VA/DC Power 25: Just A Bit Outside
March 20, 2025
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While the Power 25 has been release, there are plenty of teams that are Just A Bit Outside of the rankings and itching to make it in. There are a variety of reasons a team would have an argument to be included, but there are also some reasons why some stay out. Lack of a premium arm, lack of overall pitching depth, young and inexperienced, lack of positional and lineup depth, etc. That list can go on and on, but some of these teams will find their way in as they navigate their season and show their talent this spring.
Below we are including ten teams in this list, with a few quick notes on what may have kept them out and what are some strengths that could allow them to overcome and challenges.
VA/DC Power 25: Just A Bit Outside
Centreville Wildcats
Centreville is returning a massive amound of their roster from 2024. While they struggled record wise last season, there is something there with this roster that leads us to believe it will be a significant turn around this season.
Questions: Who fills the pitching depth out behind Gambone? Will they be able to score and compete in the box versus some of the big arms that they will face?
Colgan Sharks
Colgan loses some upperclass leadership and talent, but what they return, as well as some new faces, make it more than enough to drive their stock up this spring. They have added some offense and athleticism to their roster, as well as adding to their positional depth.
Questions: Can Gavin Knox be the frontline arm that he is capable of being? Is there quality arm depth behind Knox to make this team a tough out come playoffs?
Colonial Forge Eagles
Forge is just a really solid all-around group. They return a large majority of their roster from a spring that saw them go 17-6. They are upperclass heavy and they have experience to go along with some talent.
Questions: Will someone step up as a "difference maker"? They don't have a ton of holes from top to bottom, but have lacked that one game changer in terms of production. Can a Dylan McCarthy be that on the mound and in the box, or is there someone else that will step into that role?
Heritage (Leesburg) Pride
One of the best one-two punches in the state are the Van Tuyle brothers and there is some additional talent on the positional side that is a year older and a year better.
Questions: Can a Delaney or Hayes round out this staff with solid and consistent outings? How will the offense fare versus top arms that they face?
Hickory Hawks
Hickory has the arms to certainly be in this conversation and their is plenty of winning tradition to point to potential success in 2025. Jake Cozart and Tommy Blackburn give them a strong start in terms of arms, but getting a potential arm back like Ryan Barks could be big.
Questions: The biggest question is do they have the offensive and positional depth? They have one of the best hitters in the 757 in Brayden Bachman, but if history repeats itself, he may not see a ton of pitches to hit in 2025. If that is the case, who else could be a run producer to provide some offense that was lost with some graduating seniors?
Midlothian Trojans
Midlothian showed some flashes in 2024, a season that saw them upset one Douglas Freeman in the first round of regionals. The Trojans bring back their fair share of production from last season, and a slew of seniors. The Trojans are fast, they are athletic, and they bolster one of the best groups of outfielders in the state.
Questions: While they do have some returning arms, they are missing a true "shutdown" arm. Can one of their upperclassmen step up into that role, or will it just be a committee approach? Also, who will fill a void in the middle infield? Those are two areas, that if they can figure out, will make Midlo a tough out come late May.
New Kent Trojans
The Trojans have some of the best depth of talent in the 2026-2027 classes. A fair share of those players have 1-2 years of experience on the varsity level. In addition to that, there are a handful of seniors that certainly do their fair share of heavy lifting as well. What kept them out of the Power 25?
Questions: Carson Seely is gone and he was a big part of the New Kent program. Can Bowman take over the ace role, or is there someone else that can take the top spot? Will they be able to use Boyette in a variety of ways, or will he be confined to the catching duties?
Norfolk Academy Bulldogs
Norfolk Academy had some big moments in 2024, including wins over Cape Henry, Walsingham, and a TCIS Championship. The Bulldogs return a couple of key names in CJ Murray, Parker Codington, and Davis Steadman that will all help steady the ship.
Questions: The offense struggled to produce in some games versus premium arms. Do they have the offensive firepower to beat the arms of the top teams? While CJ Murray is setup for another big year, will the likes of Light and Codington elevate this staff to make them a serious contender in VISAA DI?
Princess Anne Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are athletic, have a strong infield group, and have some guys that can get on base and string together some big innings. They are as good in the infield as anyone, they play with an edge, and can make it tough on opposing arms to navigate the lineup.
Questions: Where will the big innings on the mound come from? Even if Clevenger can carve out that ace role, where is the depth to be able to compete in one of the toughest districts/regions in the state?
Riverbend Bears
Luke Alexander is back and brings some of the best pitchability and has seen more success on the mound than a whole lot of other arms in the state. Coach Labrusciano has done a tremendous job the past few years in getting his team prepared when it comes playoff time.
Questions: While there are some well known names that have proven themselves at the varsity level, how much depth do they have on the mound? In addition to potentially lacking depth on the pitching staff, there is some turnover in the middle of their lineup. Where will the run production come from when they face better arms?