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PRESEASON TOP 10
1. Hickory - The Hawks, state semifinalists last year, are primed to go deep into the postseason again.
2. Kellam - The Knights have a potentially potent mix of experience and youth.
3. Princess Anne - Brittany Bryan returns, as do six other starters, and coach Dennis Nixon and his 356 career victories.
4. Kempsville - The Vickie Madden-led Chiefs remain a fixture in the Beach District title hunt.
5. Great Bridge - Six starters are gone from last year's state semifinalist team, but tradition rules.
6. Green Run - Stallions standout Rose Gressley has a final fling.
7. Nansemond River - The Warriors have pop, but pitching is a question mark.
8. Salem - If only pitcher Kendra Knight had more help.
9. Tallwood - Keep an eye on this Beach District sleeper.
10. Greenbrier Christian - The Catelyn Slagle era is over, but the Gators, who have won three consecutive Division II private school state titles, remain a threat.
DON'T COUNT OUT
Western Branch - Improved depth will boost these Bruins.
Granby - An Eastern District title repeat is within reach.
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy - This is a Tidewater Conference contender.
Isle of Wight Academy - Like Greenbrier, the Chargers are pursuing a fourth consecutive private school state title, theirs in Division III.
PICKING THE LEAGUES
Beach District
1. Kellam
2. Princess Anne
3. Kempsville
4. Green Run
5. Salem
6. Tallwood
7. Ocean Lakes
8. Landstown
9. First Colonial
10. Cox
11. Bayside
Eastern District
1. Granby
2. Lake Taylor
3. Churchland
4. Norview
5. Wilson
6. Maury
7. Booker T. Washington
8. Norcom
Southeastern District
1. Hickory
2. Great Bridge
3. Nansemond River
4. Western Branch
5. Deep Creek
6. King's Fork
7. Lakeland
8. Oscar Smith
9. Indian River
Tidewater Conference
1. Greenbrier Christian
2. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
3. Cape Henry Collegiate
4. Norfolk Academy
5. Hampton Roads Academy
6. Norfolk Collegiate
7. Bishop Sullivan Catholic
8. Peninsula Catholic
9. Walsingham
Metro Conference
1. Isle of Wight Academy
2. Portsmouth Christian
3. Alliance Christian
4. Broadwater Academy
5. Atlantic Shores
6. StoneBridge
7. Hampton Christian
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
State Group AAA: Hanover
Eastern Region: Hickory
Beach District: Kempsville (regular season), Princess Anne (tournament)
Eastern District: Granby (regular season and tournament)
Southeastern District: Great Bridge (regular season), Hickory (tournament)
Tidewater Conference: Greenbrier Christian (regular season, tournament, private school Division II state champion)
Metro Conference: Isle of Wight Academy (regular season, tournament and private school Division III state champion)
AROUND THE HORN
Returning all-state outfielder Nichole Simmons, a Longwood signee, is Hickory's all-time doubles leader. The Hawks' leadoff batter, Simmons is nearing several other school records. She'll join Rachel West as a consistent table-setter for the power bats of Jaclyn Quinn, Michelle Lighton and Jennifer Gniadek, who will also pitch. Katie Raulerson, who was 13-3 with an 0.42 ERA last season, returns as Hickory's ace. Remember this name - Brittany Booth. A junior, Booth has drawn raves from coach Ryan Wieck both as a hitter and defensively as a corner infielder or outfielder.
One of the reasons for the soaring optimism at Kellam is a freshman class that veteran coach T.J. Jones ranks as the best in program history. Heading the contingent is centerfielder Melissa Zitt, whose sister Anna was a multi-sport standout for the Knights before going to Virginia Tech. Janelle Fitro, Marian Guidry and Lexi Wall are other young Kellam phenoms. The Knights also got a boost from Kelsey Bruan, a transfer from Hickory who has settled in at shortstop. The senior battery of pitcher Stephanie Kemp and catcher Tamra Griffin, who is headed to Morgan State, is another plus.
Beach District Player of the Year Brittany Bryan, who hit .527 with 31 RBIs, returns to Princess Anne for her senior season. She could see time at three infield positions and pitcher. Shortstop Miranda McCoy, outfielder Kristyn Sawyer and first baseman Hannah Montgomery all hit better than .300 in 2006.
Kempsville coach Dean Spruill expects another marquee season from All-Tidewater infielder Vickie Madden, who batted .492 last season after switching from being a righthanded hitter to lefthanded.
Opponents and umpires might be confused when Western Branch's identical twins, pitcher Sheri and catcher Teri Draper, are both on the field. The Drapers are two reasons why coach Sarah Wright rates this the deepest team the Bruins have had in recent memory. The influx of quality freshmen Taylor Magee, Ashley Rutherford and Julie Hendriks coupled with proven returnees Kaitlin Bennett and Brittney Brinkley could bode well.
New Nansemond River coach Susan Frank inherits a potent hitting team led by Cherae Rice (.428, 21 RBIs), Kelsi Saunders (.400, 5 HR, 22 RBIs) and Maddi Ridenour (.411) but must replace graduated three-year mound ace Lindly Theroux. Sophomore Jenna Bryant is the pitching newcomer.
Chelsea Henline, who pitched Great Bridge to the state semifinals with an 11-4 record in 2006, returns for her junior season hoping to ease the sting of the Wildcats losing six starters. Coach Kirk Clayton will build around outfielder Ashley Mani (.381), infielder Kristen Cheesebrew (.368) and infielder Kaitlynn Sczcepanski (.286).
Tallwood coach Mike Denmark likes his team's new-found confidence, fueled by last year's Beach District tournament runner-up finish. Pitcher Andrea Gilkerson, centerfielder Morgan Greene and shortstop Jessica Van Gosen are senior leaders.
Florida Atlantic signee Rose Gressley, a 2006 All-Tidewater selection, again will shoulder much of the load for Green Run. Her credentials include last year's 9-6 pitching mark with an 0.82 ERA and 226 strikeouts in 119 innings. Gressley also had a .544 batting average. Her primary help comes from shortstop Whitney Robinson.
If another private school state title is in the cards for Greenbrier Christian, sophomore pitcher Brittany Lane, who steps in for 2006 All-Tidewater Player of the Year Catelyn Slagle, and catcher Robbin Kennedy must have monster years. Kayla Fussell, a transfer from Portsmouth Christian, is a good addition at shortstop. First and third base are question marks.
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy might have the top catcher around in junior Brittany Wilkins, a private school all-state selection. She hit .775 with an .804 on-base percentage in 2006. The presence of Wilkins and pitcher Kelsey Ritter, an eighth-grader, will help the Saints push Greenbrier for the Tidewater Conference title.
Kristy Colli expects her defending Eastern District champion Granby Comets to be at least as good this season. Returning pitchers Chrissy Crawford and Courtney Rodgers are big reasons why.
Lake Taylor pitcher/shortstop Kristin Fungo returns to her softball routine after serving as Miss Iceland in the 2006 Azaela Festival, according to coach Rick Thomas. | |
