He gathered motivational speakers who dared to dream and grabbed something grand. For Nick Sorensen, it was a regular gig in the NFL. For Madison alum Ronnie Slingerman, it was a 1968 state baseball championship.

It's exactly the message Madison coach Mark Gjormand wanted his team to hear during a preseason banquet at a Vienna restaurant. With nearly everyone back from a 17-5 team that finished first in the regular season, the Warhawks are perceived as the strongest team in the Northern Region.

And Gjormand wants his players to embrace their status. He also wants them to know it's OK to think big. After all, that's what he's doing. Otherwise he would not have invited the speakers to their dinnner.

``I feel like we're at an impasse,'' Gjormand said. ``We've done everything we can, but win the golden ring. We're going to do it. It's only a matter of when. Maybe this is the year.''

Certainly his coaching brethren thinks it is. In a Sportscombine.com coaches poll, the Warhawks received more No. 1 votes than anyone. But coaches also can rattle off the list of teams expected to dominate only to fall short. The list is long and gets longer after every year. It's not easy being the favorite.

No one is conceding anything to Madison, especially in the Liberty District. Langley has a chance to match the Warhawks' success and the district likely will be its usual competitive self.

But no one in the region can equal Madison's known commodities.

``Madison is loaded,'' W.T. Woodson coach John Duffy said. ``One guy told me it's the best high school team he's seen in a while. They have four number-one pitchers.''

Senior J.J. Hollenbeck was named first-team all-Journal last season. Few are more competitive than Hollenbeck, who whiffed all nine South Lakes batters he faced in a recent scrimmage. Then there's senior third-year pitcher Pat Brown, who has gained 17 pounds and now is throwing consistently 86-87 miles per hour.

It doesn't stop. Junior left-hander Josh Canova did not surrender an earned run in 22 innings last season and now is throwing 85-86 mph. And senior Kaven Moniri is the best No. 4 pitcher in the region.

The returning position starters are strong, too. Senior shortstop B.T. Good, who has signed with Virginia Military Institute, stole 28 bases and score 30 runs last season. Senior first baseman Gabe Orsinger, a second-team all-Journal pick, batted .430.

Junior catcher Matt Foley batted .540, setting a school record. Senior Alan Wimmer moved from third to right field and has drawn interest from such schools as Virginia Tech and George Mason. Senior second baseman Fred Haden, a second-team all-district performer, is being wooed by Marshall University.

Junior Andrew Baerd is back in center field while sophomore Johnny Ayers, playing his third varsity sport, returns at third.

``I'm very excited where our pitching is at and we will hit,'' Gjormand said. ``This is going to be fun.''

But he added a folksy spin designed to remind the players what they've accomplished.

``I love what's cooking in the kitchen,'' Gjormand said, ``and it smells great. But it hasn't been served yet.''

Gjormand questioned himself after Washington-Lee beat Madison in the first round of the region tournament in 2001. That followed a loss to Langley in the district championship. At least against W-L, the Warhawks felt like they were beaten. Against Langley, they didn't feel they played their best.

But, after talking to coaching buddies in other sports, Gjormand decided they were doing the right thing. After all, 16 ex-Warhawks are playing in college and as many as five from the current team will play Division I. And Madison has finished first or second in five of the past six seasons.

Something is working.

But something is missing.

``They're practicing every day like it's game day,'' Gjormand said. ``There won't be any senioritis, I guarantee you that. We talk about it every day. These kids are all best friends. They've all been in it together since Little League. This is what their dream is. They're chasing the dream.''

FAIRFAX

Fairfax graduated six seniors then lost three would-be starters to suspensions, including pitcher/infielder Travis Rybicki, who would have played a key role.

But coach Rick Freeman isn't lamenting his losses. Rather, he insists on praising those who are on the team and their cumulative GPA of 3.59.

``I'm hoping the theory that smart baseball teams figure out ways to win applies to us,'' Freeman said.

With only two returning starters from a 13-9 team, the Rebels will be young. But first-team all-district third baseman Phillip Stone, a senior, is a good building block. He batted .425 with two homers and 17 RBI a year ago.

On the mound, Stone has diplayed command of his pitches and is aggressive. He struck out 40 batters in one 18-inning stretch of American Legion ball. Stone will be joined by junior lefty Nick Stephens, who went 5-3 in 2001. Senior Christoph Hill was a second-team all-district outfielder.

Junior Owen Schmitt currently backs up at catcher, in the outfield and at DH, but Freeman likes his potential. Sophomore Kyle Stramara and freshman Nick Johnson are competing for the job at second.

Senior Mike Kephart, who missed last season with a knee injury, will start in center. Junior John Blair will start at third.

``We'll probably suffer a lot of growing pains,'' Freeman said. ``But I've got a lot of confidence in this gruop.''

Another change at Fairfax: a new 25-foot high blue net in left, giving the Rebels a mini-blue monster.

LANGLEY

Langley should be a factor in the region tournament, but the Saxons' depth will be tested early. Not only might they lose junior pitcher Jay Sborz, they also senior center fielder/pitcher Matt Kilpatrick for at least a month with a broken arm.

Kilpatrick suffered the injury in Monday's 11-0 loss to South Lakes. Coach Jeff Ferrell hopes Kilpatrick can return in the end of April. Last season, Kilpatrick posted a 1.65 ERA in 17 innings pitched. He also batted .320 as an all-district outfielder.

As for Sborz, the Saxons still don't know if he'll be eligible. All he did during the 2001 regular season was post a 5-1 record with a 2.26 ERA, earning all-district honors.

But at least Ferrell feels good about his roster. ``Our depth is what I'm excited about,'' Ferrell said.

And that depth will help Langley contend. The Saxons return two other starters from last year's district tournament champs that went 17-5 and lost in the region semifinals by one run to Centreville.

Senior Jason Jager was 7-0 with a 2.19 ERA. Jager, who took the loss Monday, beat Madison twice in 2001.

Ferrell said Josh Carr could be ``as dominating as Sborz''. Carr, a 6-foot-4 junior who spent half of last season on the varsity, throws in the mid- to upper-80s.

Senior outfielder Andy Sweet is a returning starter.

Sophomore Nick Houston, who moved in from New Jersey, will play first or DH. Sophomore Russell Blankenship will serve as the No. 3 pitcher.

Junior Tim Stefanou will battle for time with Houston. Senior Mola Lenghi will start at either short or second while junior Jon Greenwich will start at third.

The most explosive bat could belong to senior catcher Nate Williams.

Now that Ferrell has confidence in his two backup catchers, seniors Nick Cassell and Jeff Morgan, Williams also will pitch.

LEE

First-year coach Dave Gardziel knows what it takes to win. He spent six years as a West Springfield assistant, helping win a state title. And he assisted at state-qualifier Centreville last season.

The trick now is doing it as the head coach. But he knows the formula needed for success, which is why he likes that his team can pitch and play defense. That could be the equation that snaps their bad luck in the district tournament - Lee failed to reach the region the past two years, losing to a lower seed each time.

Junior Nick Slahetka went 4-2 with a 1.44 ERA, earning all-district honors in 2001. Gardziel likes his competitiveness. But sophomore Kenny Moreland is pushing Slahetka for the No. 1 job, Gardziel said. Moreland excels at getting ahead in the count.

Four seniors will start: Ricky Davis (center field), Matt Fiorino (catcher/pitcher), Zach Fettig (second base) and Justin Mielcarek (outfield).

Gardziel expects Davis, Fiorino and Fettig to lead the offense.

If the Lancers find a little more offense, they could become more than solid. Which is why Gardziel is optimistic.

``I'm real excited about the opportunity to build my own program,'' Gardziel said, ``and to do the things I've been taught.''

McLEAN

McLean hopes it has enough defense to offset any problems the Highlanders have offensively. With a young lineup, McLean might struggle to score, at least early in the season.

But the Highlanders should be strong up the middle, where they're also experienced. Seniors Sam Bonner (center field), Dan Russo (shortstop) and Andrew Carr (second base) all return. Russo batted .350 a year ago; Bonner hit .315.

Russo also will be counted on to pitch, though junior left-hander Stephen Baughman, the No. 2 pitcher in 2001, is expected to be the ace. He received little run support last spring, but managed two wins and pitched six innings in a 2-0 loss to Madison.

Senior David Hollinger will pitch and play third; freshman Andrew Burton will pitch.

``We'll have to figure out a way to score some runs,'' McLean coach Joe McDonald said. ``It's not one of our strongpoints. But we're pretty strong defensively.''

The Highlanders finished 9-9 last season, losing in the district tournament.

MARSHALL

Marshall could be the surprise team in the district. Except that, with all but three starters returning, the Statesmen won't surprise anyone if they do well.

It's not as if they're coming off a great season: Marshall went 7-15 a year ago, reaching the region tournament.

But the Statesmen do return quality players, starting on the mound. Senior Carlos Garcia, a hard-throwing 6-foot-5, 225-pounder, was 5-3 last season and likely is the ace. Garcia was named second-team all-district. Senior Nate Tackett and junior Josh Bell were starting pitchers last season. Bell is a hard-thrower; Tackett is a finesse pitcher.

Senior shortstop Drew Miller batted over .300 and impressed coach Richard Sullivan with his glove. Miller has speed to match the pop in his bat. Senior center fielder Chris Rehberger also batted over .300 and is a fast leadoff hitter. Senior Mike Mattson will start at first.

Junior Brian Williamson (second base) has ripped the ball in practice, Sullivan said. Williamson also is fast, as is junior third baseman Emmitt Saures. And Sullivan likes junior catcher Teddy Wilson, a transfer from Madison.

``He can fly,'' Sullivan said. ``I've never seen a catcher run that fast.''

Senior Kevin Chaikin will split time in right, left and in the infield, depending on who's pitching. ``If we play the way we're capable,'' Sullivan said. ``We can beat anybody.''

W.T. WOODSON

Woodson endured lots of downs and few ups in 2001. The good news for the Cavaliers is that this year should be better as all but one starter returns.

Senior Bryan McAdams (third base) is a three-year starter while seniors Rob Hearnsberger (shortstop), Andrew Kepley (second base), Dan Nebhut (first base) and Mike Effron (outfield) all started last year. Senior Grady Fisher will start in the outfield this spring.

Hearnsberger batted .320 last year, about 40 points higher than McAdams.

Two experienced pitchers return in senior Steven Foster and junior lefty Eric Lickstein. Senior Robbie Lee is expected to be the No. 3 pitcher. Senior lefty Paul Kelch also will pitch and senior Jason Micary will throw in relief.

Sophomore Mike Kelch will play in left field. Junior Sean Ragan (outfield) and sophomore Mike Salinas (catcher/outfield) will get action.

To make sure they don't repeat last year's 2-17 mark, the Cavaliers have worked harder, starting with early-morning conditioning.

``No one wants to go through what they went through last year,'' Woodson coach John Duffy said. ``But they've responded. Everyone has been there on time and no one has griped.''