2007 YEAR IN REVIEW...
PANTHERS WIN 2007 WCAC CHAMPIONSHIP REACH STATE SEMIFINALS OR BETTER FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW
RANKED #1 by the EXAMINER, #2 by the POST and #68 in the Nation by PERFECT GAME & ESPN.
2007 WCAC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
2007 WCAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
2007 VISAA STATE SEMIFINALISTS
Final 2007 Rankings:
Area:#1 Washington Examiner 2007 FINAL Top 10
Area: #2 Washington Post 2007 FINALTop 10
Area: #4 RISE Magazine/SchoolSports.com Greater DC Top 10 (April 2007)
State: #2 VISAA Division I Top 10 (May 15, 2007)
State: #7 BaseballClearingHouse.net/BaseballVA.net Virginia Top 40 (May 22, 2007)
Regional: #26 Perfect Game/ESPN South Region Top 40 (Preseason)
National: #68 Perfect Game/ESPN National FINAL Top 100 (June 19, 2007)
HEAD COACH Billy Emerson (5th Year)
Washington Post ALL-MET Coach of the Year. Washington Examiner Coach of the Year.
WCAC Coach of the Year. Washington Post ALL-EXTRA Coach of the Year.
Zach Costello-SR (OF)
1st Team ALL-EXAMINER, 1st Team ALL-EXTRA, 1st Team ALL-STATE, 2nd Team ALL-WCAC.
Honorable Mention ALL-MET. PVI “MVP”. Signed with the University of Delaware.
Bob Grazioli- SR (P/OF)
3rd Team ALL-WCAC. PVI “Will to Win Award”. Will walk on at East Carolina University.
John Ralston- SR (SS/P)
SBC ALL-TOURNEY Team. 2nd Team ALL-WCAC. PVI “Gold Glove Award”. Signed with Rider University.
Jack Sullivan-SR (P/DH)
PVI “Coaches Award”. Will attend Miami University (OH).
Scott Walsh – SR (OF/DH)
Honorable Mention ALL-WCAC. Will walk on at East Carolina University.
Brett Bowers- JR (3B/SS)
2nd Team ALL-WCAC. Verbally committed to East Carolina University.
Reed Bromley- JR (1B/DH/P)
2nd Team ALL-WCAC.
Tim McCormick-JR (OF)
2nd Team ALL-WCAC.
Mike McMenamin-JR (C/1B)
Honorable Mention ALL-WCAC. PVI “Most Improved Player Award”.
Mike Mitchell- JR (P/C/INF)
SBC ALL-TOURNEY Team. 1st Team ALL-WCAC. 1st Team ALL-EXTRA. 1st Team ALL-STATE.
2nd Team ALL-MET. 2nd Team ALL-EXAMINER. PVI “Pitcher of the Year” Award.
Matt Murakami- JR (2B/SS)
SBC ALL-TOURNEY Team. 3rd Team ALL-WCAC.
Drew Shaw- JR (P/1B)
1st Team All-WCAC.
Peter Verdin- JR (OF/P)
1st Team ALL-MET, 1st Team ALL-STATE, 1st Team ALL-WCAC,
1st Team ALL-EXTRA, 1st Team ALL-EXAMINER, BCA District 2 All-American
“PVI Player of the Year”. PVI “Batting Champion”. Verbally committed to the University of Georgia.
Greg Wiegand- JR (P/DH/INF)
3rd Team ALL-WCAC. PVI “Rookie of the Year” Award.
Pat McDonald- SO (P/OF)
Honorable Mention ALL-WCAC.
Chad Morgan- SO (C/P/INF)
Honorable Mention ALL-WCAC.
WASHINGTON EXAMINER "ALL-EXAMINER" LINK:
WASHINGTON POST ALL-MET LINK:
PANTHERS RANKED #68 in the NATION in FINAL TOP 100 POLL
Perfect Game USA's "PGCrosschecker.com" (ESPN’s leading authority on amateur baseball content) released the final "National High School Top 100" on June 19th, ranking the PVI Panthers #68 in the country. This is the fourth time PVI has been Nationally Ranked in the 2007 season and the first time ever in the final national poll.
2007 J.V. Final Record:
17-4 Overall, 13-3 WCAC
2007 WCAC CHAMPIONS
VERDIN VERBALLY COMMITS TO GEORGIA
PVI junior OF/RHP Peter Verdin has verbally committed to a scholarship offer from the University of Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs play in the SEC; often regarded as the top baseball conference in the Nation. Georgia has been to the College World Series twice in the past 3 years and 3 times in the past 6 years.
RALSTON SIGNS WITH RIDER PVI senior SS/RHP John Ralston has accepted a scholarship offer from Rider University in New Jersey. The Rider Broncs finished third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2006 and have reached the NCAA Division I Tournament numerous times.
COSTELLO SIGNS WITH DELAWARE
PVI senior OF Zach Costello has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Delaware. The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens play in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and won 30 games in 2006 while leading all of NCAA Division I Baseball in homeruns per game.
BOWERS VERBALLY COMMITS TO EAST CAROLINA
PVI junior INF/RHP Brett Bowers has verbally committed to a scholarship offer from East Carolina University. ECU plays in Conference USA; the 5th rated conference in NCAA Div. I Baseball. The Pirates have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 7 of the past 8 years.
PANTHERS RETURN FROM EXCITING AND SUCCESSFUL SPRING BREAK TRIP
PVI Varsity went 6-1 overall during spring break and finished 3rd in the Southeastern Baseball Classic (tied for the second best record in the tournament at 3-1).
Here are the highlights from the Panthers 10 day journey...
- Thursday April 5th: Defeated Hearts by the score of 10-0, departed for Florida.
- Friday April 6th: Arrived in Florida, spent the afternoon on Cocoa Beach and practiced in Orlando.
- Saturday April 7th: In a double header vs. two of Central Florida’s perennial baseball powers, PVI Defeated Hardee, FL 9-5 and Avon Park, FL 16-0. Attended Florida State League Baseball Game featuring the Tampa Yankees and the Lakeland Flying Tigers as special guests of the Detroit Tigers.
- Sunday April 8th: Attended Easter Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando. Spent the rest of Easter Sunday at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
- Monday April 9th: Practiced at Tiger Town in Lakeland, FL (Florida Home of the Detroit Tigers). Former Major Leaguer and current Tigers Minor League Manager Andy Barkett spoke to the team.
- Tuesday April 10th: Arrived in Hartsville South Carolina for the Southeastern Baseball Classic’s (SBC) “Hospitality Night” where Zach Costello made the finals in the Homerun Derby, Scott Walsh finished third in the Base Running Competition and Coach Tony Salgado won the Coaches Fungo Competition. Coaches were presented with SBC jackets and players all received SBC duffle bags and daily goody bags.
- Wednesday April 11th: Rained out in first round of SBC, but practiced at “Glove Slingers” indoor baseball facility in Hartsville and worked out at the state of the art McLeod Health and Fitness Center in Florence.
- Thursday April 12th: Defeated the defending South Carolina AA State Champs (Gilbert HS) by the score of 5-2. Defeated the host team: Hartsville HS (who was 19-2 and ranked #3 in the South Carolina AAAA poll) by a score of 1-0 in the 8:30pm game in front of a packed house.
- Friday April 13th: Fell to a powerful Notre Dame Academy team by the score of 13-0. Attended the Auburn vs. South Carolina game in Columbia, SC as guests of the University of South Carolina. Auburn upset the #4 Gamecocks 16-1. PVI players and coaches were invited on to the field following the game as South Carolina Coach Jim Toman addressed the team, stressing that both the Gamecocks and the Panthers get a win the next day! Coach Toman led the team in a “win on three” cheer.
- Saturday April 14th: Topped DeMatha 9-1 in the #2 vs. #2 game of the SBC. PVI finished with the second best record in the tournament with their only loss coming at the hands of SBC Champion Notre Dame. John Ralston, Mike Mitchell and Matt Murakami named to the SBC All-Tournament team.
A great trip with great baseball and great experiences for the Panthers! Special thanks to the folks in Avon Park, FL and Hartsville, SC for the warm and generous hospitality. And thanks to the parents of PVI Baseball for all of their help along the way!
PVI RANKED #49 in NATIONAL TOP 50 POLL (3-26-07)
Perfect Game USA's "PGCrosschecker.com" released it's latest "National High School Top 50" on Monday March 26th, ranking the PVI Panthers #49 in the country. Perfect Game is now recognized as ESPN’s leading authority on amateur baseball content. It is the first time since 2005 that the Panthers have been nationally ranked, when they climbed as high as #17 in the "SchoolSports.com" poll.
PANTHERS RANKED #26 in REGIONAL PRE-SEASON POLL (3-1-07)
"PGCrosschecker.com" released it's "Pre-Season South Top 40 Poll" with PVI ranked 26th to open the month of March. The South Region includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. This marks the second time in school history and the second time in three years that the Panthers have been nationally or regionally ranked.
PVI Baseball will officially endorse and wear Reebok Baseball Gear beginning this season. Reebok is the official outfitter of the NFL, NHL and the official supplier of Major League Baseball Authentic Collection Footwear. Look for the Panthers in a variety of Reebok Baseball products this year including cleats, wristbands and batting gloves.
VERDIN RANKS AMONG BASEBALL AMERICA'S TOP PROSPECTS
PVI junior OF/RHP Peter Verdin has been ranked #90 by Prospects Plus in Baseball America’s Top 100 H.S. Prospects for the class of 2008. Baseball America is the worldwide authority on high school, college and minor league prospects.
COSTELLO NAMED PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN
PVI senior OF Zach Costello was selected as a Puma 2007 Pre-Season High School All American. Selected by Team One Baseball scouts, along with Major League scouts , Zach competed in the Pre-Season All American Tournament at the Spring Training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in January.
