Central Region | Archive | March, 2009

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Walking Lee-Davis power hitter Chelsea “Cheese” Mitchell is becoming a dangerous proposition.

It has happened numerous times this season, but fellow senior Kelsie Hudson has been there to make the opposing coach pay.

It occurred Tuesday night in a taut 1-0 win that went to Lee-Davis in eight innings over Hanover.

“You may second guess me walking Cheese there and then Kelsie Hudson made me pay for it,” Hanover coach Chris Pace said. “Congratulations to her. That was a great hit.”

With Lacie Madison sitting on first, Pace walked Mitchell.

Up came Hudson, calm and confident, as the rest of the top-ranked Confederates are becoming.

She drove terrific freshman Auguste Rohle‘s pitch to left field, like she did in a 2-0 win over Prince George with the game-winning hit a few weeks back.

Madison scored easily from second as L-D’s two district wins have come in eight innings, both 1-0 over No. 8 Atlee and now ninth-ranked Hanover.

“I think it was a really good team win,” said Hudson, always giving credit to her entire squad. “Everybody made great plays in the field. Melanie Hazelwood started off that eighth inning with her good hit. Then we just kept going with it.”

Hudson pitched five good innings with four strikeouts before giving way to laser-throwing freshman Kelly Heinz, who earned the win.

Next up for L-D is No. 2 Deep Run at Deep Run Thursday at 6, while Hanover will battle Atlee for an early second-place spot in the Capital.

“We’re going to try to do the same thing,” L-D coach Jackie Davis said of the 1-2 matchup. “We talked a lot about making no mistakes on defense, and making the other teams earn what they get. Our seniors are stepping up for us. They are providing great leadership on and off the field.

“If we continue to do what we’ve been doing we’ll be all right.”

Lee-Davis 000 000 01 – 1 6 0
Hanover  000 000 00 – 0 5 0
Hudson, Heinz (6) and Mitchell; Rohle and Kirby. W: Heinz. L: Rohle.
Records: Lee-Davis (2-0 Capital, 6-0); Hanover (1-1, 2-1)

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by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

The economy is causing a myriad of things to struggle and shut down. Maybe it took a toll on Atlee’s softball bats recently.

The Raiders were mired in a 19-inning scoring slump, but shook out of it Monday afternoon, topping J.R. Tucker 8-3.

Atlee, ranked eighth in the latest DigitalSports Top 10, took two tough eight-inning losses the past two games, one to No. 7 Hermitage (1-0) and the other to top-ranked Lee-Davis (2-0).

“Finally today we scored some runs and scored when we needed to,” Atlee coach John Earley said. “We know we can do it.”

Trailing 1-0, junior first baseman Randi Farrar whipped a liner to right-center field in the second inning.

It scored Jackie Jenkins as the tension came off of the Raiders’ bats.

Atlee touched the plate four times in the third inning, two runs coming off of Jenkins’ single.

Pitcher Liz Holte (six strikeouts) helped herself minutes later, knocking in two of her own.

“It was a big thing for us,” said Jenkins, who relieved Holte in the sixth inning as Earley has perhaps the best pitching bridge in the area. “We’ve had so many base runners, but just couldn’t get those key hits when we need them. But tonight, we executed that.”

The Tigers, ranked 10th, weren’t done.

Junior third baseman Kaitlyn Cheek drilled a two-run home run to center field as Tucker got half of the runs it gave up back in the bottom of the third.

But the youthful Tigers would falter in the field later with costly errors as Atlee took a stranglehold of the game with a three-run sixth inning and strong pitching from its duo.

“Young team, made some young mistakes,” Tucker coach Pat McGuire said of his Tigers, full of underclassmen like promising freshman pitcher Kelly Rice, who threw a perfect game with 14 strikeouts earlier this season. “That can happen to a young team.

“Atlee’s a good team. We’ll be back.”

Atlee         014 003 0 – 8 9 1
J.R. Tucker 102 000 0 – 3 6 3
Holte, Jenkins (6) and Keyes; Rice and Wootton.
Records: Atlee (2-3); J.R. Tucker (3-2)

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Records as of Sunday, March 29
BASEBALL TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Manchester
(4-0, 1)
2. Lee-Davis (4-0, 2)
3. Hanover (2-0, 7)
4. Patrick Henry (3-0, 6)
5. Cosby (4-0, 4)

6. Deep Run (2-1, 3)
7. Matoaca (2-1, NR)
8. James River (1-2, 8)
9. Dinwiddie (4-1, 5)
10. Thomas Dale (2-1, 10)

Others receiving
votes: Atlee (2-1, 9); Douglas Freeman (2-1, NR); Hopewell (3-1, NR)

Game of the week – Big Colonial District matchup as No. 4 Patrick Henry visits No. 6 Deep Run Tuesday, and I’d be thoughtless to not mention No. 2 Lee-Davis heading to third-ranked Hanover Tuesday as well. DigitalSports will be at that matchup!

SOFTBALL TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Lee-Davis
(5-0, 1)
2. Deep Run (4-0, 2)
3. Cosby (3-0, 3)
4. Thomas Dale (4-1, 4)

5. Midlothian (2-0, 5)

6. Prince George (4-2, 6)

7. Hermitage (3-0, 8)
8. Atlee (1-2, 7)
9. Hanover (2-0, 10)
10. J.R. Tucker (3-1, 9)

Others receiving
votes: Patrick Henry (2-1); L.C. Bird (1-2)

Game of the week – It’s the game the softball community has been waiting on, top-ranked Lee-Davis travels to No. 2 Deep Run Thursday at 6 p.m.

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Records as of Sunday, March 29
GIRLS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Mills Godwin
(2-0-1, 1)
2. Cosby (3-1-1, 2)
3. Deep Run (0-0-1, 4)

4. Atlee (3-0-1, 6)
5. James River (1-1-1, 3)
6. Midlothian (2-1-1, 10)
7. Patrick Henry (2-1, 7)
8. Clover Hill (1-1-1, NR)
9. Hermitage (2-1-1, 10)
10. Thomas Dale (1-1, 8)

Others receiving
votes: Lee-Davis (2-2, 9); Manchester (2-1-1, 5); Hanover (2-0, NR); Douglas Freeman (2-0, NR)

Match of the week – Can Midlothian continue its stout play? The Trojans, who shot up four spots to six, host No. 2 Cosby Tuesday at 7 p.m.

BOYS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Monacan (5-0, 3)
2. Thomas Dale (1-0, 2)
3. James River (2-1-2, 6)

4. Deep Run (2-1, 4)

5. Cosby
(1-1-1, 1)
6. Mills Godwin (3-1, 7)
7. J.R. Tucker (3-0, 8)
8. Clover Hill (1-1, 5)

9. Midlothian (3-1, 10)
10. Douglas Freeman (2-0-1, NR)

Others receiving
votes: Patrick Henry (2-1, 9); Lee-Davis (2-1, NR); Hanover (2-2, NR); Matoaca (1-0-1, NR)

Match of the week – Good nondistrict matchup, as unranked Lee-Davis heads to No. 7 Tucker aiming to give the Tigers their first loss.

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Records as of Sunday, March 29
BOYS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)


1. Mills Godwin
(3-0, 1)
2.
Deep Run (5-0, 2)
3. Douglas Freeman (3-1, 3)
4. Midlothian (3-1, 4)
5. Cosby (3-1, 5)
6. Prince George (4-0, 7)
7. James River (3-1, 6)
8. Maggie Walker GS (4-0, 8)
9.
Atlee (4-0, 9)
10.
Thomas Dale (4-0, 10)

Others receiving
votes: Lee-Davis (4-1); Patrick Henry (2-4)

Match of the week – Top-ranked Godwin visits No. 2 Deep Run in a match that may finish under the lights.

GIRLS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)

1. Mills Godwin
(3-0, 1)
2.
Deep Run (4-0, 2)
3. Douglas Freeman (2-0, 3)
4.
Atlee (4-0, 7)
5. Midlothian (3-1, 4)

6. James River (3-1, 5)

7. Hanover (4-0, 6)

8. Cosby (2-1, 8)
9. Prince George (3-1, 9)
10. Matoaca (2-1, 10)

Match of the week
– No. 2 Deep Run will face No. 1 Mills Godwin Thursday.

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Seeing who’s the best, private or public, will have to wait a few days.

The much-anticipated matchup will resume Monday at Mills Godwin at 4 p.m.

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by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

By the time Benedictine hangs up its baseball jerseys this summer, which may be a while in this young unbeaten season, two Cadets will have left an undeniable mark on the program.

It’s been a while since Will Swoope and Mike Goldberg have made their college choices.

Swoope will play at Maryland, while Goldberg will head south to Davidson in North Carolina, the school basketball star Stephen Curry is making famous on the athletic scene.

The duo has started since their ninth-grade seasons at Benedictine, piling up numbers that might not be sniffed by a Cadet in a long while.

Swoope, a play-anywhere-you-need power hitter, and Goldberg, a mound technician and infielder, are on pace to start 100 straight games.

It’s all possible because of Benedictine’s large schedule and baseball success, but don’t forget Swoope and Goldberg’s excellent play.

Coach Sean Ryan can’t take them off the field. That’s just the way it was planned in the Swoope household.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to play in the ACC. I think I’m talented enough to play in the ACC,” said Swoope, who doesn’t care where he plays once he becomes a Terrapin. He’s primarily a shortstop now. “It doesn’t matter. My dad [Billy Swoope, also a Chicago Cubs scout] always told me to be very versatile. I play infield, outfield, I caught when I was little.”

Goldberg is little compared to most pitchers that dominate the high-school landscape. But his resume is still lengthy, on and off the field.

Goldberg is third in his class with a 4.1 grade-point average and scored an astounding 1380 on his SAT. He chose Davidson first because of academics, baseball just fit.

“Two or three years ago, it started with academic institutions,” Ryan said of Goldberg’s college search. “He found a great spot. I think it’s going to be a great fit for him.

“He’s been a model player and a model student.”

Now, only if Ryan can find two more like them for the 2010 season and beyond.

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Records as of Sunday, March 22
GIRLS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

1. Mills Godwin
(1-0-1)
2. Cosby (2-1)
3. James River (1-0)
4. Deep Run (0-0-1)
5. Manchester (2-0)
6. Atlee (1-0-1)
7. Patrick Henry (2-0)
8. Thomas Dale (0-1)
9. Lee-Davis (1-1)
T-10. Hermitage (2-1)
T-10. Midlothian (0-0-1)

Others receiving
votes: Monacan (2-1); Clover Hill (0-1-1); Hanover (0-0)

Match of the week – Hanover at No. 10 Hermitage Thursday at 7 p.m. as the Hawks get to play their first games this week.

BOYS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

1. Cosby
(1-0)
2. Thomas Dale (0-0)
3. Monacan (3-0)
4. Deep Run (2-1)

5. Clover Hill (1-0)

6. James River (1-1-1)

7. Mills Godwin (2-1)
8. J.R. Tucker (2-0)
9. Patrick Henry (2-1)
T-10. Midlothian (1-1)

Other receiving
votes: Lee-Davis (1-1); Meadowbrook (2-0); Hanover (1-1); Matoaca (0-0-1); Douglas Freeman (0-0-1)

Match of the week – No. 3 Monacan takes a trip to top-ranked Cosby Tuesday at 7 p.m. DigitalSports WILL BE THERE!

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by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

For an early-season matchup in not-so-favorable conditions, Monacan and Cosby turned in a Central Region tournament-worthy boys soccer contest Tuesday night.

The Chiefs, ranked third in the latest DigitalSports Top 10, came away with the victory, topping the No. 1 Titans 1-0 on the cold evening.

Steven Golob converted in the 36th minute of the first half, a goal from about 25 yards out that caught Cosby and the fans by surprise, slipping just over the outstretched hand of standout keeper Sean Stowe.

“I picked my head up,” Golob said. “I saw the goalie was a little bit off his line and just chipped one over and got it in. Got our spirits up, kept playing to the end. Just finished the game off just like that.”

Monacan’s back line played a sensational contest, led by senior defenders Logan Stykemain.

Cosby, playing without senior forward and captain Nick DeProspero (pnuemonia), still had plenty of offensive juice available with the nifty and speedy Pops Richards in the midfield and talented freshman Luis Rendon up front.

But Monacan limited Richards’ shot opportunities and held off any serious Cosby threat until about 10 minutes remained in the match.

Rendon finally got some room and snuck behind the defense.

But Monacan keeper Matt Butta came out from goal and knocked the ball away just enough for Rendon not to have an angle at a shot.

The Titans got it back in the box, but the Chiefs defense, who has only given up one goal this season, hung tough.

“It was a great soccer match,” Cosby coach Mike Anderson said. “They did a good job in the back. They deserve the credit.”

Monacan coach Sean Hollingshead agreed.

“I think the key was our organization in the back,” Hollingshead said. “Our defenders, Logan Stykemain, Jeremy Goff, Justin Pugh, Eric Warren, David Friedrichs, Matt Butta in goal, and everyone in the midfield and forwards, everyone tracked back and really put a solid game defensively.

“They’re so quick and so fast and can score goals in bunches that to hold them to a shutout is pretty good and that’s what we were looking to do.”

One of the guys who could’ve helped Cosby pitch a shutout may have had his season end prematurely.

Senior back Chris Snegon went up high for a ball and came down on his elbow, appearing to fracture his upper arm. The ambulance came and took him off the field 23 minutes into the contest, a big loss for the Titans.

“He’s started in back for us since the school has opened. Tough kid,” Anderson said. “I know he’ll return as soon as he is able to.”

Monacan 1 0 – 1
Cosby     0 0 – 0
M: Golob.
Saves: Butta (M) 12; Stowe (C) 6
Records: Monacan (3-0 Dominion, 5-0); Cosby (0-1, 1-1)

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Sorry, Matoaca.

Lacey Waldrop, Thomas Dale’s ace softball pitcher, will return Thursday as the Knights host the Warriors at 5 p.m.

Dale is 3-1 on the young season, its only loss to Lee-Davis 14-2, the No. 1 team in the DigitalSports Top 10.

Waldrop did not pitch in that game after injuring her ankle in the season-opening win over Varina.

“Hopefully things will start getting better,” Thomas Dale coach Dennis Jones said.

As a freshman, Waldrop was an all-DigitalSports selection as Thomas Dale finished the regular-season unbeaten winning the Central District.

– Stephen M. Lewis

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