Central Region | Archive | June, 2009

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

Will Bates just got a cherry on his sundae.

The all-everything soccer standout at Thomas Dale was just named a Parade All-American.

“It’s been a good four years between winning a state championship and doing well throughout high school,” Bates said. “I give a lot of credit to my family for pushing me day in and day out, as well as my coaches.

“The team’s been great. We’ve had a great team for four years. To earn an honor like that is a great personal goal but overall the team’s done well in general.”

Bates was a four-year starter at Dale as the Knights captured the state crown in his freshman season, 2006.

This year he was the Central District and Central Region player of the year, and is a sure-fire all-DigitalSports and all-Metro POY as well.

He’s the second Dale student-athlete to receive the honor, as running back Ken Oxendine turned the feat in 1993 before starring as a Virginia Tech Hokie and playing in the NFL.

“I actually didn’t know too much about the honor before this,” Bates said. “I’ve never dreamed of it. But it’s nice to have it now.”

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AAA State Player of the Year — Sean Murnane (Westfield)
AAA State Coach of the Year — Herb Modrak (Godwin)

*Denotes Regional Players of the Year

First Team
Javier Hernandez     South County    Goalkeeper        Sr.
Sandy Shiner               Godwin        Back        Sr.
Christian Castro        Wakefield    Midfield    Sr.
Alex Gylfason           First Colonial    Midfield    Sr.
Devin Pierce             Ocean Lakes    Midfield    Sr.
*Travis Pittman        Osbourn    Midfield    Sr.
Josh Rice                 Midlothian    Midfield    Sr.
George Vanegas        Robinson    Midfield    Sr.
*Will Bates              Thomas Dale    Forward    Sr.
Luiz Cartegena          Gar-Field    Forward    So.
Cameron Chavira      Patrick Henry    Forward    Jr.
*Jordan Grumney        Kellam        Forward    Sr.
Fayanga Keita          Patrick Henry    Forward    Sr.
Eduardo Lopez           Lee-Davis    Forward    Sr.
*Sean Murnane         Westfield    Forward    Sr.
Ryan Oakes                  Cox        Forward    Jr.
Sam Radelet              McLean        Forward    Sr.

Second Team
Rory Mills                    Ocean Lakes    Goalkeeper        Sr.
Shane Atkins              Atlee        Back        Sr.
Jimmy Brewer           Robinson    Back        Sr.
Chris Kamara             Stone Bridge    Back        Sr.
Michael Madigan        Albemarle    Back        Sr.
Patrick McDaniel        Cosby        Back         Sr.
Carlos Menjivar         Gar-Field    Back        Sr.
Hector Arellano         Kellam        Midfield    Sr.
Russell Boatwright    Godwin        Midfield    Jr.
Bryan Frank               T.C. Williams    Midfield    Sr.
Jake Jones                 Hickory        Midfield    Sr.
Will Martin                  Cox        Midfield    Sr.
Eric Wootten             Osbourn Park    Midfield    Sr.
Ben Coffey                Albemarle    Forward    Sr.
Daniel Comer             Thomas Dale    Forward    Sr.

Honorable Mention
Matt Miscione         Stone Bridge    Goalkeeper        Sr.
Patrick Nuckols        Forest Park    Goalkeeper        Sr.
Sean Stowe            Cosby        Goalkeeper        Sr.
Ricky Cole               South County    Back        Sr.
Kemp Edwards        Deep Run    Back        Sr.
Luis Estrada            Wakefield    Back        Sr.
David Meadows        Hickory        Back        Sr.
Duke Mensah          Battlefield    Back        Sr.
Lolo Newsome         Hayfield    Back        Sr.
Brad Seymour         Hanover    Back        Sr.
Logan Stykemain    Monacan    Back        Sr.
Alex Baumgardner    Hickory        Midfield    Sr.
Gene Daniels            Colonial Forge    Midfield    Sr.
Nick DeProspero      Cosby        Midfield    Sr.
Bayron Gudiel         West Springfield  Midfield    Jr.
Patrick Hamilton     E.C. Glass    Midfield    Sr.
Zack Miller              Stone Bridge    Midfield    Sr.
Adam Soderholm    Kecoughtan    Midfield    Sr.
Andrew Whitlock    Woodbridge    Midfield    So.
Robert Alberti        Kecoughtan    Forward    Sr.
Caleb Baker            Hickory        Forward    Sr.
Shane Cook            Liberty        Forward    Sr.
Jacob Doyle           Mountain View       Forward    Jr.
Jordan Griggs        Hickory        Forward    Sr.
Ian Fleming           Grassfield        Forward    Sr.
Earl Floyd              Maury        Forward    Sr.
Irvin Herrera         Westfield    Forward    Sr.
Evan Jones            Midlothian    Forward    Sr.
Max Kleess            South County    Forward    Sr.
Mason Page          Matoaca    Forward    Jr.
Pat Thompson        Lake Taylor    Forward    Sr.

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Louise Foley, now Mills Godwin’s AD, led a terrific girls basketball run. Then Mark Seidenberg took over last season when Foley stepped down, leading MG back to the region semifinals for the third straight season.

Eric Hilton will have a big whistle to tote. He’s Godwin’s new girls hoops coach after being Foley’s assistant.

“I’m very excited. I’m very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to take over where coach Foley and coach Seidenberg have built a dynasty,” Hilton said. “I’m just hoping to keep the train moving.”

The cupboard is not bare though all-DigitalSports pick Michelle Foley is graduating. Andrea Sisson, Sallie Foster and Tricia Watkins will all return.

Unforunately, Hilton had to vacate his post as boys soccer coach at Hermitage, where he was beginning to turn the Panthers’ program around, including helping first-team all-Colonial District pick Mustapha Dumbaya to college.

Dumbaya will play at Lynchburg.

“I felt like it was another challenge that I wanted to take on,” Hilton said. “I just felt like it was time for me to take a new challenge on myself.”

*** Speaking of the Eagles, former star defensive lineman Grady Bing is back in Virginia.

Bing played a year at Louisburg College in North Carolina but will now attend Hampden-Sydney, which seems like Mills Godwin graduate school with so many Eagles becoming Tigers.

Bing, now 6-3, 235 pounds, will be a sophomore and counts his desire to play right away as the main factor for the move. He played only special teams at Louisburg.

“We all say rings whenever we say bye to each
other,” Bing said of speaking to a H-SC teammate, “so our goal is always out there.”

*** Henrico standout softball player Kristina Caldwell will continue her career on scholarship at Division II St. Paul’s.

Caldwell, a shortstop, was a first-team all-Capital District selection.

*** Midlothian standout infielder Cay Manuel will join former Trojan Brittany Blankenship at Wingate. Manuel was a first-team all-Central Region pick this season.

I know a lot of the high-school graduates will be at Beach Week next week, but be sure to check out the Spring all-DigitalSports teams next week.

Each day, beginning Monday with boys and girls tennis, a team will be released.

Also look out for the updated Alumni Section this weekend. Every week we will feature a sports alumni doing something good in athletics or in the community.

Until next time, it’s your favorite reporter, signing off…

– Stephen M. Lewis, slewis@digitalsports.com

Other entries
– May 20
– May 8

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Baseball
June 4 – Laine Denton, Hanover
May 28 – Christian Hamlett, Cosby
May 14 – Andy Runion, Prince George
May 7 – Adam Blankinship, Mills Godwin

April 30 – Bill Cullen, Thomas Dale
April 23 – Patrick Scoggin, Douglas Freeman
April 16 – Blake Hauser, Manchester
April 3 – Austin Erb, Hanover

Softball
June 4 – Lauren Vinson, Prince George
* It’s Vinson’s second honor of the season. Check out her interview May 14.
Vinson led PG to the region title pitching 21 innings in one day with 18 K’s.
She went 2 for 3 and scored the game-winning run in a quarterfinal win over Lee-Davis.

May 28 – Chelsea “Cheese” Mitchell, Lee-Davis
May 21 – Kaitlyn Cheek, J.R. Tucker
May 14 – Lauren Vinson, Prince George
May 7 – Leona Rainey, Mills Godwin
April 30 – Lacey Waldrop, Thomas Dale
April 23 – Morgan Reynolds, Cosby
April 16 – Heather Lewis, Deep Run
April 2 – Kelsie Hudson, Lee-Davis

Boys Soccer
June 11 – Jack Van Arsdale, Mills Godwin
June 4 – Nick DeProspero, Cosby
May 28 – Mike McCabe, Atlee
May 21 – Mason Page, Matoaca
May 14 – Sandy Shiner, Mills Godwin
May 7 – Eduardo Lopez, Lee-Davis
April 30 – Adam Nelson, Cosby
April 23 – Travis Johnson, Clover Hill
April 16 – Will Bates, Thomas Dale
April 2 – Logan Stykemain, Monacan

Girls Soccer
June 4 – Sarah Bellotti, Mills Godwin
May 28 – Kyra Byron, Mills Godwin
May 21 – Mia Warlick, Atlee
May 14 – Emma Newins, Deep Run
May 7 – Jordan Roseboro, Atlee
April 30 – Joy Grove, Cosby
April 23 – Shelby Hooe, Hanover
April 16 – Anne Lumpkin, Mills Godwin
April 3 – Erin Layne, Midlothian

Private schools
May 21 – J.T. Wauford, Steward (baseball)
May 14 – Stephanie Fort, St. Catherine’s (softball)
May 7 – Becky Patton, Collegiate (girls soccer)
April 23 – Luke Murphy, Benedictine (baseball)
April 16 – Campbell Henkel, St. Christopher’s (baseball)

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First Team
Catcher
Blake Boyce, First Colonial, Sr.
First Base
Erik Payne, McLean, Sr.
Second Base
Kyle Toulouse, Yorktown, Sr.
Shortstop
Chris Taylor, Cox, Sr.
Third Base
Joey Cujas, Manchester, Jr.
Outfield
Erickson Keaton, Nansemond River, Sr.
Bryn Renner, West Springfield, Sr.
Vince Coles, Albemarle, Sr.
Designated Hitter
James Feldmann, GW-Danville, Jr.
Utility Player
Johnny Bladel,
Stone Bridge, Sr.
R.C. Orlan, Deep Run, Jr.
Pitchers
Daniel King, Stafford, Sr.
Jake Mayers, Hanover, Sr.

Coach of the Year
Chuck Welch, Westfield

Second Team

Catcher

Chris Ayers, Manchester, Jr.

First Base

Austin Erb, Hanover, Sr.

Second Base

Augie Ayers, Manchester, Jr.

Shortstop
Reed Gragnani, Mills Godwin, Sr.

Third Base

John Garrett, Maury, Sr.

Outfield

Bill Cullen, Thomas Dale, Sr.

Ryan Brown, Stafford, Sr.

Patrick Harrington, Kellam, Jr.

Designated Hitter

Charlie Morgan, West Springfield, Jr.

Utility Player


Dean Ali, Indian River, Jr.

Pitchers

Mike Kent, West Springfield, Sr.

Blake Hauser, Menchville, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Catcher

Zac Leach, Herndon, Sr.

Shortstop
Ryan Williams, Westfield, Sr.

Third Base

Luke Bondurant, South County, So.
Daniel King, Stafford, Sr.

Outfield

Max Waizenegger, W.T. Woodson, Sr.

Riley Biero, McLean, Sr.

Pitchers

Sean Fitzgerald, McLean, Sr.

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

CHANTILLY – There are over 300 schools that participate in Virginia High School League athletics.

Only six schools played in the state baseball final, two per classification. Hanover was one of them.

The Hawks took a tough loss, 7-1 to Menchville of Newport News in the state Group AAA final Sunday at Westfield High School.

Though Hanover completed the best season in school history, a 24-2 campaign, the defeat was too much to bare.

The positives could not outweigh the top trophy in possession of the Monarchs, its first state title.

“It’s real disappointing right now,” Hanover coach Charlie Dragum said to a group of Richmond reporters. “The 10 seniors have done everything that they were supposed to do.

“They’re a tight group and have done a great job.”

Menchville just did a greater job Sunday. The Monarchs jumped on the Hawks with five runs in the first inning.

Hunter Lewis went deep, his first of the year, Devorn Lake started his 4-for-4 performance, Jharel Cotton tripled and perhaps the most telling move, Logan Senelis-Jose drew a walk, but raced down the first-base line and nabbed second base catching Hanover napping.

Mix in South Carolina-bound pitcher Ethan Carter (complete-game and the Hawks were in trouble.

The hurler had a no-hitter through 3 2/3 innings before Laine Denton came up with one of his two hits.

Hanover didn’t get its run until an error allowed Beau Flinchum to score.

But there would be no rally from Hanover’s bats this time around, as the Hawks were held to six hits and less than three runs for only the second time this season.

“They wanted it more than anyone else I’ve ever coached,” Dragum said. “The five runs were tough to come back from.”

Menchville 510 100 0 – 7 10 2
Hanover    000 000 1 – 1  6 2
Carter and Gray; Kane, Thorne (1), Smith (7) and Weymouth.
Records: Menchville (26-2); Hanover (24-2)

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By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Editor
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area

Click the listed links for all photos and videos from the Virginia AAA state championship!

Second-year Godwin coach Herb Modrak herded his Eagles back to the bench from midfield, swinging his team’s trophy down by his hip.

Sure, it was hardware from the state tournament. But it wasn’t the trophy he was hoping for.

“It’s not what we wanted, but it’s a great season,” he said. “It’s rough right now. I know the guys are hurting, it’s a hard one to swallow.”

Mills Godwin fell to Cox, 2-1, in overtime in the Virginia AAA soccer state championship at Westfield on Sunday.

The Falcons, who won on an 83rd-minute header by sophomore Neil Harrison, played a man down after the 23rd minute when their starting left back received a straight red card and an automatic ejection.

“We had a man advantage, we were level at halftime, and we controlled the play for the most part for most of the half,” said Modrak, whose team held a 23-12 shooting advantage. “Their keeper made a huge save in overtime to keep us out of the net.

“I kept thinking we were going to get one, we were scrambling around in the box. It just didn’t come.”

With the win, Cox became the first Eastern Region team to win the state title since Kempsville in 1997. It was also the only one of the four regional champions to win its first-round game.

The Falcons took the lead in the 14th minute when, after a fluid build-up, captain Ryan Oakes hit a low cross to the top of the six-yard box that midfielder Hunter Byrnes punched home with a sliding first touch.

The Eagles equalized by way of electrifying striker Valeriy Sviderskiy, who also scored the game-sealing goal in their semifinal, 2-0 win on Saturday.

Senior Matt Bley fed Sviderskiy along the right flank on a counterattack. Sviderskiy took a flawless first touch towards goal before slipping a shot far-post to tie the score.

He leads a more-than-modest contingent of returning underclassmen for Modrak, which includes junior Garrett Harvey, junior Russell Bootwright, and junior Brian Clark.

Sviderskiy is a freshman.

“He has so much speed and so much potential,” Modrak said. “Another year of development another year of maturity, I get excited just thinking about having him for three more years. We should be able to run a lot of speed up top on teams next year.

“As much as we’re looking forward to what we have next year, we just want to enjoy what we’ve done this year.”

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

Godwin  (18-3-2)   1  0  0  0  —  1
Cox         (21-2-1)   1  0  1  0  —  2

Goals:                 
CX — Byrnes (14)
MG — Sviderskiy (27)
CX — Harrison (83)

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