Lynn Burke
04-18-2008, 09:28 AM
Midseason report: Bay Rivers and Peninsula Districts
By MELINDA WALDROP
Midway through the high school baseball and softball season, plenty of teams still have a shot to make the postseason, a few upsets no doubt still lurk on schedules and any number of players still could put together big seasons. But here are several things that have become clear as area teams enter their final month of competition.
MVP
Peninsula District
Shawn Sizemore, Menchville
Menchville’s senior outfielder/pitcher is a big reason the Monarchs are 10-0 overall and 8-0 in the Peninsula District. He’s hitting .655 with seven home runs and 22 runs batted in. On the mound, he’s 2-0 with an 0.70 earned-run average and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Bay Rivers District
Adam McConnell, Tabb
The senior shortstop and pitcher is hitting .704 with three triples for the Tigers, in first place at 9-1 overall and in the Bay Rivers District through Tuesday’s games. He’s also 3-0, with a 3.00 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.
Biggest surprise
Peninsula District
The district’s top three teams — Menchville, Hampton and Bethel — were expected to be where they are. But Gloucester is more surprising at a solid fourth. The Dukes are 7-4 overall and 5-4 in the PD and have a 15-10 victory against Bethel on March 22 to their credit.
Bay Rivers District
There was little preseason buzz about Lafayette, as Tabb and Grafton were expected to battle for the title. That’s happening, but the Rams, at 5-4 after Thursday’s loss to Smithfield, were tied for fifth with York and had as many losses as Smithfield and Poquoson in a tight race for third.
Biggest remaining game
Peninsula District
Hampton at Menchville, April 25
Hampton missed a chance to take sole possession of second place in the PD when it lost by one run to Bethel on Tuesday, but the Crabbers can make up for that loss and solidify themselves as a championship contender by knocking off the Monarchs.
Bay Rivers District
Tabb at Grafton, May 7
The first time the district front-runners met, Tabb prevailed 1-0. If the two teams are neck-and-neck atop the standings when the rematch rolls around, a possible regular-season Bay Rivers title and an automatic Region I bid could be at stake.
Most memorable moment
Peninsula District
On March 28, Phoebus beat Gloucester 12-6. It was the Phantoms’ first victory since beating Warwick at the end of the 2006 season. Before that win, Phoebus had gone 1-53 in the district since 2004, when the Phantoms won seven games.
Bay Rivers District
Warhill is in its first year of athletic competition, and its sports teams are mainly comprised of freshmen and sophomores. But the Lions (1-8-1), who beat Southampton on Tuesday, still managed to tie Grafton, the district’s second-place team, 5-5 on April 3.
Postseason predictions
Peninsula District
Menchville (8-0 PD), Hampton (6-2) and Bethel (6-2) are clear favorites to claim the top three tournament spots. With the field expanded to eight teams, the remaining five still are up for grabs. Gloucester (5-4) and Warwick (4-4) have four losses, while Denbigh (4-5), Heritage (3-5) and Woodside (3-5) aren’t far behind.
Bay Rivers District
First-place Tabb (10-1) has distanced itself from the other regular-season contenders, while Grafton (7-2-1) is ahead of teams such as Smithfield (7-3), Poquoson (7-3) and Jamestown (6-4).
And at 5-4, both York and Lafayette are still was in the six-team postseason picture.
By MELINDA WALDROP
Midway through the high school baseball and softball season, plenty of teams still have a shot to make the postseason, a few upsets no doubt still lurk on schedules and any number of players still could put together big seasons. But here are several things that have become clear as area teams enter their final month of competition.
MVP
Peninsula District
Shawn Sizemore, Menchville
Menchville’s senior outfielder/pitcher is a big reason the Monarchs are 10-0 overall and 8-0 in the Peninsula District. He’s hitting .655 with seven home runs and 22 runs batted in. On the mound, he’s 2-0 with an 0.70 earned-run average and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Bay Rivers District
Adam McConnell, Tabb
The senior shortstop and pitcher is hitting .704 with three triples for the Tigers, in first place at 9-1 overall and in the Bay Rivers District through Tuesday’s games. He’s also 3-0, with a 3.00 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.
Biggest surprise
Peninsula District
The district’s top three teams — Menchville, Hampton and Bethel — were expected to be where they are. But Gloucester is more surprising at a solid fourth. The Dukes are 7-4 overall and 5-4 in the PD and have a 15-10 victory against Bethel on March 22 to their credit.
Bay Rivers District
There was little preseason buzz about Lafayette, as Tabb and Grafton were expected to battle for the title. That’s happening, but the Rams, at 5-4 after Thursday’s loss to Smithfield, were tied for fifth with York and had as many losses as Smithfield and Poquoson in a tight race for third.
Biggest remaining game
Peninsula District
Hampton at Menchville, April 25
Hampton missed a chance to take sole possession of second place in the PD when it lost by one run to Bethel on Tuesday, but the Crabbers can make up for that loss and solidify themselves as a championship contender by knocking off the Monarchs.
Bay Rivers District
Tabb at Grafton, May 7
The first time the district front-runners met, Tabb prevailed 1-0. If the two teams are neck-and-neck atop the standings when the rematch rolls around, a possible regular-season Bay Rivers title and an automatic Region I bid could be at stake.
Most memorable moment
Peninsula District
On March 28, Phoebus beat Gloucester 12-6. It was the Phantoms’ first victory since beating Warwick at the end of the 2006 season. Before that win, Phoebus had gone 1-53 in the district since 2004, when the Phantoms won seven games.
Bay Rivers District
Warhill is in its first year of athletic competition, and its sports teams are mainly comprised of freshmen and sophomores. But the Lions (1-8-1), who beat Southampton on Tuesday, still managed to tie Grafton, the district’s second-place team, 5-5 on April 3.
Postseason predictions
Peninsula District
Menchville (8-0 PD), Hampton (6-2) and Bethel (6-2) are clear favorites to claim the top three tournament spots. With the field expanded to eight teams, the remaining five still are up for grabs. Gloucester (5-4) and Warwick (4-4) have four losses, while Denbigh (4-5), Heritage (3-5) and Woodside (3-5) aren’t far behind.
Bay Rivers District
First-place Tabb (10-1) has distanced itself from the other regular-season contenders, while Grafton (7-2-1) is ahead of teams such as Smithfield (7-3), Poquoson (7-3) and Jamestown (6-4).
And at 5-4, both York and Lafayette are still was in the six-team postseason picture.