R.L. Bynum
03-15-2008, 08:35 PM
A preview of the district
By MELINDA WALDROP
mwaldrop@dailypress.com | 247-4643
THE FAVORITE
Menchville: The Monarchs returned enough players from last year’s team, which won 14 games, to be dangerous before Ethan Carter, the best pitcher in the district, transferred to Menchville from Denbigh. He’ll join Old Dominion signee Shawn Sizemore and an experienced core of players at almost every position to make Menchville the team to beat.
THE OTHER CONTENDERS
Bethel: The Bruins have key components of last season’s Eastern Regional team back, including junior pitcher Justin Shively and senior shortstop Kizuku Scott.
Hampton: The Crabbers’ senior-laden infield has been playing together since seventh grade, and senior shortstop Sean Fields is a threat to steal every time he’s on base.
Warwick: The Raiders’ 12-7 season last year showed improvement that should only continue, with seniors at catcher, third base, shortstop and first base.
10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ethan Carter, P, Menchville, junior; As a sophomore last season on the Denbigh team that made it to the quarterfinals of the Group AAA state tournament, Carter was 9-1 with a 1.20 ERA. The 6-foot-5 right-hander struck out 102 batters and hit .328. Shawn Sizemore, OF, Menchville, senior; Sizemore drove in 25 runs and hit .682 to provide steady leadership for the Monarchs. He had 12 doubles, four triples and five home runs and made just one fielding error. Matt Mitchell, 2B, Hampton, senior; Mitchell hit .420 and drove in 17 runs for the Crabbers, who finished third in the district last year. He also walked 29 times and struck out just six. Matt Shaffer, 1B/P, Hampton, senior; Shaffer hit .458 and batted in 20 runs while not committing an error last season. His 5-3 record on the mound included a 1.79 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings. Christopher McDougal, 3B, Denbigh, senior; McDougal hit .459 with 29 RBI. He pitched the Patriots to an Eastern Region championship and filled in at catcher during Denbigh’s region run. Kizuku Scott, SS, Bethel, senior; Scott’s .464 batting average, 25 RBI and 19 stolen bases powered the Bruins to a runner-up finish in the PD regular-season and tournament and an Eastern Region berth. Cole Crusberg, 3B, Warwick, senior; Cole hit .411 with 27 RBI and also had seven doubles and three home runs last season. Clint Crusberg, SS, Warwick, senior; Clint, Cole’s twin brother, batted .392 and drove in 24 runs, belting five doubles and two homers. Matthew Zapf, IF/P, Woodside, sophomore; Zapf’s versatility in his freshman year has observers eager to see what he’ll do next for the more experienced Wolverines. Jackson Almony, 1B/DH, Gloucester, senior.
5 GAMES TO WATCH
March 18: Gloucester at Hampton. This is the most intriguing of the opening-day matchups. Gloucester is out to prove its tournament success last year was no fluke, while the Crabbers also want to move in the district’s upper echelon – and are primed to do it with seniors throughout their lineup.
March 21: Warwick at Bethel. The Raiders’ hopes to improve upon the strides they made last year will be tested early against a Bruins team that returns its entire pitching staff, along with some big hitters, and has speed to spare.
April 15: Denbigh at Menchville. These two teams’ traditionally heated rivalry has added spice this year with the transfer of pitcher Ethan Carter from the Patriots to the Monarchs. That subplot aside, it’s always entertaining when these nearby neighbors get together.
April 25: Woodside at Phoebus. The Phantoms, winless last year, return virtually their entire team, while Woodside’s young talent is also a year older. By this time, both teams will know if experience equals improvement.
If the season turns out to be a tightly contested as many coaches predict, the last game could determine postseason berths and seedings, and these two teams figure to be in the thick of such drama.May 13: Warwick at Hampton.
DISTRICT BUZZ
* Denbigh was a juggernaut last season, sweeping the Peninsula District regular-season and tournament titles and winning the Eastern Region before its run finally ended in the Class AAA tournament quarterfinals. But seven seniors, along with the Patriots’ longtime coach and top pitcher, are gone, leaving this year’s team filled with question marks.
* Ethan Carter and Shawn Sizemore may have the most name recognition among Menchville players, but the Monarchs have other weapons to worry opponents. Senior second baseman Gage Collins hit .551 with 23 RBI last season, while senior pitcher/outfielder Cody Borden threw three one-hitters as junior.
* Phoebus went 0-18 last year after a 1-17 season the year before, but the Phantoms have reason for optimism. Seniors Paul Hamm (utility), Justin Landry (second base) and Eric Barnes (pitcher), along with junior catcher Michael Schmidt, headline a veteran team that’s tired of losing.
* Bethel’s upperclassmen have taken on leadership roles this season — by necessity. Coach Brett Wheeler actually resigned to pursue a master’s degree program, but returned to the team after learning he could handle both responsibilities. But Wheeler’s class demands have given his players, and his assistant coaches, added duties — and increased confidence.
* Hampton’s middle infield, anchored by second baseman Matt Mitchell and shortstop Sean Fields, has years of experience playing together — but this is its last chance to win a district title. The Crabbers will see if their speed and solid defense are enough to make up for a lack of a true power hitter.
* Several teams feel they have a chance to contend for a district championship — and to prove that last year’s success was no aberration. Gloucester and Warwick each won PD tournament games for the first time in recent memory and could challenge traditional district powers Bethel and Menchville, while Denbigh can’t be counted out with a player as versatile as McDougal.
By MELINDA WALDROP
mwaldrop@dailypress.com | 247-4643
THE FAVORITE
Menchville: The Monarchs returned enough players from last year’s team, which won 14 games, to be dangerous before Ethan Carter, the best pitcher in the district, transferred to Menchville from Denbigh. He’ll join Old Dominion signee Shawn Sizemore and an experienced core of players at almost every position to make Menchville the team to beat.
THE OTHER CONTENDERS
Bethel: The Bruins have key components of last season’s Eastern Regional team back, including junior pitcher Justin Shively and senior shortstop Kizuku Scott.
Hampton: The Crabbers’ senior-laden infield has been playing together since seventh grade, and senior shortstop Sean Fields is a threat to steal every time he’s on base.
Warwick: The Raiders’ 12-7 season last year showed improvement that should only continue, with seniors at catcher, third base, shortstop and first base.
10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ethan Carter, P, Menchville, junior; As a sophomore last season on the Denbigh team that made it to the quarterfinals of the Group AAA state tournament, Carter was 9-1 with a 1.20 ERA. The 6-foot-5 right-hander struck out 102 batters and hit .328. Shawn Sizemore, OF, Menchville, senior; Sizemore drove in 25 runs and hit .682 to provide steady leadership for the Monarchs. He had 12 doubles, four triples and five home runs and made just one fielding error. Matt Mitchell, 2B, Hampton, senior; Mitchell hit .420 and drove in 17 runs for the Crabbers, who finished third in the district last year. He also walked 29 times and struck out just six. Matt Shaffer, 1B/P, Hampton, senior; Shaffer hit .458 and batted in 20 runs while not committing an error last season. His 5-3 record on the mound included a 1.79 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings. Christopher McDougal, 3B, Denbigh, senior; McDougal hit .459 with 29 RBI. He pitched the Patriots to an Eastern Region championship and filled in at catcher during Denbigh’s region run. Kizuku Scott, SS, Bethel, senior; Scott’s .464 batting average, 25 RBI and 19 stolen bases powered the Bruins to a runner-up finish in the PD regular-season and tournament and an Eastern Region berth. Cole Crusberg, 3B, Warwick, senior; Cole hit .411 with 27 RBI and also had seven doubles and three home runs last season. Clint Crusberg, SS, Warwick, senior; Clint, Cole’s twin brother, batted .392 and drove in 24 runs, belting five doubles and two homers. Matthew Zapf, IF/P, Woodside, sophomore; Zapf’s versatility in his freshman year has observers eager to see what he’ll do next for the more experienced Wolverines. Jackson Almony, 1B/DH, Gloucester, senior.
5 GAMES TO WATCH
March 18: Gloucester at Hampton. This is the most intriguing of the opening-day matchups. Gloucester is out to prove its tournament success last year was no fluke, while the Crabbers also want to move in the district’s upper echelon – and are primed to do it with seniors throughout their lineup.
March 21: Warwick at Bethel. The Raiders’ hopes to improve upon the strides they made last year will be tested early against a Bruins team that returns its entire pitching staff, along with some big hitters, and has speed to spare.
April 15: Denbigh at Menchville. These two teams’ traditionally heated rivalry has added spice this year with the transfer of pitcher Ethan Carter from the Patriots to the Monarchs. That subplot aside, it’s always entertaining when these nearby neighbors get together.
April 25: Woodside at Phoebus. The Phantoms, winless last year, return virtually their entire team, while Woodside’s young talent is also a year older. By this time, both teams will know if experience equals improvement.
If the season turns out to be a tightly contested as many coaches predict, the last game could determine postseason berths and seedings, and these two teams figure to be in the thick of such drama.May 13: Warwick at Hampton.
DISTRICT BUZZ
* Denbigh was a juggernaut last season, sweeping the Peninsula District regular-season and tournament titles and winning the Eastern Region before its run finally ended in the Class AAA tournament quarterfinals. But seven seniors, along with the Patriots’ longtime coach and top pitcher, are gone, leaving this year’s team filled with question marks.
* Ethan Carter and Shawn Sizemore may have the most name recognition among Menchville players, but the Monarchs have other weapons to worry opponents. Senior second baseman Gage Collins hit .551 with 23 RBI last season, while senior pitcher/outfielder Cody Borden threw three one-hitters as junior.
* Phoebus went 0-18 last year after a 1-17 season the year before, but the Phantoms have reason for optimism. Seniors Paul Hamm (utility), Justin Landry (second base) and Eric Barnes (pitcher), along with junior catcher Michael Schmidt, headline a veteran team that’s tired of losing.
* Bethel’s upperclassmen have taken on leadership roles this season — by necessity. Coach Brett Wheeler actually resigned to pursue a master’s degree program, but returned to the team after learning he could handle both responsibilities. But Wheeler’s class demands have given his players, and his assistant coaches, added duties — and increased confidence.
* Hampton’s middle infield, anchored by second baseman Matt Mitchell and shortstop Sean Fields, has years of experience playing together — but this is its last chance to win a district title. The Crabbers will see if their speed and solid defense are enough to make up for a lack of a true power hitter.
* Several teams feel they have a chance to contend for a district championship — and to prove that last year’s success was no aberration. Gloucester and Warwick each won PD tournament games for the first time in recent memory and could challenge traditional district powers Bethel and Menchville, while Denbigh can’t be counted out with a player as versatile as McDougal.