Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW): Fall ball is in full swing for Virginia Baseball.  After an exhibition doubleheader sweep of the Maryland Terapins last Sunday, the Cavaliers opened the gates of Disharoon Park to their fans to watch their annual fall intrasquad scrimmage, called the Blue and Orange World Series.  Its a chance for scouts, writers, and fans to get a look at team dynamics, fitness levels, and the current state of the depth chart months before the season begins.  I was lucky enough to grab a seat and enjoy the majority of the game yesterday evening, here are some notes from what I saw for you to draw some conclusion on how the Cavaliers will do in 2025. 

At the beginning of each half-inning, a runner from the other team would start on base, to get the hitters focused on producing with runners on and put the pitchers under pressure early.   When I sat down in the top of the 4th inning, the blue team was in the field. Junior righthander Joe Colucci, a transfer from Harford Community College, was on the hill.  Colucci’s breaking stuff looked strong and yielded some nice swing and miss, but his control was lacking, despite his curveball having good bite, and close to a 12-6 motion.   

Colucci’s third baseman, freshman Aiden Harris out of Midlothian, impressed at the hot corner, with a strong right arm and some deft glovework.  With Griff O’Ferrall’s departure, the exact composition of the Virginia infield is unclear going into 2025.  Harris did himself credit in the field and with his speed, despite looking a little unbalanced and uncomfortable in the box.    

Freshman lefty Dean Kampschror relieved Colucci an inning later.  He too, despite having excellent stuff, also struggled for control.   

Henry Godbout, playing second base for blue, looked the readiest out of the blue infield, and worked a long at-bat in the one chance I saw him take at the plate despite striking out.   

Jackson Sirois, freshman out of Leesburg, played shortstop for blue, and despite making two errors in the field, carried out a smart, patient, at-bat in the lone plate appearance I witnessed.  With two runners on, he stayed in the battle throughout seven pitches, before jumping on one he liked and shooting a hard-hit ground ball up the middle to load up the bases.  Harrison Didawick struck out on four pitches in the next at-bat however.    

Both young freshmen who played for the Charlottesville Tom Sox over the summer showed their quality in the scrimmage.  James Nunnalee, in the outfield for blue, looked quite comfortable at the plate, and with a smooth swing, roped a single to the opposite field through the hole between third base and shortstop.  

On the other side, Isaac Vanderwoude fielded well and showed some great speed, drawing a walk in one of his at-bats, and questionably trying a squeeze with the bases loaded in the second.  I won’t put that on him though, as that may have been a coaching decision.   

Luke Hanson looks like he has played shortstop for a long time, making the position look easy for the orange team, those suggesting he will play the position to start the year had credence lent to that assessment by his play in the scrimmage.   

Chris Arroyo, the Florida transfer, homered off of Colucci, the right hander, but struck out on four pitches against Kampschror, the left hander.  The power is there, the patience may not be yet.   

Jacob Ferrence, first on the catching depth chart normally, was on first for orange, and sent a long double to the opposite field in the lone plate appearance I saw.   

Chone James, a freshman from Myrtle Beach, played the position beautifully in Ferrence’s absence, making a case to be a reliable backup should Ferrance need a night off, and with great speed to boot.   

Finally, Charlie Oschell, pitching for orange, pitched with great poise and peace in the clutch, even up against the wall, he trusted his stuff with great control, and managed to make his way out of a bases loaded jam surrendering only one run.  In my opinion, he made a strong case to be the #3 starter behind Evan Blanco and Jay Woolfolk.   

Overall, with some added ease and improvement that only comes to one’s hitting ability against opposing pitchers in game situations, Virginia looks poised to challenge Florida State for the ACC lead.  Relief pitching is still a question going into the year, time will tell after what some strong performances in spots against UNC Wilmington on Sunday will be.  However, there was plenty on display during the Blue and Orange World Series to inspire confidence going into the 2025 season.