The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour makes a stop in Roanoke, Virginia to William Byrd High School on Sunday, November 1st.

Roanoke is a town situated near the Appalachian mountains and the largest municipality in Southwestern Virginia, bisecting the Roanoke River. Virginia has churned out major league talent who are former Baseball Factory players; names like Justin and Melvin Upton, Jr., David Wright, Michael Cuddyer and Justin Verlander.

Today’s highlighted players are making names for themselves collegiately in the state of Virginia, playing in Conference USA and the Atlantic Coast Conference, respectively.

Nate Matheson – Matheson is a 2014 graduate from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia and racked up the accolades as a senior after being named Co-Player of the Year, First Team All-District Pitcher and Second Team All-region Pitcher in 2014.

Nate participated in an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in the Richmond, Virginia (Glen Allen) area back in May of 2013 and this past season, was part of the Old Dominion University Baseball team as a reliever and a starter. Matheson made 11 appearances out of the ‘pen (five starts) for the Monarchs in his freshman season, totaling 28 2/3 innings. He picked up wins against UAB and VMI and struck out a career-high five Liberty University batters in four innings.

Connor Jones at the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game

Connor Jones – Jones, a decorated athlete while at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, pitched to amazing numbers as a senior in 2013, going 10-1 overall without allowing an earned run the entire season. All 10 of his victories were shutouts as he was named the 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year for Virginia as well as recognition as the No. 1 High School player in Virginia.

Jones was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 21st round of the ’13 Draft, but instead, headed to the University of Virginia to play for the Cavaliers and continued impressive numbers as a freshman, pitching in 25 games (24 as a reliever) and finished the season with 50 2/3 innings pitched (54 2/3 in total), good for second on the team.

In 2015, as the Cavaliers vied for a National Championship, Jones made 18 starts (tied for second most in UVA history) and moved into the Game 1 role after Nathan Kirby’s injury. After the injury, Jones showed workhorse-abilities, pitching at least six innings in each of his last nine starts and struck out seven or more in five of those starts. He led the ACC in innings pitched (115 2/3) and was third in strikeouts with 113. He worked twice in the 2015 College World Series, earning a win in the opening game against Arkansas as the Cavs eventually defeated Vanderbilt to win the National Championship.

Jones began his Baseball Factory experience with an appearance in the 2011 Team One Futures East event and the following year, playing in the Team One South Showcase where he threw a fastball that topped out at 91 mph. Jones skill-set took him to Wrigley Field for the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game where scouts raved about his three pitch arsenal where he was able to pound the strike zone, solidifying himself as one of the more polished right-handers in the 2013 class.

The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour will be rolling into a town near you soon! Visit our tryout page to register and receive more information.