Player of the Year
Jason Farley
Madison, junior, pitcher
The 6-foot-3 lefthander made the leap to elite pitching prospect look easy, anchoring a Madison pitching staff that had a combined earned run average of just 1.37. Farley finished 10-1 with a 0.59 ERA, allowing just 32 hits and six earned runs in 61 innings. He also struck out 84 and opponents batted just .158 against him. Farley, who has drawn interest from some of the country’s top Division I baseball programs, including Auburn, Florida and Virginia, pitched a complete game in a 4-0 win over nationally-ranked Wando (S.C.) to help the Warhawks win the prestigious Hanahan Invitational Tournament in Charleston, S.C. Madison finished 22-2 and won the Liberty District championship before losing to Oakton in the Northern Region quarterfinals.
Coach of the Year
Scott Rowland
Oakton
In early April, few would have given Oakton much of a chance to make it out of the Concorde District tournament let alone reach the Group AAA state championship game. But that’s exactly where the Cougars ended up, despite a season filled with season-ending injuries to key players, including starting third baseman Curtis Eward (George Washington), underclassmen filling important roles, suspensions and even more injuries. But Rowland and his coaching staff held their team together after a 2-4 start. A strong showing at a spring break tournament in Virginia Beach led to an 11-game winning streak and a second-place finish in the Concorde District. The Cougars reached the Northern Region final and qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2001 before enduring a controversial end to their season in the state final against Monacan.
First Team
Rob Lamas
Paul VI, senior, catcher
Lamas, who will play baseball at Virginia Military Institute, batted .418 with 33 hits, three home runs and 21 RBI. Defensively, he threw out seven of 10 runners who attempted to steal on him. Named first-team All-WCAC.
Justin Bour
Westfield, senior, infielder
Powerful George Mason-bound slugger broke Westfield’s single-season records in home runs (10), batting average (.547), hits (41) and slugging percentage (1.067), all held by 2005 Examiner Player of the Year Brandon Snyder. First baseman was chosen first-team All-Northern Region.
Val Arduini
Westfield, senior, infielder
A first-team All-Northern Region second baseman, Arduini batted .413 with two home runs and 18 RBI. He also scored 21 runs for the Bulldogs, who finished first in the Concorde District during the regular season. Will play college baseball at Binghamton (N.Y.).
Matt Noble
W.T. Woodson, senior, infielder
A four-year starter who led the Cavaliers with a .483 batting average. Noble also totaled 17 RBI, scored 20 runs and stole 10 bases. Third baseman hit three home runs and struck out just seven times en route to first-team All-Northern Region honors.
Brett Moore
Paul VI, senior, infielder
Third baseman/pitcher batted .481with five home runs, 25 RBI and 21 runs scored. On the mound, Moore finished with a 5-3 record and a 1.63 earned run average. He also struck out 53 batters. Will play baseball at Winthrop.
Mike Marion
Hayfield, senior, designated hitter
Batted a team-best .432 as Hayfield finished tied for first in the Patriot District. First baseman/catcher made just two errors. He also slugged 10 home runs, drove in 32 runs and totaled 26 runs scored. Will play baseball at Virginia Wesleyan.
Chris Despins
Oakton, senior, utility
A team-best .429 batting average for Despins, who also hit six home runs and produced 32 RBI while batting cleanup and playing first base. He recorded 33 hits, six of those doubles, and had a .740 slugging percentage.
Sean McCauley
Osbourn, junior, utility
Catcher helped Osbourn to a 23-2 record and a second straight Northwest Region championship. The Cedar Run District player of the year and first-team All-Northwest Region selection batted .512 with seven home runs and 38 RBI. He also registered 42 hits.
Mark Riffee
Madison, senior, outfield
A four-year starter headed to Virginia. Riffee batted .445 and dominated on the basepaths, where he scored 29 runs and stole 26 bases in 27 attempts. He also produced 20 RBI and 12 extra base hits, including three triples.
Brandon Padula
Oakton, junior, outfield
Teamed with fellow All-Examiner pick Chris Despins in a formidable middle of the lineup. Padula led the Cougars with eight home runs. He also drove in 31 runs and batted .404 with 36 hits, including six doubles.
Joe Infante
Lake Braddock, senior, outfield
Infante did it all for the Northern Region champion Bruins. He batted .368 with 32 hits and scored 24 runs. On the mound he was 6-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 79 strike outs in 52 innings and was named MVP of the region tournament
Chris Boggs
Osbourn, senior, pitcher
Teamed with classmate Tony Pasquariello to field a dominating pitching duo. Boggs was 10-1 on the mound with a 2.09 ERA and 113 strikeouts. He walked just 15 batters. Boggs also batted .365 with 31 hits and three home runs.
Shane Mills
McLean, senior, pitcher
All 36 of Mills’ innings pitched came in relief and he converted all eight save opportunities. First-team All-Northern Region pick was 1-1 with a 1.16 ERA and 59 strikeouts. As a first baseman he batted .338 and drove in 21 runs.
Bryce Morrison
Langley, senior, pitcher
Ace finished 7-3 with a 2.76 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 66 innings. Morrison tossed a complete game six times. Biggest contribution was pitching 1 1/3 innings in relief to close out an 8-3 comeback win over Westfield in the region quarterfinals.
SECOND TEAM
J.D. Polcari, Paul VI
Senior, pitcher
Dan Lombardozzi, Herndon
Senior, pitcher
A.J. Johnson, Robinson
Junior, pitcher
Tony Pasquariello, Osbourn
Senior, pitcher
Benji Kagan, Oakton
Senior, pitcher
Justin Wright, Forest Park
Junior, pitcher
Arman Moniri, Madison
Junior, first baseman
Kyle Schmitt, Fairfax
Senior, third baseman
Lee Bolyard, Lake Braddock
Senior, shortstop
Ian Smith, Lake Braddock
Senior, catcher
Greg Jones, Lee
Senior, designated hitter
Mike Kirik, Edison
Senior, utility
Spencer Askin, West Springfield
Senior, utility
Tate Swanson, Herndon
Senior, utility
Peter Verdin, Paul VI
Sophomore, outfielder
Kyle Meagher, McLean
Senior, outfielder
T.J. Prioletti, Fairfax
Senior, outfielder
