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VHSL Class 5 Previews: Region C

Clover Hill Cavaliers  

2025 Record: 14-7

It was a solid year for the Cavaliers as they strung together some quality wins against opponents like Cosby, James River, and Matoaca. They lost some pieces from that squad in Carter Burcume, Carter Hine (Averett), Lucas Rose, and Keller Williams (Hampden-Sydney). They bring back some key pieces to help them carry the momentum into 2026. Carson Hupp (Washington & Lee) is a two-way standout that can be a run producer in the middle of the order and give you quality innings on the mound. James Nigriny stepped up in a big way, batting .365 last spring and throwing 27 innings. Noah Putney and Owen Tingen also return after playing vital roles last spring. Hupp, Nigriny, and Putney all saw quality time on the mound last spring, so having those three back will be good for their pitching staff, but a frontline arm will be needed for them to compete in the region.

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Deep Run Wildcats    

2025 Record: 15-10

It was another strong season for the Wildcats as they made an appearance in the state tournament but fell to the eventual state champions Gainesville, in the first round. Parker Noonan (Radford) was an important part of their success, being a frontline arm they could rely on in big games. Losing his innings will be a detrimental loss. They bring back a decent amount of their offensive production from 2025. Aiden Bradshaw (St. Olaf), Connor Papas (Shenandoah), and Vince Porcaro (George Washington) are back for their senior season and will be important producers for this team. Ben Arroyo, Jacob Saunders, and Connor Slaski got time in different roles and will have more of a chance to add to their offensive production. Noonan and Will Frank threw a bulk of the innings last year, and those innings will be hard to replace. Evan Arsenault and Kaden Staffenberg are arms that could possibly get more time on the mound as well as Arroyo. The offensive pieces will give them a chance, but they will need a frontline arm to step up to compete against quality offenses.

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Douglas Freeman Mavericks   

2025 Record: 11-10

This Mavericks team will look a lot different, as a lot of their offensive production from 2025 is gone, and they will need some new faces to step up. Henry Britt (Mary Washington), Tucker Cahoon (Eastern Mennonite), Shane Jamison, Ben Mustico, Jackson Rogish (Washington & Lee), and Finn Whipple (Harvard) all moved on, and they all made their contributions to this offense last spring. Among those returning are Brady Finn, Tommy Noland, Thomas Page, and Briggs Robinson, who had some time on the field last spring. Their roles will be significantly larger to generate some runs for the pitching staff. They do return two of their top arms in Justin Bischoff and Drew Levasseur, who will have to log some big time innings in important games. The two arms give them a chance, but having lost so much on offense will be a challenge for the Mavericks.

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Franklin County Eagles  

2025 Record: 11-9

The Eagles got off to a strong start on the year, ripping off six straight wins, but had some bumps in the road towards the back end of the season. They would end up having an early exit in the first round to the higher seeded James River. Lawson Pasley was their impact bat and frontline arm, so missing him will be hard to replace. They do bring back the impact bat of Reid McElvain that will be needed to take another step as a run producer with the loss of Pasley. Other returners are Eli Blakenship, Steele Gibbs, and Dylan Myers, who were regulars in the lineup. The key thing for the Eagles is to have a frontline arm step up in place of Pasley. Tyler Foutz, along with Blankenship, McElvain, and Myers, will have to chip in for quality innings on the mound.

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Glen Allen Jaguars  

2025 Record: 14-9

Glen Allen returns four positional starters and three arms, including staff ace Daniel Nienaber (Mississippi State). The Jaguars have seven committed players, all of which are seniors. While they do return their workhorse on the mound, some of the positional talent they lost last season will be tough to replace. Caleb Whitehead (Regent) continues to make strides offensively and he could be the run production bat they need in the middle of the order. Colin Whidbee  is a lock down defender in the outfield and brings needed athleticism to the lineup. Jake Bratton and Alex Awad should give Nienaber and the Jaguars some important innings on the mound. There is athleticism and some talent in the middle of their grad classes with names like Owen Holsomback, DJ Henry, Tucker Von Herbulis, Jackson Ross, and Noah Vest. The Jaguars have gotten off to slow starts the past couple of years, but they have the upperclass experience to help minimize that in a tough Region 5C.

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James River (Midlothian) Rapids     

2025 Record: 17-6

The Rapids handled their schedule and won quality games and punched their ticket into the state tournament in 2025. They bring back a lot of their roster for 2026 that looks to make an even deeper run into the state tournament. Garnett Power (Hampden-Sydney) was an important piece on the mound, but Nate Reed (William & Mary) is back for his senior year to take on that frontline role to take the Rapids deep into the postseason. Jayden Grant (VMI) showed as a nice addition to this team last season, and he is back as the everyday shortstop as well as helping out with some of the pitching duties. Matthew Baggett, Wil Camera, Brian Consuerga, Eli Hulette, Jake Schumacher (Randolph Macon), Matthew Schumacher, and Conner Sprouse are all back with experience, giving them more depth. Alex Adams and Owen Wears are a couple of names that could make an impact as well. There is positional talent, but will there be enough arms to get through a tough region?

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Matoaca Warriors  

2025 Record: 15-5

It was a very talented senior group for the Warriors that had played many meaningful games on the varsity level. Among that group were Hayden Black (Richard Bland), JT Brown (Longwood), Lucas Edwards (Radford), Seth Harrison (Apprentice), Colin Langster, and Gray Thacker (Ferrum). The talent and experience that this group had are hard to replace, but there are other Warriors ready to step up to the challenge. Grant Capel was a bright spot for this group, as he was thrown into the fire as a frontline arm as a freshman, and he thrived in that role. Having him healthy and ready to work through another full spring on the mound will be vital for their success. Wyatt Capps, Andrew Covington, Dylan Jones, Liam New, and Xevon Wilkinson return to the lineup with experience. Jarrod Riddick could be an impact bat added to this lineup. The run support that this offense gives and the mound depth will be the deciding factor on how far this team goes.

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Midlothian Trojans  

2025 Record: 14-7

The Trojans had a veteran group in 2025, and replacing that talented group of seniors will be important for 2026. Cole Caffall, Parker Fry, Dillon Mauzy (Shenandoah), Brady Paul (Louisburg), Connor Vick (Marymount), and Braden Williamson (Mary Baldwin) were all major contributors and played a big part in their success. Cason Chambers, William Hohenstein, Ben McAuliffe (Roanoke), and Grayson Stewart will have to step into bigger roles in 2026. There is a lot of offensive turnover and on the mound, so there are new faces that will have to step up this spring.

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Mills Godwin Eagles  

2025 Record: 18-6

It was a state tournament appearance for the Eagles, but it was an early exit in the first round to the Independence Tigers. Luke Smyers (Alabama) was the 2025 Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year, and his all-around contributions will be missed. They do bring some experienced offensive pieces that carry this team back to states. Matthew Hartsfield (VMI) is the captain up the middle, and his presence and experience will be needed every game for the Eagles. Alex Boyd (Roanoke) returns as Hartsfield’s counterpart up the middle which adds to the experience in the infield. Jacob Babcock (JMU), Camden Lockhart (Coker), and Eli Macturk (Shenandoah) provide some impact in the lineup. Carter Donham returns for another year that gained plenty of innings behind the dish. Will Canfield and Brody Crider are other seniors that return for another year. Milan Larew (Ferrum) is a prime candidate to step into a frontline role on the mound, but they will need more depth to make it back to the state tournament.

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Prince George Royals

2025 Record: 7-11

There were some ups and downs throughout the season for the Royals, but they look to turn things around in 2026. They return the bulk of the roster with a solid group of seniors looking to lead the way. Logan Heath (Longwood) and Bryce Carmichael (Hampden-Sydney) are two seniors that will log important innings for this team. Tyrone Harrison will be a junior that will be joining Heath and Carmichael with mound duties. Jack Mozucha, Matthew Vlkojan, and Cash Warren (CNU) will be important to this offense to give the pitching staff some run support. Evan Kirkpatrick and Sebastian Marquez are sophomores that could carve out a role with some of these veterans. With the number of returners, will that be enough to make a run this spring?