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#2 Most Viewed Story of 2025: VHSL Region 4A-4B Preview

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VHSL Class 4 Previews: Regions A & B

Atlee Raiders

2024 Record: 20-5 *VHSL Class 4 State Champions*

The defending Class 4 State Champions are back and the only thing that has changed is the calendar year. The Raiders lost a few graduating seniors, but what they bring back is a year older, a year more experienced, and all-around better. The lineup is athletic, versatile, and again, experienced. Barrett Bucholz (UVA) took over at the top of the lineup as the year progressed. For starters, he should be joined in some capacity by Cooper Molloy (George Mason), Will Haynie, and Owen Goble to name a few. Haynie, one of the top uncommitted infielders in the state, and Molloy make up one of the best infield duos in the state. Potential big seasons for some supporting cast members like Vaughan Mayo and Tyler Rutman. Rutman has made some big strides and could be a really solid addition at the plate. Arguably the most pivotal returner in 2025 is senior catcher, Chase Chamberlain (Randolph-Macon). Chamberlain is the backbone for this team and especially this star studded pitching staff. Senior Noah Yoder (Duke) is a frontrunner in the state for MLB Draft follows. The power right hander is joined by Evan Salapka (Richmond), Chase Blumberg (VMI), and Chase Mottley. They have positional depth, experience, athleticism, strong up the middle, and a couple of real difference makers. Needless to say, they are at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to favorites to win the Class 4 title.

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Caroline Cavaliers

2024 Record: 15-7

Caroline had a veteran group in 2024 that landed them in the region quarterfinals before falling to Atlee. They lose a tremendous amount of production and will have to have some players fill in those shoes in 2025. Baylor Storke (Longwood) will be someone who they could look to rely on heavily on the mound, as well as being a run producer. Jeron Morris and Michael Schott (Bluefield College) are two seniors that could step into some big roles offensively. Alex Thomas played a significant role as a sophomore and looks to do the same in 2025. Austin Carter (Eastern Mennonite) is another arm that could replace some big innings in 2025. Replacing the mound depth will be key to success in 2025.

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Churchland Truckers  

2024 Record: 14-8

The Truckers return seven starters and a large portion of their arms for the 2025 season. Cameron Duke (George Washington) is the headline name for this group. Duke was All-Everything in a season where he hit over .400 and swiped nearly 30 bags. Joining him should be a group of upperclassmen that have experience and some post season accolades as well. Jeremiah Lunceford, Damian Sasser, Nyle Shewmake, Evan Jackson, and Gable Jansen are all returners that made significant contributions last season. Two sophomores to watch are Mikey Rodgers and Daniel Sellers. Rodgers is a new face coming over from another school and Sellers was All-Region & All-District as a freshman. They have some offense and athleticism, but pitching may be the key to their success this season. 

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Courtland Cougars

2024 Record: 19-6 *VHSL Class 4 State Runner-Up*

Courtland had a successful season in 2024 making a run in the 4A state tournament to the championship game where they fell to Atlee. In 2025 they return some key players from that run. Seniors Nathan Jackson (Longwood) and Lukas Miller Jr. are key returners that will be important to the offensive production. Juniors Stedman Lewis and Maddux Rothell come off of all-district selection years so they look to build on that in 2025. Ryan Hoburg played important innings as a freshman in the field as well as on the mound as he looks to take on a bigger role in 2025. They do lose the production of the 2024 Battlefield District player of the year Tyler Jackson that did a little bit of everything for the Cougars. If they can find a way to replace those innings on the mound from Jackson, then they have a strong chance of making it back to the state tournament.

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Denbigh Patriots  

2024 Record: 7-14

Denbigh returns nine starters and six arms for 2025. They have three committed seniors coming back with Hayden Radican (Regent), Trevor Foote (Valley Forge), and Russel Clark (Regent). Joining that trio is a pair of returning seniors in AJ Mathis and Ben Bly. Benjamin Clark started about half the season as a freshman at shortstop and hit over .300 along the way. Jamal Jones is a sophomore that should patrol the outfield and offer some relief innings. Luis Caez-Rodriquiz has should be a three year starter in the outfield and Liam Blazek is a freshman that should bring some athleticism and speed to this roster.

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Gloucester Dukes

2024 Record: 20-3

The Dukes had a phenomenal regular season in 2024 clinching a spot in the state tournament but losing in the state quarterfinals to Courtland. They do lose some production from 2024 but bring back some offensive pieces in 2025. Seniors Hank Hardaway (Christopher Newport) and Trevor Richardson are two that could be important run producers in 2025. Grayson Shield (Richmond) and Hayden Simmons look to patrol the outfield and give a spark at the top of the order. While there are offensive pieces to lean on, they will need to replace the big innings from Austin Shackleford. If they can find a frontline arm then they could find themselves back in the state tournament.

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Hanover Hawks

2024 Record: 17-5

It is safe to say that there are some question marks as we head into the spring season. The Hawks lose the best infielder in the state in TJ Woodson (Baylor), who transferred to Midway HS in Texas. In addition to the loss that is Woodson’s defensive ability, his offensive production may prove to be bigger. A senior leader and lockdown defender that has been a part of two state titles and what would have been a four year starter, are not easy to replace. Very frankly, there is no way what he brought will be replaced. While they have some things they need to figure out positionally, they do have arm depth. Evan Nix (VMI), Danny Kilgore (CNU), Bryce Krines (Jacksonville State), Will Hodges (Liberty), and potentially Brayden Jacoby are just a few of the names that should factor into some big innings on the mound. While they have arm depth, positionally they are very thin. Headlining the positional group is Brady Elrod (Virginia Tech). Elrod could be joined in the outfield by a mixture of players, including the likes of Jackson Millan, AJ Kinard, Gabriel Corey, and Nathan Vaughan. There’s a good chance that void at shortstop could be filled by the uber athletic VMI commit, Gabe Jenkins. Grayson Reece should once again anchor things at second base and help with the offensive production in the lineup. Mark Holt will be a name to follow as it pertains to potential run production for this lineup. While there are some other names that could pop up as potential contributors, we will watch the season to play out and allow those players to find their way.

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King George Foxes

2024 Record: 9-10

Christian Newsome, Eli Truslow, Jason Linder, Cooper Sobota, Joseph Eves, and Hudson Callahan are some notable returners from last season’s squad. The Foxes lost notable seniors in Colin Bunch (CNU), Hayden Callahan (Richard Bland), Colson Clary, and Tyler Truslow (Bridgewater). There will be a lot of production on the mound and in the lineup that they need to replace, but at least in numbers, they have the returners to make that happen. The regular season is a little bit of an easier task than the postseason fight versus some of the Richmond area teams, but it should allow them to figure out their rotation and staff.

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Mechanicsville Mustangs

2024 Record: 15-6

The Mustangs had some success in 2024 making their way to the region semifinals, falling to the eventual state champions the Atlee Raiders. They return a staff that makes them a very tough out in 2025. Jackson Garland (Virginia) returns for his second season with the Mustangs and he gives them a frontline arm that they can rely on for a deep postseason run. Senior lefty Kaleb Smith (Liberty) completes a solid duo on the mound beside Garland, as they should be one of the toughest duos in the Richmond area. While they lost Hayden Ways (Randolph Macon) to graduation, they do have Benjamin Favreau and Braeden Loving to possibly help out with pitching duties. Senior two way standout Nick Jones (Christopher Newport) looks to provide some production in the lineup as well as on the mound. Seniors Diego Aguilera (Lynchburg), Andrew Farrar, and John Hamilton are seniors that provide experience in the lineup. This team has pitching depth and experience that give them a chance to be a tough team in 2025.

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Monacan Chiefs

2024 Record: 14-7

The Chiefs were one of the hot teams in the Richmond area for a stretch of the year going on an eleven game win streak. They found themselves with a six seed in the region tournament and took an upset loss to Varina in the first round. They graduated two way standout Turner Johnson (Randolph Macon) that was key to their production on both sides. Senior Aydan Smith (Charleston Southern) is another two way standout that returns and will be an important piece to the Chiefs success this spring. They also return another two way standout Braeden Shores that could possibly step into a bigger role on the mound this spring. Junior Nathanial Taylor could be a solid contributor offensively for the Chiefs in 2025. Grayson Morris returns for his sophomore season after gaining experience on the varsity level in 2024. Brady McCormack got his feet wet on the mound as a freshman and could be another arm that throws some important innings on the mound. There is mound talent and depth on this team, if they can get some run support, then they could challenge in one of the toughest regions in the state.

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Powhatan Indians

2024 Record: 8-12-1

It was an up and down year for the Indians but they found themselves in the region tournament winning their game in the first round over the higher seeded Spotsylvania before falling to Hanover in the quarterfinals. They graduated some key contributors from 2024, but bring back talent, including five starters. Conner Hedgepeth (Charleston WV) looks to take on some big duties on the mound in his senior season. Seniors Max Altieri (Bluefield State), Rhett Boyer (Richard Bland), Grayson Palmore (Hampden-Sydney), and Hayden Wilkerson return some production offensively to the lineup in 2025. Junior Camden Rybak has an awesome comeback story and could be a starter on the mound that logs some big time innings this spring. The Indiand have a pair of underclassmen in Landon Garland and Aiden Tuck . Garland is a left handed arm with command and solid secondary, while Tuck that has some loud tools that could play a role in their success in 2025. There is a good mix of experience and underclass talent that could give them a chance to make some significant moves this spring.

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Smithfield Packers

2024 Record: 15-5

Smithfield had yet another strong season under the leadership of Coach Nolan. The Packers finished 15-5 and yet another state tournament appearance. However, they lost quite a bit of their roster from last year. They return just under 50% of their positional players and only two arms. Walton Bondurant (Lynchburg), Kelson Sowden (Barton), and Nathan Lamarche (Regent) are three seniors that should lead the way for Smithfield. Bondurant earned a plethora of postseason honors in 2024 and should be the straw that stirs the drink for the Packers in 2025. Nick Gaspar is returning this season and should once again contribute in the outfield and on the base paths. Two underclassmen to look out for are Chase Darden and Colton Bingham.