April 21 - While much of the private school attention in the area is paid to Washington Catholic Athletic Conference teams - in Northern Virginia, namely to No. 3 Paul VI Catholic and No. 10 Bishop O’Connell - Flint Hill has quietly rolled along while emerging a threat to make a deep postseason run.
The Huskies (11-2) enter today’s home contest with Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAC) rival Potomac School ranked No. 3 in the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I poll - behind Paul VI and O’Connell. Winners of six straight, they are 4-1 in the MAC, and the winner of today’s game with the Panthers (9-5, 4-1) will maintain pace with Maret School (6-6, 6-1) in the loss column atop the MAC standings.
Flint Hill also will be looking to erase any lingering thoughts of its March 29 game at Potomac School, which the Huskies looked to be in control of after taking a 7-0 lead before eventually falling, 10-9. They have not lost since that collapse.
“As always, we expect to compete for championships in both the MAC and the state, but we have a lot of new guys this year,” Flint Hill coach Tom Verbanic said. “I am happy with our progress so far, but we have to get better at little things and continue to work offensively.”
Two key cogs in the Huskies’ lineup that have been working very well all spring are senior Khalil Lee and sophomore Justin Taylor.
Lee, a Liberty University commit who has generated interest with professional scouts, has been one of the area’s top two-way players. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior outfielder is hitting .649 with six home runs, 20 RBI and 27 runs, and has compiled a 3-0 record with a save, a 0.40 ERA and 36 strikeouts to just one walk in 18 innings.
A Preseason All-American selection by Rawlings and Louisville Slugger who played in the Under Armour All-American Classic in San Diego last summer, Lee has handled the attention he has received from scouts and opposing teams, providing Verbanic’s team with a force at the plate, in the field and on the mound.
“Khalil is an outstanding player both in the field and on the mound,” Verbanic said. “His offensive stats this year are off the charts along with outstanding pitching numbers. I have been fortunate to have some great players and Khalil is right at the top. He is a great hitter with exceptional power. In center field, he has a plus arm and on the mound is effortless with great control of all pitches.”
Taylor, whose older brother Jordan is a senior first baseman and left-handed pitcher, is hitting .632 with 17 RBI. Senior Brett Briglia has also provided the Huskies with a consistent bat, entering today’s game hitting .372 with a .471 on-base average and 21 runs.
On the mound, Flint Hill has received a lift from senior Robert Riddick, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound transfer from Paul VI who has committed to pitch for Virginia Tech. Riddick is 3-1 with a 2.58 ERA, and is also hitting .333 with 20 RBI.
“Robert has given us a great lift on the mound as a premier starter,” Verbanic said. “This has helped our staff immensely and taken some of the pressure off of Khalil.
“This will hopefully help us as we get to the postseason.”
Photo of Khalil Lee courtesy of Flint Hill baseball
