By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Fluvanna County High School baseball team has not one, but two returning pitchers who are Division 1 recruits. That is very impressive for a school the size of Fluvanna. Coach Joel Gray reports that John (J.J.) Glasscock has committed to play college ball at the University of West Virginia, while senior Joe Gomez has committed to play for VCU. Glasscock was named this past summer to the East Coast Pro prospect squad. He is on the radar of a number of Major League teams. He and Gomez both feature 90 mile an hour plus fastballs and an assortment of other effective pitches. Gray expects them to get an approximately equal number of starts.
Leftie senior Nathan Gragg will also be in the mix on the mound. In addition to his fastball, he also throws a “sharp curve and a dancing knuckleball,” according to Gray. Sophomore Camdyn Via is a hard thrower who will probably be used in relief. Added to the mix is Caden Harris who was undefeated last year pitching for the 15-4 JV squad.
The Flucos have consistently played quality defense and this year is likely to be no exception. Team captain B.B. Cox will return at catcher to start for the third year in a row. Gray describes him as “the heart and soul of the defense.” When Via leaves third base to take the mound, Cox will probably change gloves and move to third base. When that happens, Gray will have Thomas Custer or Cody Peck to take Cox’s spot behind the plate. They both are promising sophomores.
Most of the time the infield will consist of Via at third base, junior Ryan Mann at shortstop, one of three possible second basemen and Maddox Warren or Harris at first base. Competing for the second base slot will be senior Aaron Brown and sophomores Jackson Fields and Christian Lounsbury.
Gray believes that his outfield may be the most talented he has had in a long time, and the Flucos won the state title not too long ago, so that is a high compliment of this year’s outfield. Gomez and Gragg will man outfield positions when they are not on the mound. Senior Tyler Coleman comes over from the basketball team and talented freshman Sam Loving will be battling for playing time.
On offense Gray looks to Via, Cox and Peck to be the team leaders in the runs batted in (RBI) category. Peck will get time as the designated hitter when he is not catching. With virtually all of his starters back, with another year of experience, Gray is looking for the line-up to produce considerably more runs than it did last year.
The Flucos do not have an easy schedule. They play a tough regular season Jefferson District schedule and this year they have two non-District games against Liberty Christian Academy out of Lynchburg, a team that was Class C State runner-up last year. As to the Jefferson District, Gray says that Orange County and Western Albemarle are likely to be strong in 2023. As mentioned, the Flucos took the Class C State title the year before COVID hit. Certainly there is no reason to jump the gun on predictions for this year, many trials and tribulations may occur as the season progresses, but this team looks like it might be in the mix again.
