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VHSL Class 4 Previews: Regions A & B

Atlee Raiders 

2025 Record: 19-3

There were hefty expectations in 2025 for the Raiders in hopes of another state title, but they fell short in the state semifinals to the eventual champions, the Heritage Pride. Despite losing some key pieces, their expectation remains the same heading into 2026. They graduate the all-world arm of Noah Yoder (Virginia), who was a staple in their success over the years. Chase Chamberlain (Randolph-Macon) was the everyday man behind the dish for years, and his defensive ability and leadership will be hard to replace. The luxury that the Raiders have is that they return their entire infield which is a group of experienced seniors. Cooper Molloy (George Mason) is one of the top hitters in the state and brings versatility to the offense as well as being a lockdown defender at second base. Will Haynie can defend with the best of them, and he returns to the hot corner for the Raiders. Max Baedke (Shenandoah) and Tyler Rutman (Hampden-Sydney) round out the infield with their high motors and versatility. Barrett Bucholz (Virginia) brings his athleticism and high instincts to the offense that can make things happen and shake up the opposing pitcher. His skillset can bring a spark at the top of the order to create some havoc. Two uncommitted 2027's to keep an eye on are JD Dillane and Brayden Robinson. Both got some time last year and could see their roles increase greatly this spring. Chase Blumberg (VMI) and Evan Salapka (Richmond) have thrown plenty of meaningful innings in big games over their careers, and they will look to do that again as the frontline arms for the Raiders. Zorro Hott (Richard Bland) and Chase Mottley (Hampden-Sydney) are two other arms that could see some time in the rotation behind Blumberg and Salapka. With the talent on this roster there, is no reason this team can’t challenge for a state title.

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Caroline Cavaliers 

2025 Record: 11-10

The Cavaliers finished above .500 and pulled off an upset in the first round of regionals against King George, but would fall to Atlee in the quarterfinals. They lost some pieces in Austin Carter (Eastern Mennonite), Jeron Morris, Michael Schott (Bluefield), Baylor Storke (Longwood), and Jackson Thomas. Storke made a big impact on this team on the mound and in the heart of the order so his production will need to be replaced on both sides. Landyn Foltz, Coby Southworth (Methodist), Elijah Shannon, and Alex Thomas (Brevard) return and look to take the next step in production for the Cavaliers. A frontline arm will be needed to make some noise in Region B.

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Churchland Truckers   

2025 Record: 15-6

A solid year from the Truckers, finishing at 15-6. There are some names that are back in 2026, like Cameron Duke (George Washington), Evan Jackson, Gable Jansen, Michael Rodgers Jr., Daniel Sellers, and Lynman Stamps, their losses may outweigh the returning output on the offensive side. Jeremiah Lunceford and Nyle Shewmake graduated, while Damian Sasser is enrolled at PDG Academy. Lunceford hit an insane .630 last season and carried a 1.498 OPS, while Shewmake and Sasser were near the top of the list for Truckers hitters. While there is an extensive amount of offense to replace, they have essentially all of their innings back on the mound. O’Riyan Mosier, Evan Jackson, and Daniel Sellers return basically 100% of their innings from last season, with Mosier and Jackson accounting for nearly 80 innings of work. A few young names to know that could be contributors for this Truckers team are Kaden Jones, Trent Arrington, Tre Vanclief, Christian Kayse, Phillip Morgan, and Zac Saunders. What their roles are right now, we are unsure of, but their future in this program will be important to the sustained success of the Churchland program. While the 2026 version of this program still needs to figure out how to replace some of the lost offense, they have the pieces in place to challenge for a Region 4A title.

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Courtland Cougars 

2025 Record: 9-11

It was a down year for the Cougars, where they struggled to string together wins against quality opponents. Kellen Bock, Nathan Jackson (Longwood), and Lukas Miller (CNU) were the core for the Cougars and their offensive production will need to be replaced. Owen Beltz, Westin Giessman (Lebanon Valley), Brady Goldberg, Stedman Lewis, and Maddux Rothell will need to step up in big ways to help generate runs for this offense. Ryan Hoburg threw important innings as a sophomore and will need to continue that as being one of the top returning arms of this staff. Rothell returns with some innings on the mound to pair with Hoburg, but with the Kellen Agee graduating there are still more innings to fill. Does Courtland have enough firepower to challenge teams in the region?

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Dinwiddie Generals  

2025 Record: 13-7

The Generals had a solid season making their way into the region quarterfinals. They showed their ability to score runs and they brought back a decent amount of that production. Corbin Dean (Chowan), John Luke Owen, and John Oliver were producers in the lineup in 2025 and look to do the same in 2026. Matthew Moody, Caden Rainey, Carmine Rosso, and Dietrich Walker threw the majority of the innings on the mound last spring so having these arms back is a big advantage for the Generals. There are some pieces that can make an impact, but will it be enough to make a challenge for the region?

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Easter View Cyclones  

2025 Record: 16-7

Hunter Tanner, Jack Deal, and Jonah Hawkins all graduated from the 16-7 Cyclones team. While they did bring some offensive output to the lineup, Eastern View should return three of their top four hitters in the lineup, and a few of their top arms. Tyler Caperton and Gavin Standley started as freshmen, each serving in vital positions. Isaac Babich and Kaden Hunnicutt are two of their more consistent arms and they are set to return for their senior season. Makinlee Apperson anchored things in the outfield last year in center, while Jack Montana could bring some impact to the lineup once again this season. They have a solid mixture of athleticism, upper and underclass talent, as well as returning the majority of their production up the middle of the field, making them a team to watch as we prepare for the 2026 season.

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Gloucester Dukes 

2025 Record: 19-5

Trevor Richardson, Colter Callis, and Hank Hardaway are three names that leave significant voids in their own way from the 2025 Dukes team. Richardson saw the majority of his contributions come on the mound, but Callis played a major role on both sides, hitting .364 last season for Gloucester. Hardaway hit a ridiculous .542 last season, collecting 27 RBI along the way and only striking out five times. While they had some big losses, some of their returners leave a great foundation for a successful 2026. Jesse Jackson, Tyler Boulay, and Grayson Shield (Richmond) all had exceptional years at the plate. Jackson hit .486 while Shield hit .379 and led the team in runs scored (34), stolen bases (25), and doubles (10). While the offense seems fairly strong for this season, the arms have more questions. Brayden Scott was huge for Gloucester, throwing 52 innings to the tune of a 1.47 ERA. Scott will need some help on the mound, but the Dukes are certainly in a good spot heading into the spring.

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Grafton Clippers  

2025 Record: 20-5

There is probably not a team in Region 4A that was gutted with losses as much as the Clippers. Grafton lost seniors Lantz Williams, Luke Wilz, Colton Sandiford (Regent), and Victor Jackson. Those graduated seniors make up four of their best hitters and two of their top three arms. In total. the Clippers return only three contributing hitters and two contributing arms. While there are some big losses, with Evan Cruea (Roanoke), Cooper Bush (Charleston-WV), Dakota Jackson, and Carter Williams (Apprentice School) returning, Grafton is set up to ease some of those losses. Cruea hit .387 last season, which was the leading batting average on the team. Bush hit .307 in his own right, while also leading the team in RBI (20). Carter Williams brings back a wealth of experience on the mound, throwing 37 innings last season. He should be joined by Nolan Evers, who threw just over 20 innings. A few young names to keep an eye on this season are Elliott Jay and Jake Digiacomo. Those are two guys that could play pivotal roles on this Grafton team this season. Both the lineup and pitching staff have a lot of ground to cover to make up for those losses, but they have a solid group of seniors to aid in that task.

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Hampton Crabbers  

2025 Record: 19-4

What a season for Coach Mitchell’s Crabbers squad. From 4-16 in 2023, to 12-11 in 2024, and finally 19-4 in 2025. In order for a repeat season in 2026 to happen, the Crabbers will need to figure out how to replace Toby Weymouth, the VHSL Class 4 1st Team All-State member. His 62 innings on the mound combined with his 1.005 ERA and sub 1.0 WHIP will be a tough thing to replace. On the mound, Jayden Valentin and Zack Reynolds should be able to help with that. Those two threw nearly 65 innings combined, with Valentine bolstering a sub 2.0 ERA. They will certainly need some help, but with the talent of Jaycob Flores (Norfolk State) returning to the lineup, it could be an easier task to handle. Flores hit a staggering .471 last season that included 5 triples, a 1.213 OPS, and a better than 2:1 BB/K rate. Joining Flores should be names like Ashton Green and Bryson Ismael-Gantt. Green had a big year of his own, hitting .305 and stealing more than 20 bases. Nate Peek should also be back after a solid .300+ season at the plate. There are a few young names that could potentially add some depth to this Crabbers club. Austin Silva, Nick Parr, and Mat Chaltraw are three underclassmen that could be next ones up for this program. If there were favorites in Region 4A right now, this would certainly be one of those favorites, especially if the arms take a step forward.

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Hanover Hawks  

2025 Record: 17-5

The Hawks were gutted from their 2025 season, before and after, losing names like Jackson Millan, Brady Elrod (Virginia Tech), Bryce Krines (Jacksonville State), Brayden Jacoby (CNU), and Will Hodges (Liberty) to Dominion Sports Collective. The Hawks do have a handful of returners, more so on the positional side of things, as opposed to a pitching staff that was decimated by transfers. Grayson Reece (Hagerstown CC), Gabriel Corey, Brayden Skeel, Aj Kinard, and Jackson Bates are all names to potentially know on the positional side. While the outfield is fairly crowded with some talent and athleticism, the infield could use a boost. Two young names to know in the future are Dominic Webb and Carter Alvis. We have no idea how they fit in as of now, but they are talented athletes that could potentially make some noise sooner rather than later. On the mound is where they have the most figuring out to do. Ashton Kemp (Hampden-Sydney) and Brayden Shreffler are two arms that saw quality time on the mound last season, but they will need a few more to help ease the loss of others. While senior Luke Mundie does not have a ton of varsity experience, he is a name to watch for as a contributor on the mound.

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Jamestown Eagles  

2025 Record: 9-12

Jamestown was 9-12 last season with notable wins over Poquoson, Smithfield, and Lafayette. The Eagles lost seniors Steven San Miguel, Cam Deaver, and Connor Page, all of whom were mainstays in the lineup. While they do have some offense to figure out, arms like Grant Nelson, Zane McSmith, Nathaniel Dafashy, and Sam Dilday should make it a bit easier on this 2026 version of the Eagles. All of those returning arms accounted for more than 110 total innings last spring. While the walk numbers will need to improve for each arm, their experience on the mound brings significant value. Aidan Walker, Dafashy, and Dilday should be three of their better returning hitters, with Walker hitting .361 last season. Run production and power numbers were an issue at times last season so this should be a lineup looking to add some power in the middle to help out the staff.

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King George Foxes   

2025 Record: 13-8

Outside of Jason Linder, the Foxes return the majority of their 2025 group after a 13-8 season in 2025. Parker Schill (Mary Baldwin), Cooper Sobota, Joseph Eves, Owen Price, and Eli Truslow (Richard Bland) are all back for their season. They should be joined by Anthony Turner and Matthew Kane. Kane, Dawson West (Averett), Truslow, and Blake Donze are some of the main arms that saw mound time last year, they will be back for another season. This team has plenty returning from last season, but do they have enough firepower to take down some of the talent at the top of this region?

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Lafayette Rams    

2025 Record: 11-11

Coming off of an 11-11 season, the Rams lose a handful of key contributors, including Ian Ji and Derek Magallon who were both two of the top offensive threats last season. In addition to those two losses the departures from the pitching staff are significant and will be tough to recover from. Brady Isaksen and Charlie Yatsko combined for nearly 100 innings of work last year and 91 total strikeouts. Their absence will be significant one, with only two arms returning that threw more than 12 innings last season. Jake Hanson and Breccan O’Grady should be the two names to know on the mound this spring, while O’Grady was also a key part of the offense after turning in a season that saw him hit .299 with 14 RBI. Kyle Kremer led the team in hitting and is back for his senior season. There is help needed on offense and the mound if Lafayette wants to get back in the conversation for a regional title.

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Louisa Lions    

2025 Record: 7-11

After a few years in Class 5, the Lions are back down to Class 4. While it is a “move down” in class, it is a tough year to make that move, as this region is as good as it usually is, just some different suspects are in the mix. Eric Davis (Roanoke), Levi Wilson (Patrick Henry CC), Hunter Luck, and Jayden Thompson (Averett) are some of the names to know this season. Davis and Neil Smith were big contributors on the mound last spring and we would assume they will play significant roles this season as well, especially with the graduation of Cole Loudin. Both the pitching staff and lineup will need bigger contributions from these returners in 2025, but they should be in a better place with run production at the plate if they get a healthy season from Levi Wilson. On the mound, as a sophomore Jayden Thompson was huge for this Lions team on the mound. While his time on the mound was limited last spring, he could potentially be a big boost for this Louisa team if they want to contend in this region.

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Mechanicsville Mustangs  

2025 Record: 12-7

A 12-7 season that ended at the hands of Spotsylvania saw a lot of important names move on due to graduation. At least six of their starting nine in the order have graduated, with names like Andrew Farrar, Diego Aguilera (Lynchburg), Kaleb Smith (Liberty), and Nick Jones (CNU) being some of the primary names to note. John Hamilton, Jackson Garland (Longwood), Kaleb Smith, and Nick Jones will be big losses on the mound, with the Mustangs returning one of their main arms, Ben Favreau (Hampden-Sydney). Big seasons at the plate from guys like Dylan Bennett (Richard Bland), Dylan Wright (Washington College), and Wyatt Parker (William & Mary) will be huge for them to have a successful season in 2026.

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Monacan Chiefs 

2025 Record: 11-8-1

Aydan Smith (Charleston Southern) did so much for the Chiefs for so long it will certainly be a different feeling not seeing him on the field. He led off for Monacan in 2025, while also anchoring a pitching staff for the past few seasons. Joining Smith in graduation is Jack Sams, Nick Hayes, and Tyler Washington. All of these players played their part in the lineup, but Smith’s contributions on the mound will be arguably the biggest void left behind. Picking up his pieces on the mound should be names like Caden Gray (Regent), Brady McCormack (Ole Miss), Braeden Shores (Roanoke), and potentially a little more time from Grayson Morris. Morris should make the majority of his contributions at the plate, where he remains one of the top uncommitted hitters in the region. A healthy full season from McCormack could give this Monacan team the X-factor they will need, and pair that with Gray’s ability to spin it and his experience, the pitching staff could set up nicely. In addition to that handful of returners, names like Nathanial Taylor and Wes Strickland are two guys that could contribute in a variety of ways. Shores can do a little bit of everything for this team and could set the tone at the top of a lineup that will need a spark if they want to challenge in Region 4A.

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Powhatan Indians  

2025 Record: 16-6

Names like Max Altieri (Bluefield State), Rhett Boyer (Richard Bland), Conner Hedgepeth (Charleston-WV), Grayson Palmore (Hampden-Sydney), and Hayden Wilkerson will be absent from this year’s roster, as they all graduated after playing pivotal roles within this Indians’ program. While all of them had solid senior seasons, Hedgepeth’s .492 BA and 46 innings on the mound will be hard to top for biggest loss. Aiden Tuck, Dylan Eberts, and Camden Rybak are three of the biggest names returning. Tuck hit .417 on the season, while Eberts hit .368, and Rybak threw 43 innings for Powhatan. Landon Garland, Tuck, and Eberts could all see significant bumps in innings usage on the mound, while Noah Campbell could have some added importance when it comes to his offensive production. Campbell hit .308 last season in limited time. Another young name to keep an eye on is Tucker Utley. While the numbers did not jump off the page, he got some solid time as a freshman and we would anticipate that going up this season.

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Smithfield Packers  

2025 Record: 9-13

A down year in comparison to where this Smithfield program has been lately, turning in a 8-13 season in 2025. 2026 will be a very steep hill to climb considering what they lost from last season. Walton Bondurant (Lynchburg), Nathan Lamarche (Regent), Caden Mintz, and Kelson Sowden (Barton) all graduated. Those four players were the only players to hit north of .300 last season, off of a team that hit .267 on the season. In addition to their offensive losses with those players, Bondurant, Mintz, and Sowden make up more than 60% of their total innings on the mound. However, their top arm should be back this season with Colton Bingham coming off of a stellar freshman season. Bingham threw 30 innings and carried a 1.83 ERA. Bingham was also the highest qualifying hitter outside of those seniors that should be returning this season. Joining Bingham in the lineup should be Nick Gaspar (Chowan) and Chase Darden. Those three hitters are the main names to know for this season, but there are a lot of questions that will have to be answered if this Packers team wants to get back to its ways of old.

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Spotsylvania Knights    

2025 Record: 20-3

A very impressive year from the Knights, going 20-3 on the season. Even more impressive than the 2025 season is the fact that they are returning virtually the entire team, minus Jake Herbst (Mary Washington). Jeremy Siefker (Roanoke), Nate Johnson, Landen Fisher, Wyatt Cox, Josh Perez (Virginia Tech), and Austin Harris are all back after hitting .300+ last season. Siefker led the way at .409 and he was also third in innings pitched last season (24). Joining Siefker on the mound should be Johnson and Perez. Johnson threw the most innings (33) and carried a 1.06 ERA. He struck out just better than one hitter per inning, but the most impressive part of his 2025 season was the fact that he walked 4 hitters in 33 innings!! While Perez and Siefker had higher walk numbers, their K/7 rate was much higher, striking out close to two hitters per inning pitched. It would be tough to argue against Atlee as the region favorite, but if there is a discussion for another top tier team in Region 4B, it would be the Spotsylvania Knights.

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Varina Blue Devils   

2025 Record: 9-11

The Blue Devils are coming off of a 9-11 season in 2025, where they had big years from Tavion Tunstall, Mekhi Bullock, and Braylon Hood at the plate. Tunstall and Hood should both be back for their senior season, but Bullock transferred out to DSC. The Blue Devils graduated Luke Carnley after a season where he led the team in RBI, homeruns, and innings pitched. Tino Henderson Jr. should also be back after contributing 15 innings on the mound and he should be joined by Carter Sisk. Limited time on the mound last season for Sisk, but he could see a big bump in usage and has shown the talent on the mound to help the Blue Devils to a few more wins. The team ERA will need significant improvements, after they had a 6.07 ERA last season to go along with their .257 team batting average. Historically, Region 4B is probably the toughest region in Class 4 and they will need a lot of help to topple the typical powers at the top.

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Warhill Lions  

2025 Record: 8-13

While Warhill only had seven wins last season, they do return a lot of their core in 2026. Cooper Bradley and Evan Harney were the two qualifying bats that hit .300+ on the season, and they will be back. Joining them are the likes of Theo Manna and Aiden Tarantino. Lloyd Findlay and Logan Timberg brought tremendous value last season, but what the Lions have returning should be able to pick up where they left off. Harney, Bradley, and Manna should be the three main arms on the mound, with those three throwing nearly 90 innings last year. Both the offense and pitching staff will need to see some big leaps forward in terms of production. The lineup hit just south of .250 on the year, while the pitching staff turned in a 4.38 ERA, making a tough combination to stack up wins.