December 28 - The MVP Terps 13U/14U Blue have been named the magazine’s 2016 Middle School Travel Team of the Year as part of our year-end feature honoring Northern Virginia’s top teams.
Coached by Dane Charneco, the Terps compiled an overall record of 64-10 as a 13U team during the spring and summer and as a 14U team in the fall. The team, comprised mostly of players from western Fairfax County, won four of the eight tournaments it entered in 2016 and was undefeated during the spring season in the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League’s 13U Metro Division.
“The [team] displayed exceptional sportsmanship and teamwork throughout 2016 and look forward to continuing their development in 2017,” Charneco said.
The Terps rostered seven players who are currently or will attend Centreville High School, including: shortstop Gavin Collins, outfielder and right-handed pitcher Ben Cousino, utility man Zach Bowers, outfielder Lahe Calbo, catcher Keith Greenfelder, infielder Jake Carpenter, and catcher and infielder Campbell Charneco. The team also featured three players who will play at Madison - pitcher and infielder Ben Eldridge, first baseman TC Sylvia, left-handed pitcher and outfielder Davis Snyder - as well as outfielder and left-handed pitcher Nick Lottchea (Westfield), infielder Nick Morgan (Oakton), pitcher and infielder Max Nathan (South Lakes), and pitcher and third baseman Bobby Asel (George Mason).
The team won championships at the Tri-County Slugfest in Fredericksburg, the Cougar Clash in Northern Virginia, the Tri-County NOVA Fall State event in Fredericksburg, and the Top Gun Rawlings Super Regional in Apex, N.C.
Other Nominees:
Stars Baseball 13U/14U Red: Coached by Mike Huller, the Stars compiled a 45-10 overall record in 2016, winning five tournaments while playing as a 13U team in the spring and summer and moving up to 14U in the fall. Paced by four two-way players - shortstop Casey Cook, center fielder Nick Faili, infielder Grant Barberich and catcher Justin Ritz also played key roles on the pitching staff - Huller’s team advanced to the championship game in all but two of the tournaments it entered this year, and earned a berth to next summer’s Perfect Game 14U Super25 National Championships in Florida. The Stars won titles at the USSSA Summer Nationals, the Longhorn Classic in Loudoun County, the Halloween Havoc in Manassas, the Complete Game Bash in Prince William County, and the Top Gun Total Control event in North Carolina. “A proud part of Stars baseball, [we were] a young team that was constantly tested against the best teams up and down the east coast,” Huller said. “[We had] great team chemistry and very supportive parents. A true pleasure to coach and all the kids have a bright future.”
Prime Time Aces 13U/14U: Coached by David DeSilva, the Aces went a combined 37-5-1 in 2016, competing as a 13U team in the spring and summer and a 14U team in the fall. The team won two tournaments - the Doc Bonaccorso Summer Classic in Arlington and the Halloween Havoc in Manassas - with a roster comprised mainly of players from the City of Alexandria. The Aces were led by outfielder/first baseman Jack Baldridge from St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes High School, right-handed pitcher Evan Leon from George Mason Middle School, utility man Shane Tucker from T.C. Williams High School, and second baseman Anthony Guerrera from Yorktown High School. "I have now coached this group of kids for just over three years, and the progress shown has been fantastic,” DeSilva said. “Our first season as 11Us, this group struggled to win a game. Not only has this group taken their baseball development to the next level but they have bought into the system and are now taking life skills we teach every day and applying them to their daily routine. I'm proud of what this group has accomplished and I look forward to continuing that development."
Virginia Renegades 13U/14U: Coached by Alex Gregory, the Renegades went 36-14 overall in 2016 as a 13U team in the spring and summer and a 14U team in the fall. The team finished with the top record in the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League's 14U Metro Division in the fall, and reached the semifinals in three of the five tournaments it entered this year. The Renegades were paced offensively by Jacob Felix (Herndon), who hit .381 with 45 RBI. The pitching staff was led by Will Long (Langley), who had nine wins, 58 strikeouts and a 3.67 ERA and also had team-highs of 54 hits and 12 doubles. Two-way standout Joe Shapiro (Herndon) was 67-for-70 in stolen base attempts and scored a team-high 63 runs while hitting .340, and also went 8-2 with a 3.76 ERA. Kevin Mackmin (Westfield) also had a big year, hitting .350 while compiling a team-best 1.59 ERA. "The work ethic our players have shown is second to none at this age," Gregory said. "This is the reason for this group's improvement over the past 12 months both individually and as a team. I believe that is what will make each of these boys an asset to their respective high school teams over the next few years."
Note: All nominees were submitted by league administrators or team coaches.
Photo Courtesy of MVP Terps
