Last season, Sherando baseball enjoyed its deepest postseason run in more than a decade.
The Warriors went 15-9 and reached the Class 4 state quarterfinals, marking their first state tournament appearance since 2014. After defeating Charlottesville in the Region 4D quarterfinals and Orange County in the semifinals, Sherando fell to Jefferson Forest in the region title game and lost to Heritage in the state quarterfinals.
This successful campaign resulted in Warriors coach Craig Bodenschatz being named The Winchester Star Coach of the Year. Then-senior catcher Dylan Frazier also received significant honors, being named both The Winchester Star Player of the Year and the co-Northwestern District Player of the Year alongside James Wood’s Logan Bower, a senior last year. Frazier also made First Team All-Region 4D.
Though Frazier and fellow First Team All-Northwestern District selection Hayden LaFever graduated last spring, the Warriors still return 10 players from last season’s varsity roster, including pitchers Dean Lamb and Aaron DeHaven, who were named Second Team All-Region 4D.
Lamb (6-2, 2.06 ERA across 57.2 innings, 57 strikeouts) made the All-Northwestern District First Team, while DeHaven (6-3, 1.73 ERA across 60.2 innings, 50 strikeouts) made the Second Team while classified as both a pitcher and second baseman. Additionally, senior first baseman and Second Team All-Northwestern District selection Nick Usa is back for the Warriors.
While Sherando exceeded expectations last spring, James Wood wasn’t able to parlay its strong regular season into a deep postseason run. The 17-5 Colonels fell to Orange County in the Region 4D quarterfinals 2-1 after entering as the North’s No. 1 seed.
The Colonels lost Bower, an outfielder and pitcher, as well as First Team All-Northwestern District shortstop Zach Woskobunik and others, but return nine members of last year’s varsity roster.
Both junior pitcher Parker Kerns (area-best 0.70 ERA across 30 innings and an area-best 0.80 WHIP) and junior utility player Owen Neal (.297 average, 24 RBIs, .447 OBP) are back after impressive 2025 campaigns. Neal was selected to the All-Region 4D and All-Northwestern District first teams as a designated hitter, while Kerns made the All-Northwestern District Second Team on the mound. All-Area Second Team sophomore outfielder Tyler Prusik is also back for the Colonels.
Before Orange County upset James Wood in the quarterfinals, it eliminated 7-14 Millbrook in the first round, 7-6. Heading into Scott Jenkins’ second year coaching the program, the Pioneers return All-Northwestern District Honorable mention selections, pitcher and infielder Carson Hammer and pitcher and catcher Dylan Apfel. The pair of upperclassmen will look to fill the void left by graduated pitcher Devin Reid, who made the All-Northwestern District Second Team in 2025 after striking out 82 batters — 18 more than any other area player.
Handley finished right behind Millbrook at 6-14, but missed out on the postseason. The Judges lost All-Northwestern District Second Team selections Charlie Allen and Will Braun-Duin, but still have fellow selection Jake Swartz. Allen, a senior catcher, led the area with 17 stolen bases last season, while Handley head coach Patrick Wingfield said Braun-Duin, a junior, will not be playing to focus on basketball. Braun-Duin led the area in batting average and on-base percentage last season.
Swartz, a senior, is coming off a campaign where he accumulated a 3.25 ERA across 47.1 innings and struck out 53 batters.
In the Bull Run District, Clarke County is fresh off a season where it went 14-8 and fell to Fort Defiance 4-3 in the Region 2B quarterfinals.
Clarke County set a single-season record with 18 home runs last spring and returns 12 varsity players this year. Among that group are All-Region 2B and All-Bull Run First Team selections Jake Reichert and Brady MacDonald, along with All-Bull Run second teamers Aiden Wagner and Tucker Fox.
Reichert, a first baseman, totaled a .436 average, a .471 OBP and 18 RBIs last season, while MacDonald, an outfielder, hit .377 while totaling 27 RBIs, a .513 OBP and tying for the area lead with five home runs.
Wagner finished with a 5-2 record and a 1.77 ERA across 39.2 innings and struck out 45 batters while also hitting .354 with a .481 OBP as a shortstop. Fox, a third baseman, hit .419 and tallied 21 RBIs and a .519 OBP last season. Additionally, catcher Caleb Erickson is back after tying MacDonald with five home runs and hitting .308. All five players are seniors.
Here’s a complete look at each team’s roster for the upcoming season.
Sherando
Coach: Craig Bodenschatz, third season.
Last year: 15-9. Lost to Heritage in Class 4 state quarterfinals.
Key losses: Dylan Frazier, Gavin McKelvey, Judson Dean, Hayden LaFever, Tucker LaFever, Isaiah Doeden, Sam Ridings
Key returning players: Aaron DeHaven (Sr., P/2B); Dean Lamb (Sr., P); Nick Usa (Sr., 1B/OF/P); Asher Morrow (Sr., SS/P); Leland McIntyre (Sr., P/3B); Zachary Thomas (Sr., C); Braylon Clark (Sr., C/OF/P); Brayden Phillips (Sr., OF/P); Evan Combs (So., P/1B); Landon Demko (So., IF/P)
Key newcomers: Sawyer Benson (Jr., IF); Brayden Sheets (Jr., P/INF); Cole Larrick (Jr. OF); Gavin Even (Jr., C); Jared Zick (Jr., 1B)
Bodenschatz’s outlook: “We hope to be competitive in each game and give ourselves the chance to win each night. We want to be aggressive on offense and play sound defense. Our pitchers will need to throw strikes and keep hitters off balance. We want to improve throughout the season and be playing our best baseball at playoff time. The district will be strong again, and we want to be in the mix at the top.
“We are more experienced on defense than last year and when we add in the experience we have returning on the mound, we hope to keep teams off the scoreboard better than last season. We will need to be better on offense and get the timely hits in key situations. We have a large group of seniors on this team and we will rely on them to lead this team on and off the field.”
First game: Tuesday at Strasburg, 6 p.m.
James Wood
Coach: Adrian Pullen, sixth season
Last year: 17-5. Lost to Orange County in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Logan Bower, Cade Cornwell, Fletcher Powell, Ethan Rettke, Colin Thomas, Brock Whipkey, Zach Woskobunik
Top returning players: Kaden McCullough (Sr., OF); Avery Phelps (Sr., C); Lane Herring (Jr., RHP/INF); Parker Kerns (Jr., INF/RHP); Owen Neal (Jr., UTL); Tyler Prusik (Jr., LHP/OF); Cole Ritter (Jr., UTL); Brady Smith (Jr., RHP/INF); Jake Woskobunik (So., RHP/UTL)
Top newcomers: Jacob Elsasser (Jr., OF); Logan Janney (Jr., C); Konner Jobe (Jr., OF); Cash Keeler (Jr., UTL); Logan LaFollette, (Jr., RHP/UTL); Colton Nesselrodt (Jr., RHP/INF); David Terry, (Jr., RHP/INF); Nolan Landry (So., LHP/1B); Tyler Day (Fr., UTL)
Pullen’s outlook: “We hope to play sound and fundamental baseball. We expect to throw strikes, play defense and get the timely hits that will put us in a great position to win the ballgame. We return nine players from last year’s roster that will provide leadership and stability to our lineup. Offensively, we must find ways to score. We will need to execute, and manufacture runs in scoring situations, to be successful.
“Locally, Sherando, Millbrook and Handley will be tough matchups as always. The region, in my opinion, is the most talented in the state. Last year, we exited early and that was my fault. That exit has fueled our young men with an enhanced work ethic and an attention to detail that hopefully will propel us to a better result. If we work hard and have the drive to compete, we will give ourselves a chance to succeed. Our focus continues to be, control what we can control and prepare to execute and repeat the process of being successful.
“We are still a young roster, but the difference this year is now they have experience under their belt. They are an enthusiastic and very competitive group of young men with a common goal. You don’t always find that at this level.
“We need to do a better job at scoring runs. We must take advantage of other teams’ mistakes and find ways to put teams away when we have the opportunity. It’s a mindset, and it all starts with great practices. You can never be satisfied with the current situation; you must always strive to be better.”
First game: Thursday versus Sherando, 6 p.m.
Millbrook
Coach: Scott Jenkins, second season.
Last year: 7-14. Lost to Orange County in Region 4D first round.
Key losses: Devin Reid
Key returning players: Dylan Apfel (Sr., C/RHP/IF); Carson Hammer (Jr., INF/RHP)
Key newcomers: Holden Faith (Fr., RHP/OF); Bradden Silver (Fr., C/RHP/OF)
Jenkins’ outlook: “We are still much younger than most teams in the area. That being said we have the experience to compete. We are still young, but will be more athletic overall. If we can be more aggressive on offense and be willing to do the small things and make the details important, we will be a difficult team to put away.
“We have a few young players that will be asked to take on big roles. Holden Faith and Dylan Reich will both be needed to step into roles both in the field and on the mound. Our junior class has five players that all played significant time and we are expecting them to carry a lot of the load this season. As well as Senior Dylan Apfel, who was a leader both on the mound and led us in hitting last season."
First game: Tuesday versus Rocktown, 6:30 p.m.
Handley
Coach: Patrick Wingfield, 12th season.
Last year: 6-14.
Key losses: Charlie Allen, Logan Ambrose, Rutledge Patterson, Jack Prosser, Peyton Nutter, Ian Bruening.
Key returning players: Jake Swartz (Sr., P); Carson Otto (Sr., C); Eli Shelton (Sr., SS); Donovan VanNatter (Sr., OF); Everett Otto (Jr., OF/P)
Key newcomers: Chase Hobbs (Fr., 1B/P); Nehemiah Ryan (So., P); Aaron Villafranca (Sr., INF); ZeQuon Williams (Sr., 3B)
Wingfield’s outlook: “There will be a lot of turnover in the lineup and defense this year. The challenge will be to maintain the progress we have made over the past two seasons. We don't have a clear No. 2 on the mound behind Jake, but this is the deepest pitching staff we've had since I began coaching."
First game: Wednesday at Martinsburg (West Virginia), 6 p.m.
Clarke County
Coach: Mike Smith, ninth season.
Last year: 14-8, 9-5 Bull Run District. Lost to Fort Defiance in Region 2B quarterfinals.
Key losses: Wilson Taylor, Colton Johnson
Key returning players: Aiden Wagner (Sr., SS/P); Jake Reichert (Sr., 1B/P); Caleb Erickson (Sr., C); Tucker Fox (Sr., 3B/P); Brady MacDonald (Sr., OF/1B/P); Aiden Genda (S., 2B/P); Logan Davis (Sr., OF); Sam Cochran (So, OF); Aiden McLearen (Sr., P); Leo Desarno (Sr., OF); Ben Mason (Sr., OF/P); Cam McCarty (Sr., C)
Key newcomer: Eamon Whalen (So., UTL)
Smith’s outlook: “Expectations are high with the 11 seniors on the team. We hope to win the district and move on to a regional game. We match up well due to the experience these guys have. The Bull Run is respected by many as one of the top districts in 2A baseball.
“Being a senior-heavy team with experience should help us improve from last year. With any team, we need to be better at pitching as a team. Our offense is pretty good, but the pitching will be key down the stretch."
First game: Thursday versus East Hardy (West Virginia), 5 p.m.
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