The Winding Baseball Trek Towards Becoming a Cincinnati Reds’ Fan
With Opening Day here, its’ fun to follow more than one major league team.
I did not grow up as a Reds’ fan. In fact, Cincinnati’s great Big Red Machine caused me great heartache when, as a 12-year old boy growing up in Northern Virginia, I watched on TV as my favorite team, the Red Sox, lost to Sparky Anderson’s crew, 4-3, in Game 7 of the 1975 Fall Classic. I had been ecstatic after Carlton Fisk’s 12th inning game-winning home run had given the ‘Sox a 7-6 win in Game 6. But following the Game 7 loss, in which my favorite player, the great Carl Yastrzemski, flew out to end the game in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fenway Park, I was in tears – a broken kid.
Bruins off to Super Fast Start in Baseball
Rutherford's Lake Braddock team preparing for season's second half.
The wins have just kept on coming over the first half of the season for the Lake Braddock Secondary baseball team, which is competing locally in Northern Virginia over this week's spring break week.
Lake Braddock Baseball Team Suffers First Loss
Bruin left-hander Rogers pitches well in defeat.
Regardless if one viewed the glass as half full or half empty, the Lake Braddock baseball team suffered its first loss of the season on April 3 and head coach Jody Rutherford was less than enthused with the Bruins’ effort.
Sophomores Snow, Gaudian Lead Bruins past T.C. Williams
Lake Braddock girls’ lax responds to loss with pair of victories.
Lake Braddock sophomore midfielder Allie Snow scored less than 30 seconds into Tuesday’s girls’ lacrosse match-up against T.C. Williams. Moments later, Snow controlled the draw, scampered down the field and scored again. Fellow 10th-grade middie Kristen Gaudian then made it three goals in the opening minute and the Bruins were off to the races.
12-under Springfield Storm White Girls Soccer Team Wins Jefferson Cup
A month earlier, youth team had captured Arlington Invitational.
Springfield Storm White followed up its recent Arlington Invitational Spring Soccer Tournament win with their biggest championship victory yet as they garnered the coveted gold medal in the girls’ under-12 Championship Division (eight versus eight) of the Jefferson Cup, held March 17 and 18 in Richmond.
Paul VI Defeats Coolidge in City Title Game
Panthers finish best-ever boys’ basketball season 35-3.
The Paul VI High boys’ basketball team concluded its historic 2011-12 winter season with a win in the Abe Pollin City Title Championship Game over DCIAA Champion Coolidge, 70-64.
Northern Region Sports Roundup
Lloyd to be inducted into basketball shrine.
The Lee High boys’ soccer team (1-2-1), under head coach John Millward, was able to hold off a late charge by the Oakton Cougars to win 1-0 in Lee's home opener this past Tuesday night, March 27. After a quick re-start, and some quick midfield play, Luis Aguilar, a senior forward, found senior midfielder Jamie Ahmed, who took a one-touch into space then placed a 36-yard shot into the upper net with 12 minutes left.
NOVA Women Capture State Basketball Crown
Vienna’s Carlie Zirkle earns MVP honors.
The Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) women’s basketball team won the 2012 Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Championship by defeating Southside Virginia Community College, 48-26. The tournament was held March 2-4 in Chesapeake. Former Marshall High standout Carlie Zirkle (Vienna) received the most valuable player honor and was named to the All-Tournament team, along with Halley Cummins (Vienna) and Yvette Gilliam (Woodbridge).
Sports Notes from the Northern Region
State high school hoops champs; Jimmy Lange wins again; Westfields hosts prestigious golf tourney.
Game Reports Wanted: Coaches, team managers/parents - Please send high school team game results to sports editor Rich Sanders at richsand8@aol.com, or contact him on twitter at richsand8. In game reports, please include date and place of game, game highlights, team win-loss record, and any other news-worth items. Photos are also accepted.
Lancers’ Baseball Team Ready to Step Up
Lee, under new coach John Dowling, looking to improve on two-win 2011 season.
The Lee High baseball team, under new head coach John Dowling this spring, opened the season up by splitting a pair of games at the Langley High Ice Breaker Invitational last week. The Lancers, in their season-opener last Thursday night, March 15, could not hold onto a large lead in an 8-6 loss to Washington-Lee High of Arlington. But they came back the following night at the four-team Invitational with a 5-2 victory over Edison on Friday, March 16. Both games took place at Langley High School in Great Falls.
Exciting All-Star Afternoon
Concorde/Patriot All-Stars beat the Liberty/National team 109-108 in overtime.
West Potomac's Bryant Fultz threw down a fourth-quarter alley-oop dunk from fellow Wolverine Randall Brobbey, scored a team-high 15 points and earned game MVP honors as the Concorde/Patriot All-Stars defeated the Liberty/National team 109-108 in overtime at Wakefield High School.
Mares Leads West Springfield to Season-Opening Victory
Six-foot-two junior scores four goals against Yorktown.
Yorktown junior Jennie Basile netted her second goal of the evening with 7:16 remaining in the first half when West Springfield girls’ lacrosse coach Brian Puhlick decided enough was enough.
High School Basketball Season Now Complete
Edison and Fairfax boys made super postseason runs; West Springfield girls qualified for states.
The high school basketball season is now complete for all Northern Region girls’ and boys’ teams. On the girls’ side, Oakton High captured the Virginia State AAA title for the first time ever under longtime head coach Fred Priester. The Cougars defeated Princess Anne (Virginia Beach), 58-39, in the state title game last Friday night at the Siegel Center in Richmond. Oakton, which has won three region crowns over the past four years, finished the winter season with a perfect 31-0 record.
Emerson Set for One Final Season as Paul VI Baseball Coach
Panthers have enjoyed incredible success under longtime skipper.
In an emotional address to players and families last Thursday night, March 8 at the Paul VI High baseball team’s annual `First Pitch Dinner,’ Billy Emerson announced he will step down as the Panthers’ head baseball coach at the end of this upcoming spring season.
Paul VI Posts Double State Champions at States
Panther boys and girls basketball teams win respective VIS State titles.
Both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams from Paul VI Catholic High School won their respective Virginia Independent Schools Div. 1 Championships on Saturday, March 3.