Paul VI Panthers Baseball - Fairfax, VA - (Fairfax, VA)

(Updates are now thru the 2009 Season, except for final rankings and player records)
Paul VI Catholic High School opened in the fall of 1983 and fielded its first baseball team at the JV level in the spring of 1984. The Panthers played their first season of Varsity baseball the following year in spring of 1985.

PVI has competed in the highly regarded Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) since 1986. The WCAC was formerly known as the Washington Metro Athletic Conference (WMAC) until the fall of 1993. The WCAC is now comprised of 10 Catholic High Schools from Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. Three different WCAC baseball teams (including Paul VI) have been Nationally ranked in the past 5 seasons. The Conference used a divisional format (North and South) from 1998-2000 and from 2004-2005. The divisional format was dropped again in 2006 and the WCAC is now a straight 9-team conference.

Beyond conference play, PVI competed for the Virginia Catholic High School League (VCHSL) Championship from 1985 to 1991. In 1992, The Virginia Independent Schools Baseball Association (VISBA) was formed to provide a State Championship for all private high schools in the State of Virginia. The VISBA changed it's acronym to VISAA in 2006 which stands for Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association. Today the VISAA includes almost 80 private schools throughout the State.

In 25 seasons of PVI Varsity Baseball the Panthers have captured thirteen titles including the WMAC Tournament/Conference Championship (1993), two WCAC South Division Championships (1999 & 2005), two VISBA State Championships (1994 & 2004), two VISAA State Championship (2008 & 2009), two Southeastern Baseball Classic Championship (2008 & 2009), two WCAC Regular Season Championships (2007 & 2008), and two WCAC Tournament 'Conference Championship' in 2007 & 2009. All 13 championships were won in the past 17 years including ten in the past seven years.

History of Rankings:

LOCAL
Washington Post - Local Top 10: 1993, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (Post Rankings began in 1990)
Washington Post - Local Final Top 10: 1993 (#9), 2005 (#7), 2006 (#6), 2007 (#2), 2008 (#2)

Washington Examiner -Local Top 10: 2005, 2006, 2007 (Examiner Rankings existed from 2005-2007)
Washington Examiner -Local Final Top 10: 2005 (#2), 2006 (#3), 2007 (#1)

DCSportsfan.Com Power Rankings: 2009 (Began in 2009)

DCSportsfan.Com Final Power Rankings:

ESPN/RISE Magazine-DC Area Top 10 rankings: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

NATIONAL & REGIONAL
ESPN High Elite National 25: 2008 (#9)

ESPN High Elite Regional rankings: 2008 (#6 in the SOUTH)
ESPN High Elite Final National 25: 2008 (#16)

ESPN High Elite Final Regional rankings: 2008 (#8 in the SOUTH)

SchoolSports.Com (Rivals) -National Top 25: 2005 (#17), 2008 (#6)

PGCrosschecker.Com-National Top 50: 2007 (#41), 2008 (#9)

PGCrosschecker.Com-National Final Top 100: 2007 (#68)

PGCrosschecker.Com-South Preseason Regional Top 40: 2007 (#26) (existed in 2007)

PGCrosschecker.Com-National Final Top 100: 2008 (#12)

BCA Baseball America -National Top 25: 2008 (#17)

BCA Baseball America -National Final Top 50: 2008 (#32)

BCA Baseball America District 2 Rankings (VA, DC, MD, PA, DE, NJ, WV): 2009 (#7)

USA Today -National Super 25: 2008 (#6)

USA Today -Regional rankings: 2008 (#4 in the SOUTH)

ESPN/RISE -National Top 25: 2008 (#3)

ESPN/RISE -Regional Rankings: 2008 (#1 in the EAST)

Easton/Collegiate Baseball -National Top 30: 2008 (#10)

Easton/Collegiate Baseball -National Final Top 30: 2008 (#12)

BaseballVA.Net -State Top 40 AAA & Private Schools: 2007 (#3) (existed in 2007)

VISAA -State Final Top 8 (prior to tournament): 1992-1994, 1996-2001, 2004, 2005(#1), 2006, 2007, 2008(#1), 2009

YEARLY TEAM/COACH RECORDS (through 2008)
Year / (W-L) / Head Coach / Postseason Highlights:
(Notes Conference Semifinals or higher and/or State Tournament appearances. Championships listed in bold)

1984* (8-8) Rich Taylor (*denotes: JV Level Team)

1985 (12-7) Rich Taylor

1986 (11-9) Rich Taylor

1987 (13-10) Art Von Herbulis - VCHSL Quarterfinal

1988 (9-12) Art Von Herbulis

1989 (11-11) Mickey Leap

1990 (13-12) Mickey Leap

1991 (16-11) Mickey Leap - WMAC Final

1992 (15-14) Mickey Leap - WMAC Semifinal, VISBA Semifinal

1993 (20-9) Mickey Leap - WMAC Conference Champions, VISBA Semifinal

1994 (18-13) Mickey Leap - VISBA State Champions

1995 (9-20) Mickey Leap

1996 (13-16) Mickey Leap - WCAC Final, VISBA Quarterfinal

1997 (14-13) Mickey Leap - VISBA Quarterfinal

1998 (15-13) Dan Lehman - VISBA Semifinal

1999 (20-11) Dan Lehman - WCAC South Division Champions, WCAC Semifinal, VISBA Semifinal

2000 (16-9) Dan Lehman - WCAC Semifinal, VISBA Quarterfinal

2001 (15-14) Dan Lehman - VISBA Quarterfinal

2002 (11-17) Keith Newcombe (7-8) & Tom Hall (4-9)

2003 (17-12) Billy Emerson

2004 (17-12) Billy Emerson - VISBA State Champions

2005 (26-5) Billy Emerson - WCAC South Division Champions, WCAC Final, VISBA Semifinal

2006 (24-8) Billy Emerson - WCAC Final, VISAA Final

2007 (27-4) Billy Emerson - WCAC Regular Season Champions, WCAC Conference Champions, VISAA Semifinal

2008 (27-3) Billy Emerson - SBC Champions, WCAC Regular Season Champions, WCAC Semifinal, VISAA State Champions

2009 (22-9) Billy Emerson - SBC Champions, WCAC Conference Champions, VISAA State Champions

Overall Varsity Record 1985-2009 (25 seasons)
411 wins, 274 losses (.600)

Number of Winning Seasons: 20
Average Season: 16 wins, 11 losses (25 Varsity Seasons)

Top 5 Seasons in School History
Seasons with 20 or more games played... ranked by winning % (postseason accomplishments listed).
#1- 2008... 27-3, .900, SBC Champions, Reg. Season Champions, Conference Semifinalists, State Champions

#2- 2007... 27-4, .871, Reg. Season Champions, Conference Champions, State Semifinalists

#3- 2005… 26-5, .839, Division Champions, Conference Finalists, State Semifianlists
#4- 2006… 24-8, .750, Conference Finalists, State Finalists
#5- 2009... 22-9, .710, SBC Champions, Conference Champions, State Champions

Most wins: 27 (2007 & 2008)

Highest Winning %: .900 (2008)

Conference Semifinal Appearances = 10: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Conference Championship Game Appearances = 7: 1991, 1993, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Overall Confernce Championship Game Record: 3-4 (Champions in 1993, 2007 & 2009)

State Tournament Appearances = 15: 1987, 1992-1994, 1996-2001, 2004-2009

State Semifinal Appearances = 11: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Overall State Tournament Record: 19-11 (Champions in 1994, 2004, 2008 & 2009)

Individual Coaching Records
1984-1986... Rich Taylor (3 years)
(31-24)* (.564) *includes one 8-8 JV Season

1987-1988... Art Von Herbulis (2 years)
(22-22) (.500)

1989-1997... Mickey Leap (9 years)
(129-119) (.520) 1993 Conference Champions, 1994 State Champions

1998-2001... Dan Lehman (4 years)
(66-47) (.584) 1999 Division Champions

2002........... Keith Newcombe (1/2 year)
(7-8) (.467)

2002........... Tom Hall (1/2 year)
(4-9) (.308)

2003-present... Billy Emerson (7 years)
(160-53) (.751) 2004 State Champions, 2005 Division Champions, 2007 Regular Season Champions, 2007 Conference Champions, 2008 SBC Champions, 2008 Regular Season Champions, 2008 State Champions, 2009 SBC Champions, 2009 Conference Champions, 2009 State Champions

Single Season (Sea:) & Career (Car:) Records
(Covers the years from 1996 through 2008 and some prior. Additional seasons are currently being researched, updates will be made as this information becomes available.)

GENERAL
Years on Varsity: >Several tied at 4

Games Played:
Sea: 1) 32 - Matt Murakami (2006) 2) 31 - 8 Players Tied
Car: 1) 112 - Scott Eastment (2002-05) 2) 105 - Brett Bowers (2005-08) 3) 103 - Trey McMenamin (2002-05)

BATTING
*Batting Average:
Sea: 1) .481 - Brett Moore (2006) 2) .479 - Matt Murakami (2008) 3) .470 - Scott Eastment (2005)
Car: 1) .463 - Alex Gregory (2004-05) 2) .425 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 3) .395 - Will Naylor (2003-05)

Runs Scored:
Sea: 1) 42 - Peter Verdin (2008) 2) 41 - Peter Verdin (2006) 3) 39 - Matt Murakami (2008)
Car: 1) 118 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 2) 87 - TJ Guinan (2002-04) 3) 80 - Matt Murakami (2006-08)

Hits:
Sea: 1) 46 - Matt Murakami (2008) 2) 44 - Peter Verdin (2007) 3) 41 - Peter Verdin (2006) & Will Naylor (2005)
Car: 1) 127 - Matt Carullo (1996-99) 2) 123 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 3) 102 - Scott Eastment (2002-05)

Doubles:
Sea: 1) 12 - Peter Verdin (2007) & Tim McCormick (2008) 3) 11 - Zach Costello (2007)
Car: 1) 30- Peter Verdin (2006-08) 2) 22 - TJ Guinan (2002-04) 3) 20 - S. Eastment (2002-05) & J. Ralston (2005-07)

Triples:
Sea: 1) 5 - M. Murakami (2008) & W. Naylor (2005) 3) 4-Verdin(2008),Morgan(2008),Bowers(2007)&McMenamin(2005)
Car: 1) 9 - TJ Guinan (2002-04) 2) 8 - Matt Murakami (2006-08) 3) 7 - Will Naylor (2003-05)

Home Runs:
Sea: 1) 8 - Alex Gregory (2005) 2) 7 - Dan Bracht (2001) & Zach Costello (2007)

Car: 1) 12 - Alex Gregory (2004-05) 2) 11 - Brett Bowers (2005-08) 3) 10 - R. Bromley (2006-08) & Z. Costello (2006-07)

Runs Batted In:
Sea: 1) 37 - Zach Costello (2007) 2) 35 - Alex Gregory (2005) 3) 34 - Reed Bromley (2008)
Car: 1) 76 - Matt Murakami (2006-08) 2) 73 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 3) 71 - Brett Bowers (2005-08)

Stolen Bases:
Sea: 1) 30 - Peter Verdin (2006) 2) 26 - Will Naylor (2005) 3) 20 - Peter Verdin (2007)
Car: 1) 64 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 2) 42 - Will Naylor (2003-05) 3) 38 - TJ Guinan (2002-04)

*Slugging %:
Sea: 1) .924 - Alex Gregory (2005) 2) .885 - Zach Costello (2007) 3) .833 - Matt Murakami (2008)
Car: 1) .829 - Alex Gregory (2004-05) 2) .742 - Zach Costello (2006-07) 3) .652 - Peter Verdin (2006-08)

*On Base %:
Sea: 1) .571 - Scott Eastment (2005) 2) .556 - Alex Gregory (2005) 3) .545 - Matt Murakami (2008)
Car: 1) .529 - Alex Gregory (2004-05) 2) .510 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 3) .488 - Scott Eastment (2002-05)

*OPS (Slugging % + On Base %)
Sea: 1) 1.480 - Alex Gregory (2005) 2) 1.404 - Zach Costello (2007) 3) 1.389 - Matt Murakami (2008)
Car: 1) 1.358 - Alex Gregory (2004-05) 2) 1.196 - Peter Verdin(2006-08) 3) 1.184 - Zach Costello (2006-07)

Walks:
Sea: 1) 24 - Chad Morgan (2008**) 2) 21 - Scott Eastment (2003) 3) 20 - S. Eastment (2005) & R. Bromley (2008)
Car: 1) 55 - Scott Eastment (2002-05) 2) 51 - Brett Bowers (2005-08) 3) 44 - Reed Bromley (2006-08)

Hit by Pitch:
Sea: 1) 10 - TJ Guinan (2003) 2) 7 - Peter Verdin (2008) 3) 6-Verdin (2006), McCormick (2007) & Ralston (2007)
Car: 1) 19 - TJ Guinan (2002-04) 2) 18 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 3) 13 - Tim McCormick (2006-08)

*75 PA's to qualify for season, 150 PA's to qualify for career

** Denotes Active Player

PITCHING
Wins:
Sea: 1) 9 - Will Naylor (2005) 2) 8 - Mike Mitchell (2007) & Tyler Costello (2008**)
Car: 1) 17 - Drew Shaw (2006-08) 2) 15 - JD Polcari (2004-06) 3) 13 - Mike Mitchell (2005-08)

Games Pitched In:
Sea: 1) 14 - Steve Jones (2002) 2) 13 - Patrick Gartlan (2003) & Will Naylor (2005)
Car: 1) 38 - Brett Moore (2003-06) 2) 34 - Scott Eastment (2002-05) 3) 29 - JD Polcari (2004-06)

Games Started:
Sea: 1) 12 - Steve Jones (2002) 2) 10 - JD Polcari (2006) 3) 9 - 4 Pitchers Tied
Car: 1) 23 - Drew Shaw (2006-08) 2) 22 - Brett Moore (2003-06) 3) 21 - Steve Jones (2001-02)

Innings Pitched:
Sea: 1) 66 - Steve Jones (2002) 2) 59+ - JD Polcari (2006) 3) 59 - Steve Jones (2001)
Car: 1) 134 - Brett Moore (2003-06) 2) 125 - JD Polcari (2004-06) & Steve Jones (2001-02)

Complete Games:
Sea: 1) 6 - Brett Moore (2005) & Will Naylor (2001) 3) 5 - Mike Mitchell (2007)
Car: 1) 7 - 6 Pitchers Tied

Shut Outs:
Sea: 1) 4 - Mike Mitchell (2007) 2) 3 - Will Naylor (2005) 3) 2 - Steve Grodek (2001)
Car: 1) 6 - Mike Mitchell (2005-08) 2) 4 - Will Naylor (2003-05) 3) 3 - S. Eastment (2002-05) & D. Shaw (2006-08)

Strikeouts:
Sea: 1) 66 - Steve Grodek (2003) 2) 62 - Will Naylor (2005) 3) 61 - JT Richardson (2005)
Car: 1) 132 - Brett Moore (2003-06) 2) 126 - Drew Shaw (2006-08) 3) 123 - Steve Grodek (2001-03)

*ERA:
Sea: 1) 0.28 - Will Naylor (2005) 2) 0.86 - Drew Shaw (2006) 3) 1.06 - Scott Eastment (2003)
Car: 1) 1.29 - Drew Shaw (2006-08) 2) 1.41 - Will Naylor (2003-05) 3) 1.45 - Mike Mitchell (2007-08)

Saves:
Sea: 1) 4 - Greg Wiegand (2008) & Pat Commins (2001) & Brett Moore (2005) 3) 3 - 3 Pitchers Tied
Car: 1) 7 - Greg Wiegand (2007-08) 2) 6 - Peter Verdin (2006-08) 3) 5 - Brett Moore (2003-06)

*25 IPs to qualify for season, 60 IPs to qualify for career

** Denotes Active Player

NO HITTERS:
3/17/09 vs. Fredericksburg Christian: (2 pitchers combined) Eric McGee (4, W), Josh Ruffin - 5 innings (mercy rule)

5/13/08 vs. Collegiate School: Mike Mitchell - 5 innings (mercy rule)

3/28/06 vs. St. Mary's Ryken: (2 pitchers combined) Drew Shaw (4, W), Jack Sullivan (1)- 5 innings (mercy rule)

4/12/05 vs. St. Mary's Ryken: Scott Eastment - 5 innings (mercy rule)

4/21/04 vs. Carroll: (4 pitchers combined) Ryne Bromley (1), J.D. Polcari (2, W), Mike Geraghty (1), J.T. Richardson (1) - 5 innings (mercy rule)

3/27/02 vs. Good Counsel: Steve Jones - 6 innings (mercy rule)

4/2/86 vs. Episcopal: Mike Ludwick - 7 innings

5/3/85 vs. Congressional: Mike Ludwick - 7 innings

PERFECT GAMES:
3/14/09 vs. Hearts: (2 pitchers combined) Tyler Costello (4, W), Koji Marks (1) - 5 innings (mercy rule)