get to ODU. Coach Scott Stubbe has the most athletic team in the regional. The most consistent hitter is the most unlikely, Buddy Lawson (2010-LHP/DH) because he is a primary pitcher, Lawson has provided home run power all season and added his 7th of the season in a win over Kempsville in the district tournament. Main power come from Blake Boyce (2009-C) who has been pitched around alot this season, Jordan Egan (2009-RHP/1B) adds line drive power, Trevor Hinson (2009-SS/RHP) rose up in the district tournament with a home run and a game winning double against Kempsville, TJ Costen (2011-OF)is hitting better towards the end of the season and is one of the quickest runners in Tidewater (also has a shut down arm from CF), Cam Stevenson (2009-2B) is consistent at the plate and very solid in the field. First Colonial had to work a little harder than they should have to get to the regional, but are very athletic and with John Bowman (Pic-l)(2010-RHP), Buddy Lawson (2010-LHP), Jordan Egan (2009-RHP-1B) and Trevor Hinson (2009-SS/RHP) on the mound and ready to go. First Colonial could be the second best team in the regional. The problem is they are playing the best team in the regional. Look for this game to be the best of the day and not a surprise for whoever wins.
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