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Three straight years and three different champions. VHSL Region 5A continues to produce state champions with Cox (2023), First Colonial (2024), and Ocean Lakes (2025) bringing home the last three state championships. Will the streak continue in 2026? Will there be an old name reigning the crown this year? See the full Class 5 Region A preview right here.

VHSL Class 5 Previews: Region A

Cox Falcons

2025 Record: 23-4

Impact bats and experienced arms. That is what the Falcons lost from last season. Conner Worth (JMU), Brendan White (EMU), Ben Kablach (Barton), James Godfrey (Norfolk State), and Christian Dewey (George Washington) all graduated last spring. The Falcons return names like Santiago Gomez (EMU), Tripp Faison (Hampden-Sydney), Hank Brown (VCU), Alex John, Daniel Kirtley (Methodist), MJ Lemke (Richmond), and Ethan Rayno are all back and look to be big producers this year. Lemke will need some help, potentially another solid year on the mound from Hank Brown could be the difference maker for this Falcons group. A few juniors that could land themselves in bigger roles this year are guys like Colin Quilter, Easton Elms, and Owen Walrod. The Falcons should be able to produce some offense, but will they find some help on the mound for their two potential work horses to allow another state tournament run?

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First Colonial Patriots

2025 Record: 20-3

A state title in 2024 and a first round upset in 2025, the Patriots have had two very different endings to the last two seasons. The 2025 First Colonial team was absolutely loaded with seniors, leaving massive holes coming into 2026. We could write a book listing out every player that this team lost last season, but the easiest way to put it is they lost everyone. Six college commits, multiple All-State selections the past two years, the 2024 State Player of the Year in Class 5, and the list goes on. While 99% of their roster and production is gone, they do return their star catcher and middle of the order bat, Graydon Ambrose (Virginia Tech). The two year starter returns for his junior season and will certainly have to anchor this team. Outside of Ambrose, there will be A LOT of new faces. As to who those new faces that are contributors will be, we will see this spring, but are not going to speculate without any history of varsity contributions from the majority of this group.

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Great Bridge Wildcats

2025 Record: 17-7

In the last 25 years, the Wildcats may be the most successful and most storied program in the 757. As is the case with a few others in the Chesapeake/VA Beach area, this program has been littered with talent. 2026 does not look any different. Starting with a group of seniors led by Casey Cuddyer (UNC), the Wildcats bring back names like Jayden Bocachica (Keystone), Caden Cinnamond (Shenandoah), Brody Comparto (George Mason), Andrew Griffin (Norfolk State), Ryder Harrell (EMU), Trey Burton, and Colton Reynolds (William Peace). Cole Cinnamond (Clemson), Jaxen Whitehurst, and Jaiden Madeira all played roles last year, with Cinnamond throwing 40 innings and Whitehurst hitting .509 as a freshman!! Colin Bauswell and Brandon Han could see bigger roles with the veterans in this offense. This team hit .351 last season and can put runs up in a hurry, but will they be able to make up for the losses of Adam Bartley (Bridgewater) and Dayton House. You will find it difficult to find a roster that is as talented and as deep as this Great Bridge roster, but can they finish the job in 2026?

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Hickory Hawks

2025 Record: 16-6

This Hickory team was gutted by departures from last season. Brayden Bachman (ECU), Ryan Kennedy (Barton), Eli Kraft (USC-Sumter), Ryan Barks (George Washington), Tommy Blackburn (CNU), and Brady Dekker were all significant contributors last season. The Hawks lost three of their top four hitters in Bachman, Kennedy, and Kraft. Brayden Raftery, Matthew Kemick, Caleb Evans, Caden Dorcsis, Nickel Ryan, Dom Longo, and Cory Pasiliao will all play pivotal roles in their own way this season, but the pitching staff will see a complete overhaul. We would have to think that Logan Suddeth, Keegan Kerr, and Zack Goodwin, among others, will need to be really competitive and really consistent on the mound if this Hawks team wants to compete in a very tough Region 5A.

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Kellam Knights    

2025 Record: 9-13

A 9-13 season ended on back to back 9-0 losses to perennial powers First Colonial and Cox. Returning in 2026 are names like Cooper Townsend, Mason Hanly, Cristian Hamilton, Garrett Simon (Hampden-Sydney), Landon Kinzel, Hudson Howell, and Chase Adamek. Kellan Foster’s innings on the mound and Luke Sylvest’s time in the lineup will be missed, but with returning arms like Jaiden Atkinson, Garrett Simon, Davis Raines, and Chase Brindisi, the Knights are in a good spot coming into this season. While they still may lack a true shutdown arm, they have some depth and ability to exchange some pieces to compete. The offense hit .275 last season with their top qualifying hitter being Townsend, who hit .328 for the year. Cole Krokus could be an asset on the mound and offensively for this team as well. There were quite a few bats that were pretty close and had solid years, but they will need a difference maker that can change the scoreboard consistently when he is at the plate.

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Ocean Lakes Dolphins

2025 Record: 22-5

It was a spectacular run that the Dolphins went on en route to their Class 5 state title. They were battle tested throughout the year against quality competition and fought their way to a championship. Austin Crew (Bridgewater) and Ryan Gocio (JMU) were a big part of their success, and losing them up the middle of the field will be a tremendous loss, but they return a bulk of this roster that went on the title run. Connor Mais is back as the everyday shortstop that is the leader in the dirt and the sparkplug at the top of the order. Tre Hamilton (George Mason) provides some athleticism and impact at the top of the order as a producer. Ben Meneses, Brady Nagle, Donovan Nagle, and Greyson Walsh (Marymount) are other returners that played their role in the lineup. Luke Ellison, Daniel Hamilton, and Aiden Skalski are back, as they threw quality innings in big games last spring. With all the experience back, can the Dolphins repeat in 2026?

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Princess Anne Cavaliers

2025 Record: 13-8

It was a scrappy group of Cavaliers in 2025 that found their way in some tight games throughout the season against quality competition. They had an early exit in the first round of regionals against the eventual state champions, Ocean Lakes. They lose their core in Walter Clevenger (Lynchburg), Xavier Doon (Mary Washington), Matthew Metheny (Virginia Wesleyan), Reid Vandergrift (Lynchburg), and Brae Williams (Louisburg), who generated a lot of the offense and the big innings on the mound. They do return the big bat of Aidan McKeating (George Washington), who will be important as ever being a run producer in the heart of the order. Brody Bean, Russell Baker, and Chase Rutledge (Virginia Wesleyan) are two other seniors that had experience last season and will be leaned on to produce some offense with McKeating. Brendon Cosme, Owen Schmidt, and Matthew St. Clair are two others that return positionally that need to take another step to help replace the lost offensive production. Not having Clevenger on the mound is a huge loss, so they will need to find a frontline arm to compete with the quality teams in the region.