NOVABASEBALLMAGAZINE

In his 11th season at the helm of the Chargers, led them to their first state championship in school history, beating Battlefield in a classic 6A state final that saw Chantilly score three seventh-inning runs and win in walk-off fashion for a 3-2 victory. Also led the Chargers to their second straight 6A Conference 5 title and a second North Region championship in three seasons.

Ford, who is 155-95 overall at Chantilly, guided the Chargers to a 25-2 record and a 19-game winning streak to finish the season ranked No. 1 in our Northern Virginia Top 10 Poll. They also finished No. 4 in The Washington Post's metropolitan Top 10 Poll and No. 2 in Prep Baseball Report's Super 25 rankings of teams from Virginia and Washington, D.C. 

Chantilly's postseason run was as dramatic as it was historic, advancing with an extra-inning, walk-off 2-1 win over West Potomac in the first round of regionals on a base hit by senior outfielder Garrett Snedeker, then winning again in walk-off fashion in the region semifinals, 2-1, over Patriot when senior shortstop Brett Norwood drove in the winning run. The Chargers then beat Battlefield, 8-3, in the region final, and Cosby, 4-1, in the state semifinals to set up a memorable state championship game match-up with Battlefield. 

Position(s): Pitcher / Outfielder

High School: Battlefield HS (Haymarket)

Head Coach: Jay Burkhart

College: East Carolina University

Height: 5-11

Weight: 185

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Season Highlights: A left-handed pitcher and outfielder who has signed with East Carolina University and a member of our NOVA Nine Team last spring, Agnos was also The Washington Post's All-Met Player of the Year, 6A Conference 8 Player of the Year, and the 6A North Region Pitcher of the Year. He went 11-0 with a 0.54 ERA this spring with 136 strikeouts to 24 walks in 65 innings, finishing with seven complete games. Had a two-year total of 265 strikeouts in 129.1 innings, winning all 18 of his decisions. Also hit .348 with eight doubles, 16 RBI and 14 stolen bases for a Bobcats team that set a school-record for wins in going 23-5, won the 6A Conference 8 championship and advanced to both the North Region and state championship games. 

Position(s): Pitcher / Outfielder

High School: Paul VI Catholic HS (Fairfax)

Head Coach: Jeff Nolan

College: Boston College

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting outfielder who will play at Boston College and was a member of our NOVA Nine Team last spring, Cunningham was one of the area’s top two-way players and was named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Player of the Year. Also a first-team All-Met selection by The Washington Post and first-team VISAA Division I All-State selection, he hit .413 with 10 doubles, 25 RBI and eight steals, and went 5-3 on the mound with a 0.53 ERA, 52 strikeouts to 10 walks in 53 innings for a Panthers team that went 24-8 and advanced to the state final.

Position(s): Pitcher / Third Baseman

High School: Chantilly HS (Chantilly)

Head Coach: Kevin Ford

College: George Mason University

Height: 5-11

Weight: 170

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A right-handed pitcher and third baseman who will play at George Mason University, DiCesare was a first-team All-Met selection by The Washington Post and also the 6A Conference 5 and 6A North Region Player of the Year. He went 11-0 with a 0.57 ERA and had 85 strikeouts to just 12 walks in 74 innings to lead the Chargers to a second region title in three years and the first state championship in school history. Also hit .366 with nine doubles and 22 RBI as part of a deep Chantilly lineup that produced a 25-2 record, finishing with a 19-game winning streak. 

Position(s): Outfielder

High School: Kettle Run HS (Nokesville)

Head Coach: Ty Thorpe

College: Virginia Military Institute

Height: 6-3

Weight: 180

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A center fielder who will play at Virginia Military Institute, Doyle was named the 4A Conference 22 and 4A West Region Player of the Year as the Cougars set a school record with a 20-3 record, stringing together a 17-game winning streak en route to a conference championship and berth in the region final and state semifinals. He hit .497 with 12 doubles, 12 triples, 27 RBI and stole 12 bases this spring to pace Kettle Run offensively. 

Position(s): Pitcher

High School: Marshall HS (Falls Church)

Head Coach: Aaron Tarr

College: Coastal Carolina University

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A right-handed pitcher who will play at Coastal Carolina University, Johel was a first-team All-Met selection by The Washington Post, a first-team 5A North Region selection and was the Conference 13 Pitcher of the Year for the Statesmen, which went 19-2 and won a third consecutive league title. He went 7-1 with a 0.51 ERA and had 57 strikeouts in 54.2 innings, helping spearhead a 16-game winning streak that was snapped in Marshall’s loss to Potomac in the 5A North Region semifinals. Finished his career with an 18-1 record.

Position(s): Outfielder / Pitcher

High School: Flint Hill School (Oakton)

Head Coach: Tom Verbanic

College: Liberty University

Height: 5-10

Weight: 170

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Season Highlights: An outfielder and left-handed pitcher who has signed to play at Liberty University, Lee was one of the area’s top two-way threats in leading the Huskies to a 20-5 record and the semifinals of the VISAA Division I state tournament. The VISAA Division I State Player of the Year and a first-team All-Met selection by The Washington Post, he hit .471 with a .634 on-base average, six doubles, four triples, six homers, 23 RBI and went 7-0 with two saves, a 0.33 ERA and 87 strikeouts to just three walks in 43 innings. A preseason All-American by Perfect Game and Louisville Slugger, and was chosen in the third round in this year's Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals. 

Position(s): Shortstop

High School: Oakton HS (Vienna)

Head Coach: Justin Janis

College: University of South Carolina

Height: 5-11

Weight: 215

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A shortstop who has signed to play at the University of South Carolina and was our NOVA Nine Team’s Player of the Year last spring, Rizzo was a first-team 6A North Region selection and first-team All-Met selection by The Washington Post. He hit .389 with a .542 on-base average, four home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs for the Cougars, who went 8-12 and missed the region tournament for the first time since 2009, finishing a four-year varsity career with 118 hits and a .439 batting average at Oakton. A preseason All-American by Perfect Game and Louisville Slugger, he was chosen in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners. 

Position(s): Shortstop / Pitcher

High School: C.D. Hylton HS (Woodbridge)

Head Coach: Jason Ritenour

College: James Madison University

Height: 5-10

Weight: 160

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A shortstop and right-handed pitcher who will play at James Madison University, Semones was the 6A Conference 4 and 6A South Region Player of the Year and a second-team All-Met selection by The Washington Post. He hit .452 with a .538 on-base average with a homer, 22 RBI and 18 steals, and compiled a 4-2 record on the mound with a 0.56 ERA and 58 strikeouts to 19 walks in 37.1 innings to lead the Bulldogs to a 19-7 record, the South Region championship and a berth in the state semifinals.

Position(s): Catcher

High School: Mountain View HS (Stafford)

Head Coach: Craig Lopez

College: Naval Academy

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Season Highlights: A catcher who will play at the Naval Academy, Smith was the 5A Conference 15 and 5A North Region Player of the Year in leading the Wildcats to a 21-5 record, conference and region championships and an appearance in the state final. He hit .382 with a .604 on-base average, had seven doubles, five home runs, 26 RBI and had three walk-off hits this season, including in the conference championship game against Potomac.