Sunday, June 30, 2013

American Legion: Post 175 wins fifth straight; improves to 6-2.....

After a slow start and many bouts with Mother Nature, Mechanicsville Post 175 has found a groove.

They finished a busy weekend of four games in under 48 hours with a 15-8, rain-shortened victory Sunday evening at Powhatan Post 201. The win was the fifth straight for Post 175, moving their record to 6-2.

Post 201 kept it close, matching Post 175's three-run first inning with three of their own in the bottom of the frame. But 175 kept the offense going, scoring one each in the second and third, then taking advantage of five walks by 201 reliever NaJee Jones, scoring six runs, the big hit being a double down the left field line by Cody Powers which drove in two of the six.

Colin Lawless of Post 201 cut the 175 lead in half in the bottom of the fourth when he launched a grand slam home run over the right field fence off reliever Patrick Holler (starter Evan Swecker exited the game after just one inning after suffering an unknown injury).

Post 175 responded with power of its own, as Michael Thomas launched a two-run shot deep over the right field fence, part of a three-run fifth to make the score 14-7.

The rain, which had been held at bay by a slow moving system just a few miles west of the stadium for over two hours, finally began to fall at Baltimore Field in the top of the sixth, and the umpires called the game after 5 1/2 innings with Post 175 ahead 15-8.

Powhatan Post 201 falls to 3-5 with the defeat.

Post 175 returns home to Atlee High School for a doubleheader of two 7-inning games Tuesday at 5:30 against Lakeside Post 125, weather permitting.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

HOOPS: Huber Coming Home....

HanoverCountySports can confirm that Taylor Huber, the all-time leading scorer in Patrick Henry girls basketball history, has transferred from Utah Valley University to Randolph-Macon College.

Huber, who appeared in 29 games last season for the Division I Wolverines, averaging 5.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest, is working this season with other team members at the Randolph-Macon Elite Girls Basketball Camp at the Brock Center.

At the event, Yellow Jackets head coach Carroll LaHaye confirmed Huber will suit up for R-MC this coming season, reuniting with former Patrick Henry teammate Katie Anderson, the 2012-13 ODAC Rookie of the Year.

Huber will have two seasons of eligibility remaining for the Yellow Jackets.

Sunday, June 09, 2013

BREAKING: HAWKS WIN STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

Derek Casey did his part, striking out ten and limiting Great Bridge to just one run in the six innings he was allowed to pitch due to VHSL pitching guidelines.

Head Coach Charlie Dragum handed the ball to freshman Hayden Moore to get the job done in the 7th, and he did, retiring Great Bridge in order to clinch the first-ever state baseball championships for the #HawkGreen as Hanover wins 2-1 in Chantilly.

It wasn't without a load of suspense, as Hanover entered the sixth down 1-0, but scored two in the frame to take the lead for good.  They lost a chance at an insurance run when Chris Gilliam was caught trying to steal third for the second out, as the next batter doubled, which would've scored Gilliam.

The final out was contentious, too, as the Great Bridge batter skied a Moore fastball over the left field fence, but just barely in foul territory.  His next time hitting the ball, it was a fly to right easily caught by Gilliam to begin the Hanover celebration.

The Hawks avenge their loss in the 2009 state title game to Menchville, also of the Eastern Region, and finish 2013 at 23-4, and most importantly, as STATE CHAMPIONS.

Congratulations, Hawks!!!

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Directions to Westfield High School for State Baseball Championships!

It's a 103-mile, one-way trek to where the Hanover Hawks will try to win their first-ever state baseball championship.  If you're going, here's the way, from Hanover High....

1) Go south on Route 301, take I-295 West (Charlottesville)
2) Take Exit 43A on left for I-95 North, go 67 miles...
3) Take Exit 152B for Route 234 North (Dumfries Road), go 14 miles
4) Turn right on Route 294 East (Prince William Parkway), go 2 miles
5) Prince William Parkway becomes Liberia Avenue at Wellington Road. Continue 1.7 miles to Route 28, Centreville Road.
6) Turn right on Route 28 North (Centreville Road), go 9 miles. In Centreville, the road name changes to Sully Road as you approach I-66.
7) Take exit for Willard Road and turn left. Go 1 mile.
8) Turn left on Stonecroft Blvd. Westfield High School will be on right.

GPS Address: 4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151

NOTES:

Park in the first parking lot on the right, which comes before the main school building. Entrance to fields should be in that area, as all fields of play are near each other.

Seating is very limited when compared to where Hanover played Tuesday. Think Hanover with 80 percent more bleachers, most of the extra seating on a set of bleachers down the right field line....

Tickets are $10 for any event!

1-1: Hanover Advances, Atlee Falls Late....

Derek Casey took control from the moment he stepped on the mound at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Tuesday night, striking out 12 Kellam Knights on the way to a complete game shutout as the Hawks knocked off the Eastern Region champions 5-0 to advance to the State Group AAA Baseball Semfinal on Friday in Chantilly.

Josh Shepherd led the hitting attack with a two-run double, part of a four-run second inning that gave Casey all the support he needed and then some.

Hanover, now 21-4, will take on Oakton, the Northern Region runner-up, in the 7pm semifinal Friday at Westfield High School.

Meanwhile, in Chesapeake earlier in the afternoon, one Great Bridge swing was just enough to generate the necessary runs to lead the Wildcats, Eastern Region champions, past the Atlee Raiders 2-0, ending Atlee's fantastic 2013 season a game shy of the state final four.

Mattie Fitzgerald, still nursing a broken cheekbone suffered 11 days earlier, dove for a blooper in shallow right field in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runners on for Great Bridge, just missing the ball.  The two Wildcats scored for the only runs of the game.

The Raiders did load the bases in the top of the 7th on a single and two Great Bridge fielding errors, but pitcher Sydney Harless struck out Blair Jones for the final out of the game.

Jessica Holte struck out five in her final game at Atlee. The Raiders also lose shortstop Taylor Sutherland to graduation, but will return seven starters next season.  Congratulations to the Raiders on a season to remember!!

Sunday, June 02, 2013

DIRECTIONS TO HANOVER/KELLAM STATE BASEBALL QUARTERFINAL

Who: Hanover vs. Kellam
What: State Group AAA Softball Quarterfinals
When: Tuesday, June 4th, 6PM
Where: Bud Metheny Baseball Complex, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

DIRECTIONS (From Hanover High School):

--Proceed on Route 301 South to I-295, take I-295 South
--Take Exit 28 off I-295 for I-64 EAST. Proceed on I-64 for 76 miles.
--Take Exit 276 off I-64, merge onto I-564 WEST
--Take exit for Route 406 West/Terminal Blvd. off I-564...drive two miles
--Turn left on Hampton Blvd, drive 2 1/2 miles...
--Turn right onto 43rd Street
--Turn right onto Parker Avenue
--Destination will be on your right.

Limited parking on Elkhorn Avenue behind center field. Other parking areas within walking distance, especially near the Constant Convocation Center.

ADDRESS: 1446 West 43rd Street, Norfolk, VA......

DIRECTIONS TO ATLEE/GREAT BRIDGE SOFTBALL STATE QUARTERFINAL

Who: Atlee at Great Bridge
What: State Group AAA Softball Quarterfinals
When: Tuesday, June 4th, 4PM at Great Bridge High School, Chesapeake, VA

Directions From Atlee High School:

--Proceed down Atlee Station Road to Route 301, turn right.
--Merge onto I-295 SOUTH, go 13 miles to Exit 28
--Merge on Exit 28 for I-64 EAST, proceed on I-64 for 64 miles
--Take Exit 264 to merge onto I-664 South, proceed on I-664 for 20 miles
--Take Exit 15B to merge onto I-64 West, proceed on I-64 for 8 miles
--Take Exit 291B to merge onto Route 168 South, go 6 miles on Route 168
--Take Exit 10A toward Hanbury Road West...
--Turn right onto Hanbury Road East...
--Great Bridge High School is on the left. Take Wildcat Parkway to parking area....

ADDRESS: 301 Hanbury Road West, Chesapeake, VA