Friday, March 28, 2014

THURSDAY FINALS: Hanover's Mitchum Pitches No-Hitter....

In a game heard live on HCS Media Network, Hanover senior pitcher Kiandra Mitchum tossed a no-hitter as the Hawks softball team moved to 2-0 with a 7-0 shutout of Monacan Thursday evening.

Mitchum walked the first batter she faced in the first inning, then proceeded to retire the next 21 straight batters. She had 16 strikeouts overall, and was the beneficiary of three great plays by all three Hanover outfielders: Jessica McLaughlin, Mackenzie Wyatt, and Lacey Sullivan.

Meanwhile, Atlee moved to 2-0, crushing Hermitage 15-0 in five innings. The stage is set for the 2-0 Hawks to travel to face the 2-0 Raiders this Tuesday night.

SPECIAL NOTE: Hear LIVE coverage of the Hanover at Atlee Softball showdown Tuesday, 5:55pm ET on HCS Media Network!  Listen on the Mixlr player at the top of the page here!

BASEBALL FINALS:

Hanover 9, Monacan 0 (Derek Casey with his 2nd win on the young season)
Patrick Henry 10, Thomas Jefferson 2 (Brandon Schools struck out 12 for the 2-1 Patriots)
Lee-Davis 11, J.R. Tucker 1 (6 innings) (Justin Sorokowski with two hits and the win as starting pitcher)
Atlee 11, Hermitage 4 (Raiders even record at 1-1)

BOYS SOCCER:
Hanover 3, Monacan 1

GIRLS SOCCER:
Maggie Walker GS 2, Patrick Henry 1
Monacan 3, Hanover 0

Monday, March 24, 2014

MONDAY FINALS....

BASEBALL:
Patrick Henry 6, Lee-Davis 5 (Patriots score 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th for the comeback win. A.J. Hart's two-run double drove in the tying, winning run)
Atlee at Deep Run (ppd, wet grounds)

SOFTBALL:
Patrick Henry 5, Lee-Davis 3
Atlee 13, Deep Run 0 (5 innings)

BOYS LACROSSE:
Hanover 16, Patrick Henry 4
Lee-Davis 6, Glen Allen 5 (OT)

GIRLS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen 8, Lee-Davis 4

BOYS TENNIS:
Thomas Dale 6, Lee-Davis 3
Atlee 9, Highland Springs 0

GIRLS TENNIS:
Lee-Davis 9, Thomas Dale 0

GIRLS SOCCER:
Patrick Henry 7, Varina 0
Atlee 2, Deep Run 1

BOYS SOCCER:
Deep Run 5, Atlee 1


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Thursday AND Friday Postponements, Rescheduling....

Here's the latest list of postponements and make-up dates for both Thursday AND Friday games across the county. If you have a game Thursday or Friday NOT listed, it is to be assumed that game is ON, but always check with your coaching staff FIRST.....

THURSDAY MARCH 20TH:

BOYS TENNIS:
Hanover at Varina, postponed (no make-up date announced)

BASEBALL:
Patrick Henry at Atlee, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm

SOFTBALL:
Patrick Henry at Atlee, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm
Lee-Davis at Douglas Freeman, ppd. to Monday April 7th, 6pm

GIRLS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen at Atlee, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 7pm

BOYS LACROSSE:
Atlee at Glen Allen, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 7:30pm

BOYS SOCCER:
Atlee at Matoaca (Scrimmage), Cancelled

JV BASEBALL:
Atlee at Patrick Henry, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm

JV SOFTBALL:
Atlee at Patrick Henry, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm
Douglas Freeman at Lee-Davis, ppd. to Monday April 7th, 6pm

JV GIRLS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen at Atlee, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 5:30pm

JV BOYS LACROSSE:
Atlee at Glen Allen, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 6pm

JV BOYS SOCCER:
Atlee at Matoaca (Scrimmage), Cancelled

FRIDAY MARCH 21ST:

BOYS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen at Hanover, ppd. to Monday, March 31st, 7pm


GIRLS LACROSSE:
Hanover at Glen Allen, ppd. to Friday April 11th, 7:30pm

BOYS SOCCER:
Midlothian at Hanover, ppd. to Monday April 21st, 7pm

GIRLS SOCCER:
Hanover at Midlothian, ppd. to Monday April 21st, 7pm


BOYS TENNIS:
Atlee at Lee-Davis, ppd. to Friday April 25th, 5pm

GIRLS TENNIS:
Lee-Davis at Atlee, ppd. to Friday April 25th, 5pm

JV BOYS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen at Hanover, ppd. to Monday March 31st, 5:30pm

JV GIRLS LACROSSE:
Hanover at Glen Allen, ppd. to Friday April 11th, 6pm
SPECIAL NOTE: Lee-Davis at Powhatan Scrimmage WILL be played Friday at 6pm. 

JV BOYS SOCCER:
Midlothian at Hanover, ppd. to Monday April 21st, 5:30pm

JV GIRLS SOCCER:
Hanover at Midlothian, ppd. to Monday April 21st, 5:30pm

Wednesday And Thursday Postponements....

Here is the latest on postponements on Wednesday AND Thursday events due to weather and wet grounds...

WEDNESDAY MARCH 19TH:

BOYS LACROSSE:
Patrick Henry at Hanover, ppd. to Monday 3/24, 7pm

GIRLS LACROSSE:
Hanover at Patrick Henry, ppd. to Tuesday 3/25, 7pm

BOYS TENNIS:
Atlee at Highland Springs, ppd. to Monday 3/24, 5pm

GIRLS TENNIS:
Highland Springs at Atlee, ppd. to Monday 3/24, 5pm

JV BOYS LACROSSE:
Patrick Henry at Hanover, ppd. to Monday 3/24, 5:30pm

JV GIRLS LACROSSE:
Hanover at Patrick Henry, ppd. to Tuesday 3/25, 5:30pm


THURSDAY MARCH 20TH:

BOYS TENNIS:
Hanover at Varina, postponed (no make-up date announced)

BASEBALL:
Patrick Henry at Atlee, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm

SOFTBALL:
Patrick Henry at Atlee, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm

GIRLS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen at Atlee, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 7pm

BOYS LACROSSE:
Atlee at Glen Allen, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 7:30pm

BOYS SOCCER:
Atlee at Matoaca (Scrimmage), Cancelled

JV BASEBALL:
Atlee at Patrick Henry, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm

JV SOFTBALL:
Atlee at Patrick Henry, ppd. to Wednesday April 23rd, 6pm

JV GIRLS LACROSSE:
Glen Allen at Atlee, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 5:30pm

JV BOYS LACROSSE:
Atlee at Glen Allen, ppd. to Thursday April 3rd, 6pm

JV BOYS SOCCER:
Atlee at Matoaca (Scrimmage), Cancelled

Monday, March 17, 2014

Latest On Tuesday's Postponements.....

POSTPONEMENTS: Here's the latest list of postponements for Tuesday sports....

TENNIS: The Patrick Henry/JR Tucker matches are rescheduled to Wednesday 3/26, same times and locations. The Atlee/Lee-Davis matches are reset for Friday 3/21, same time and locations.

BASEBALL: The Atlee at Matoaca game is postponed from tomorrow with no makeup date yet. The Patrick Henry at J.R. Tucker game is postponed to Wednesday March 26th.

SOFTBALL: The Atlee at Clover Hill game is postponed from tomorrow with no makeup date yet. The Patrick Henry at J.R. Tucker game, which was to be heard live on HCS Media Network, is postponed to Wednesday March 26th.

SOCCER: Lee-Davis at Douglas Freeman boys matches are rescheduled from tomorrow to Monday, March 31st. The girls matches at Lee-Davis have not been rescheduled yet. The Patrick Henry/J.R. Tucker boys and girls matches scheduled for tomorrow are now to be played on Friday (3/21), same times and locations.

In addition, the JV baseball and softball games between Hanover and Mills Godwin at Hanover are now rescheduled for May 8th.

Lacrosse Opener Rescheduled......

The Hanover/Glen Allen lacrosse matches scheduled to kick off the 2014 season, and the new VHSL era of lacrosse in Hanover County tonight, have been rescheduled for this Friday, March 21st.

Times and locations remain the same:

BOYS: Glen Allen at Hanover, 7pm (JV at 5:30pm)
GIRLS: Hanover at Glen Allen, 7pm (JV at 5:30pm)

The Lee-Davis/Patrick Henry matches that were scheduled for tonight have not been rescheduled as of 11:15AM Monday morning.

SCHOOL CLOSED MONDAY: No Lacrosse Broadcast....

Due to the late Sunday night wintry weather, Hanover County Public Schools are closed on Monday, March 17th. Employees are to use Code 2.

This also cancels our HCS Media Network broadcast of tonight's scheduled Girls Lacrosse match between Lee-Davis and Patrick Henry in Ashland.  We will endeavor to reschedule it if possible.

All other scheduled games and practices will be called off as well. Games include:

TENNIS: Hanover at Cosby (Boys); Cosby at Hanover (Girls)

BOYS LACROSSE: Patrick Henry at Lee-Davis, Glen Allen at Hanover

GIRLS LACROSSE: Hanover at Glen Allen


Saturday, March 15, 2014

2014 BASEBALL PREVIEW!!

Here is our exclusive 2014 Baseball Preview as seen in Thursday's edition of the Hanover Herald-Progress!

From a defending state champion to a team whose roster was gutted by graduation, there are a myriad of storylines, questions, and hopes for success as the first pitch of the 2014 baseball season approaches.

HANOVER: (23-4, defending Group AAA State Champion) How do you top a trip to the mountaintop? Of course, you try again. 

But for the Hawks, they must replace some extremely talented players, beginning with shortstop Andrew Knizner, now leading the ACC in batting as a freshman with North Carolina State at .422. Also gone are final Capital District Player of the Year Keith Searles, Jeff Decker, Chris Gilliam and Brett Whitlow.

The strength for Hanover in their returnees begins on the hill with Derek Casey, the senior hurler who helped pitch the Hawks to the state title and has signed to play collegiately at the University of Virginia. Any rotation that starts with Casey will be very formidable. Add in Trevor Denton, Thomas Renfro and Anthony Zona, all seniors, and the Hawks return a load on the mound.

"This team's strength should be pitching and defense," said 11-year Hanover head coach Charlie Dragum. "We did not have a senior throw a pitch last season."

It's the bats where Dragum is looking for help, for new leaders. Josh Shepherd will anchor the infield and can get on base. Denton will add offensive punch playing the infield when not pitching. Cayman Richardson was a pleasant surprise last year as just a freshman as a situational player. His role should grow. Zona has infield experience as well.

Replacing Searles behind the plate will fall to either senior Ben Nachman or junior Brady Didlake. With such an experienced group of pitchers, that may be the key defensive change for the Hawks in 2014.

Taylor McDougal and Hayden Moore are the most experienced outfielders returning. Senior Jakob Pridemore, junior Elliott Sleed and sophomore Jacob Weis could see playing time.

Dragum's top priority in the offseason was "working on playing as a unit and get physically stronger."

"We can't get anything done without everyone pulling in the same direction," Dragum noted. 

In the new 4A classification, in Conference 20, their new postseason foes including old Capital rival Glen Allen, but also the likes of Midlothian, Monacan, Dinwiddie and J.R. Tucker. No longer will the Hawks have to fight through county brethren Atlee and Lee-Davis just to make the region playoffs.

But this doesn't make the road back to either region or state competition any easier, just different. But any team who can hand the ball to Derek Casey in a one-game, win-it-all situation has to be considered a favorite, at most any level.

PATRICK HENRY: (14-7, lost in Colonial District semifinals to Central Region champion Douglas Freeman) The first season back for longtime head coach Sam Hart had to be considered very successful, taking a group with a .500 past and winning 14 of 21 games, including a regular season win at perennial power Douglas Freeman.

But six seniors have departed, including ace Kyle Palmer (Radford), and catcher Joe Bugas (VCU). 

Returnees begin with junior Chesdin Harrington, who, when he isn't on the mound, anchors the infield defense at shortstop. He is talented at both positions, but does having to pull your shortstop to pitch on a regular basis a plus or minus overall?

Harrington is joined by fellow senior Joe Buehren in the rotation along with newcomer sophomore William Strong. Hart is looking to his mound triumvirate to help the Patriots get off to a good start. Buehren handles first base when not hurling. In between them, always at second base, is senior Tyler Starling.

Hart's biggest concern?

"We've got to find someone to take care of the catching position," Hart noted, not naming a starter to the Herald-Progress.. 

Riley Enright and A.J. Hart will return to give experience to the outfield.

With so many newcomers and some positions not settled as opening day approaches Tuesday at J.R. Tucker, Patriot fans can count on Harrington and Starling for consistency up the middle defensively, and for helping solidify the offense. 

They'll also be the fans' anchor for familiarity until they learn the many new names on the Patriots roster. The other unknown is the new Patrick Henry postseason road: Conference 16. They won't see Albemarle, Halifax, or Orange until they play for keeps in May. The regular season schedule is the same as past years, filled with county rivals and old Colonial District foes.

LEE-DAVIS: (11-9, lost in Capital District Semifinals to Atlee) Perhaps the most optimism in Hanover County is found off Route 360, as the Confederates return a boatload of experienced, and talented players, from a team that underachieved in 2013. 

Two senior commits to Division I schools anchor the squad: shortstop Brett Langhorne (Tennessee) and center fielder Haiden Lamb (VCU), also known for his blazing speed on this year's 5A State runner-up boys indoor track team. 

Add to them Josh Lam at third base, who is committed to the University of Mary Washington and can also pitch, catcher Adam Boyle, outfielder/pitchers Cody Powers and Patrick Holler, pitcher Andrew Sergent and first baseman Kevin France and there's reason to be excited at Lee-Davis.

Did we also mention sophomore pitcher Justin Sorokowski, nifty with the bat, and already committed to play collegiately in the ACC for Florida State? Yes, a sophomore. He could easily be the ace of the pitching staff.

The biggest replacement from graduation will be naming a new second baseman, where Sean King patrolled until graduating in June. Junior Adam Trice may fit that bill. Other promising newcomers include junior Brandon Fox and freshman Hunter Parker.

"We are senior-laden, we have experience, but it is our pitching staff that will need to really contribute," longtime Lee-Davis head coach Kenny Lewis said.

Those who witnessed their scrimmage at J.R. Tucker Tuesday evening may find that hard to believe. The Confederates defeated the Tigers by a 20-1 score. 

The fly in the Lee-Davis ointment is the new VHSL classification. They are now a part of Conference 11, absolutely loaded with talented teams, including defending Central Region champion Douglas Freeman, perennial powers Mills Godwin and Deep Run, and old Capital District foe Atlee. 

Only two of those five teams can advance to 5A South Regional play out of Conference 11. It will be a war of attrition come tournament time later in May. But it looks like the Confederates have the horses, on the mound and at the plate, to survive and advance.

ATLEE: (17-4, lost in Central Region quarterfinals to champion Douglas Freeman) A 3-2 loss to the Rebels ending not just a season, but an era at Atlee High School.

Names like Kenner Berry (Bridgewater), Luke Bolka (East Carolina), Dalton Ruch (University of Hartford), Evan Swecker and Steven Edmonds ended their Raider careers. Most of the starting lineup and top pitchers graduated.

So, in the new Conference 11, the most inexperienced team in the county will take the field under fiery head coach Barry Burton.

Experienced returnees are led by pitcher/infielder Cody Thompson, who can contribute on the hill, with the bat, and with the glove. He'll likely be joined at the top of the rotation by fellow senior Collin Bazemore. Justin Bishop could develop into a key member of the pitching staff.

Replacing Roy Coates at catcher will either be junior David Baughan or promising sophomore Henry Moore. 

Seniors competing for playing time include Michael Feild, Tyler Carter, Will Pritchett and Ryan Hooper, juniors Stephen Hurd, Brandon Crosby, Brett Ayer, Joseph Neagle and Andrew Simpson, and sophomores Andrew Foster and Johnny Friel.

That's a lot of new names for Raiders fans to digest, and with that, likely some growing pains and a learning curve. They won't have long. Opening week starts with a trip to Matoaca on Tuesday, followed by home games with Patrick Henry next Thursday and longtime region power Cosby a week from Friday.

New Conference 11 foe Deep Run comes calling on Monday, March 24th, meaning, by the end of the first week of the season, the Raiders will play four games and have a much better idea how much they miss the Class of 2013. 

Friday, March 14, 2014

2014 Softball Previews!!

Here are our softball previews that appeared in the March 13th edition of the Hanover Herald-Progress!


Since 2002, softball has been one of the most successful high school sports in Hanover County. Three teams have claimed state titles, the latest Lee-Davis in 2011. Patrick Henry was state runner-up in 2012, Atlee a state quarterfinalist in 2013. 

With eight returning starters and a new lease on life for the postseason, is this the year Hanover makes its mark?

HANOVER: (14-5, lost in Capital District semifinals to Lee-Davis) For two years, the Hawks have seen a good team lose to another good team one win away from the Central Region tournament.

For two years, Hanover has had to watch the rest of the county teams all advance to region play, on the outside looking in. Good enough to be a regional team, mind you, but always one win short.

They won't see the rest of the county come playoff time any longer. Add to that eight returning starters, and Hanover has loads of confidence heading into 2014.

On the mound, it's all up to Kiandra Mitchum. The senior commit to Christopher Newport has shared the mound with the now-departed Shannon Albright. Now Mitchum knows it's up to her, and she is ready for the challenge.

Her battery mate, senior Maura Long, is an experienced, fiery defensive field general. Other returning seniors are outfielder Jessica McLaughlin and 3B/1B Lacey Sullivan.

For all the talent the Hawks have, this is still a very young team. Eryn King is the long junior returning starter. Kaylyn Shepherd and Mackenzie Wyatt each had breakout seasons a year ago as freshmen, and will be counted on, especially offensively. Haley Gilbert and Erin Watkins also begin their second seasons on varsity as just sophomores.

Hanover welcomes JV call-ups juniors Tabby Dabney and Kristin Wilcox, and another talented freshman duo in Erin Acors and Emma Casey.

"We are focused on conditioning, strength, and agility, working together as a TEAM," said new head coach Stephanie Acors, her emphasis included. Acors moves up from the assistant coach position to replace Brian LeTourneau, who stepped down to spend more time with his young family.

"Our pitching will be counted on greatly, with Kiandra as our number one", Acors noted, adding the team is still determining early strengths and weaknesses thanks to all the weather disruptions during practice season.

Mitchum, Long, Shepherd and Wyatt all have what it takes to replace Albright's very productive bat. When the postseason begins, they'll be in the 4A classification, not 5A like the other county teams. In Conference 20, they'll battle Glen Allen, and new rivals Midlothian, Monacan, Dinwiddie, and J.R. Tucker. If they can advance from Conference 20 into the 4A South Regionals come late May, there's no reason to believe the 2014 Hawks can't experience a special season.

PATRICK HENRY: (18-3, lost to Lee-Davis in Central Region Quarterfinals) A year ago, there was so much change, or so it seemed, with Patrick Henry softball. Five seniors from a state runner-up team were gone. Who would pitch? Where would the offense come from?

And who is this young lady now in the third base coaching box?

A year later, there are plenty of answers and a resume to prove it. 

Candace Whittemore exploded onto the pitching scene, starting each game for the 18-3 Patriots, proving she belonged in the Hanover County pitching pantheon. She returns with her partner behind the plate, James Madison softball commit Ashley Samuels.

Samuels leads the offensive charge as well, with fellow future Duke, junior shortstop Paige Mitchell. Mitchell has been such an integral part of the Patriots' defense for so long, it's hard to believe she's not a senior. Mitchell's grand slam was part of a ten-run sixth inning that led Patrick Henry to a 15-1 win in a scrimmage with Caroline Tuesday afternoon.

Also returning from the final Colonial District champions are infielders Brooke Flexon and Beth Ford, both juniors, and outfielders Kendall Thomas (a senior, three-year starter), Briana Woody and Taylor Prokopis. Abby Clement and Alex Reed look to expand their roles.

And there are promising newcomers arriving from a successful JV team, including sophomore infielder Katie Dodson, juniors Taylor Adams and Mishala Terrell, and freshman Grayson Radcliffe.

Whittemore will likely inhabit the circle every game again, so her health is of utmost importance. But head coach Shelby Webb, already a proven coaching commodity after her debut last season, is very specific about how her team will operate in order to be successful once again.

"Everyone has to play their part in order for anything to be great. I am counting on my large number of returnees who have worked with a purpose in the off-season to set us off on the right foot," Webb said. "I am blessed to have a group that wants to work hard, wants to win, so hopefully that leadership and desire will transfer to game play."

In their new life in the 5A North Region, in Conference 16, there are plenty of unknowns. The Patriots won't see Albemarle, Halifax, or Orange before postseason tournament play in May, so wins over old Colonial District foes that line their schedule are critically important in building the best winning percentage possible for playoff seeding.

No one wants to start the playoffs with a trip to Halifax against a team you don't know. You want them to come to you.

The Patriots open their 2014 season at J.R. Tucker on Tuesday night at 6pm.

ATLEE: (18-4, lost to Great Bridge in Group AAA State Quarterfinals) They began 17-1, but finished 1-3 in the critical postseason. After taking the final Capital District regular season title, they lost the District and Central Region tournaments.

Now the Raiders come back with seven of nine starters back from the state participant. But, early on, the two who are gone will cast a long shadow.

The $64,000 question for Atlee all off-season has been, "Who replaces Jessica Holte at pitcher?". Holte leaves a big void, having become the first pitcher in University of Maryland at Baltimore County history to go 6-0 in her first six starts as a freshman. Who mans the circle?

Please welcome sophomore Laura Kate Moss and freshman Peyton St. George. Both will get their opporunity to prove themselves worthy of the title of Atlee starting pitcher. But head coach John Earley is looking for far more than that.

"My off-season priority was to find out who was going to take over the leadership roles since we lost Holte and (Taylor) Sutherland," Earley explained. Sutherland, a diminuitive and feisty defensive wall at shortstop, was also part of the glue that held the Raiders together. She is now playing at Roanoke College.

As for the returning seven, they are led in the infield by impressive sophomore third baseman Raine Wilson, who's ready for a breakout year offensively, power hitting first baseman Delani Ferrar and veteran senior catcher Cameron Hall.

Add to them the experience of right fielder Mattie Fitzgerald, center fielder Shelby Hill, outfielders Blair Jones and Malorie Fodill and second baseman Annamarie Worley, and the Raiders are unbelievably rich in talent, both offensively and defensively.

Riley Satterwhite and Coral Throckmorton return and are joined by freshman shortstop/outfielder Casey Barrett. 

"I believe our biggest strength will be experience, both with defense and facing good pitching,", Earley said. "The "X" factor for us is how we will approach every game since they are all important, and not just district games like the past."

Earley's grasp on the schedule and how it plays into postseason seeding and positioning cannot be understated. For any team, a loss in late March could cost them a home game come Conference Tournament time, even against a non-conference foe.

And with Atlee residing in Conference 11 along with Lee-Davis, Deep Run, Mills Godwin and Hermitage, there will be no easy road back to regional play, this time in 5A South.

It will be the potent hitting that dots the Atlee lineup coupled with well-played defense that will help the Raiders get out of the gate strong as their new pitchers get their baptism by fire into varsity softball. 

Atlee begins Tuesday at Clover Hill, then welcomes Patrick Henry next Thursday, and new Conference 11 foes Deep Run and Hermitage on March 24th and 27th. If the Raiders find solid pitching in time for the stretch run, their deep experience could position them for yet another long post-season odyssey.

LEE-DAVIS: (18-5, lost to Cosby in Central Region Semifinals) With the Confederates, as it is with Hanover and Patrick Henry, it begins in the circle, as Radford University commit Lauren McIntyre, still just a junior, begins her third full season as starter.

Her experience is immeasurable when it comes to leadership and ability to win the close game late and the game others think you cannot. She be joined in the battery by Brooke Martin, who moves into the catcher position to replace the now graduated Haleigh Cottrell.

The Stonebreaker sisters returns, as senior Kinsee anchors the right side of the infield at second base, while sophomore Kylie will see time in left field and can also spell McIntyre if necessary. Outfield staples, seniors Becca Fields and Victoria Houff return.

Among the newcomers for Lee-Davis are two freshman you should see early in the season: Ella Alvis, who can man either third base or shortstop, and Elizabeth Hudson, the possible answer at first base, when the Confederates have to replace Amy Wingfield, now contributing nicely as a freshman at Wingate University.

"Our strengths are leadership, work ethic, and fundamentals," Lee-Davis head coach Jackie Davis said. "But our weakness is youth."

Sometimes though, it's a good thing to have a talented group of young players who go out and play, execute and perform, not knowing they're not supposed to be threats to win a Conference, and battle for a region title.

Many will look at Lee-Davis' roster this season and see the glass half-empty, question lack of experience in some areas, and not the possible lack of depth.

Others will look at it half-full, careful to remind themselves how, in a similar depth situation last year, the Confederates rolled through the Capital District Tournament and finished a game short of a state tourney berth for the second straight season.

Lee-Davis may just fly under the radar, and become that team no one wants to face in the Conference 11 tournament, and if that's the case, it'll be just fine by them.
 
They begin their season next Thursday at new Conference 11 rival Douglas Freeman before hosting Matoaca next Friday.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

FIRST ON HCS UPDATED: Patrick Henry Names Bryan Davis New Football Coach (New As of 1PM ET)

Patrick Henry High School announced this morning that Bryan Davis, a 1997 graduate of Ferrum College who last served as a head coach at Topsail High School in North Carolina, has been named their new head football coach.

Davis compiled a 40-30 record at the helm at Topsail over six seasons from 2007 to 2012. He resigned in April, 2013 citing family commitments. (More on that announcement can be found here.) Davis had four winning seasons during that span.

His father, Dave Davis, began coaching at Ferrum as an assistant in 1984, becoming head coach ten years later. He led Ferrum through the 2010 season whereupon he retired.

"We wanted someone who would be a good fit for our boys and would help us elevate PH football. We think we found that person in Bryan Davis," Patrick Henry principal Wanda Bibb said in a statement released to the press earlier this morning.

Davis is currently working at Jacksonville High School in North Carolina and formally cannot begin working at Patrick Henry until August 1st. Bibb said a "meet and greet" event for parents, students and staff with Davis is in the works as well as other events.

Davis becomes the third head coach at Patrick Henry since Ray Long's late 2009 retirement after 28 years at the helm, and 228 victories. Since that time, the Patriots have compiled a record of 12-28, while the other three high schools in the county have reached the postseason at least twice since 2011.

UPDATED NOTE: HCS has learned that Davis was set to become head coach at Warhill High School in James City County a year ago, but later resigned because a teaching position that he said originally was offered to him with the head coaching position did not come. He had worked two weeks with the football players before making the decision to return to teaching in North Carolina.

Details on the Warhill story are available in this story from the Hampton Roads Daily Press (@DP_Sports on Twitter) HERE.

HCS Media congratulates Davis on the appointment and looks forward to working with him and his staff. There was no immediate word on timetables of hiring assistants.

Saturday, March 08, 2014

SNAPSHOTS: Randolph-Macon Men in the NCAA Tournament.....

In spite of the outcome, what an electric atmosphere in Crenshaw Gymnasium Friday night for the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament!





Friday, March 07, 2014

Double Blow: Randolph-Macon Men, Women See Season End in NCAA Tournament Round 1....

For the Randolph-Macon women, it was a learning experience for a team on the rise.

For the Randolph-Macon men, it was a devastating blow for a team primed for a deep run in March.

The women's team were soundly defeated by a fundamentally-sound Messiah College team 91-62 in New Jersey Friday evening to finish their season at 23-6. The Jackets finished second in the regular season, and went into the tournament as the ODAC Tourney Champions.

Patrick Henry duo Taylor Huber and Katie Anderson led Randolph-Macon with 16 and 13 points, while Hannah Livermon added 10.

*******

In front of a jam-packed Crenshaw Gymnasium crowd, the DeSales Bulldogs came to Ashland and avenged a loss from four years ago.

Teams change, so comparison isn't there. But tonight, the Bulldogs found a way to stop Randolph-Macon down low, holding Andre Simon to six points in his final game as a Jacket. A sterling free throw performance by senior guards Mike Coleman and Kyle Hash in the final minutes of regulation and overtime helped DeSales upset the Yellow Jackets 76-70.

"Credit DeSales. They made plays when they needed to, and we didn't do that," Randolph-Macon head coach Nathan Davis said, giving Coleman, who finished with a game-high 29 points, full credit. "He hits a deep three in overtime with a hand in his face, he hits a jumper on the baseline that was fully contested. It wasn't bad defense on our part. He made plays."

Coleman, and Hash, who ended with 26 points, gave full praise to their teammates down low for the defense that held Simon, Joe Hassell and Akeem Holmes to 16 points in the low post.

"Their defense kept us in the game in the first half," Hash noted.

So did a cold stretch for the Jackets. Up 27-18 with 4:00 to go, Randolph-Macon went scoreless the rest of the half, allowing DeSales to cut the lead to two at 27-25.

"We felt coming in that if we could keep it close in the first half, be 3-4 points either way with 7, 8 minutes left, we'd have a shot," DeSales head coach Scott Coval said.

Mission accomplished. In fact, the Bulldogs held a 60-55 lead with a minute to play, but fouled Trent Walker with 50 seconds left. Walker made both free throws for a 60-57 game.

In Randolph-Macon's best defensive possession of the night, the Jackets played the full shot clock, denied the Bulldogs the basket, and got the ball with 11.9 seconds left down three.

In a play Davis said he's run since his days at Bucknell, Chris Hamilton got the ball, and, with a DeSales Bulldog draped all over him, he hit the trey with 4 seconds left to force the extra session.

In a stunning admission, Coval said he believed Hamilton may have been fouled on the play. Had that been called, there may not have been overtime.

But the Jackets went cold again in the extra session, falling behind by as many as nine, watching their season slip away with every made Hash or Coleman free throw. The Bulldogs finished 25-of-28 at the line.

The season ends in harsh fashion for the Jackets, especially for seniors Simon and Jamie Robinson, who did not play in the game. Simon, the 40th player in school history to score 1,000 points, says he'll remember his teammates and the good times the most from his four years.

Tonight, for Simon, Davis, and Yellow Jacket Nation, will be tough to overcome for a long time. But Randolph-Macon returns everyone else next season, and, if Hassell and Holmes are able to take care of business down low, a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament is certainly a possibility.

Thursday, March 06, 2014

The Road Begins: Randolph-Macon Women's Hoops Off To New Jersey!



For the ninth time, the Randolph-Macon Women's Basketball team is on The Road to the Final Four!

Head Coach Carroll LaHaye and her team left Ashland earlier today for Madison, New Jersey for the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament where they will face Messiah College on Friday at 5pm.

Complete details on the game, and how to listen, watch, or follow stats are available HERE.

We will, of course, offer real-time score updates on Twitter, @hanoversports and will be LIVE at Crenshaw Gymnasium Friday night when the Men's Basketball team opens their NCAA Tournament journey against DeSales at 7:30pm.

Monday, March 03, 2014

CHAMPIONS: Randolph-Macon Women's Hoops On Top of ODAC

ODAC Tournament MVP, Beaverdam native, and Patrick Henry graduate Katie Anderson scored 16 of her 21 points in the first half, while longtime teammate both at PH and R-MC, Taylor Huber, scored all 13 of her points after intermission, as Randolph-Macon held off Guilford 91-84 to win the 2014 ODAC Tournament Championship Sunday at the Salem Civic Center.

The title is the eighth in school history, all under head coach Carroll LaHaye, and the seventh since 2003. Randolph-Macon last won the league tournament in 2011.

The Yellow Jackets now earn the automatic bid from the ODAC into the NCAA Division III Tournament. Brackets will be announced this afternoon at 2:30pm ET.


Saturday, March 01, 2014

SNAPSHOTS: Atlee Girls Basketball!

HCS salutes the Atlee girls basketball team for one of their best seasons since their 2003 State Group AAA Championship! Three of their seven losses came to powerhouse Highland Springs, including last night in the 5A South Regional Semifinal. They avenged an early loss to Hermitage by eliminating them in the Conference 11 Tournament.

Losing Cierra Shelton and Jayme Matthews to graduation, everyone else returns. They'll need a new #1 scorer to replace Shelton, but if they can find that, and get solid off-season improvement, especially in team shooting, the Raiders could make a return to Regional action come February, 2015.

Congratulations, Atlee!