Local clinics are reporting an epidemic of “senioritis”, but many of Virginia’s top high school athletes still have work to do before summer vacation can commence.
SOFTBALL
Virginia 6A North region softball final
No. 9 Battlefield (19-4) at Osbourn Park (24-2)
Friday, 6 p.m.
At stake: seeding in next week’s 6A state tournament
Watch for: The duel in the circle between Osbourn Park sophomore Emily Weatherholtz and Battlefield senior Teresa Wagner. Weatherholtz finished the regular season with 163 strikeouts and and a 0.26 ERA, while Wagner, an Alderson Broaddus recruit, features a wicked change-up in her repertoire of pitches.
Skinny: Any tactical secrets or scouting reports were snuffed out a long time ago, as this is the fifth meeting between the two Western Prince William County squads. The Yellow Jackets have gone 3-1 against the Bobcats to date, including a shutout victory in the Conference 8 final on May 22. Expect a low-scoring affair, since the four previous games were all decided by scores of 1-0.
Virginia 5A North region softball final
Briar Woods (16-6) vs. Marshall/Patrick Henry-Ashland
Friday, time TBD
At stake: seeding in next week’s 5A state tournament
Watch for: The many shades of Christopher Newport recruit Kayla Brennan. Brennan, the Conference 14 player of the year, is the Falcons’ top pitching option in the circle and hit .403 while driving in 16 runs and scoring 17.
Skinny: The semifinal between Marshall at Patrick Henry was rained out Wednesday and will be played today in Ashland. Briar Woods is looking to avenge losses in both the regional and state finals last year.
Virginia 4A North region semifinal
Woodgrove (22-2) at King George
Today, 4 p.m.
At stake: A berth in next week’s 4A state tournament
Watch for: Jet, or rather bus, lag. The Wolverines will travel between 101 and 107 miles south (depending on route) before facing off with the Foxes. Senior James Madison recruit Grace Sanderson is hitting .583 and has gloved it to perfection — boasting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in center field.
Virginia 3A East region semifinal
Loudoun Valley (19-3) vs. Warhill
Saturday at Riverbend High School in Fredericksburg
At stake: A berth in next week’s 3A state tournament
Watch for: How Vikings freshman pitcher Tressa Kagarise holds up under big-time postseason pressure. Junior shortstop McKenna Holtz is a power broker in the middle of Valley’s lineup with four home runs this season, while fellow junior Erika Elias is hitting .417.
Skinny: Brentsville already claimed a spot in Monday’s region final and states when it outlasted York, 1-0, in a 10-inning semifinal affair played Wednesday.
NUMBER CRUNCH: 12
Years since Madison last advanced to the Virginia state baseball tournament, a streak it broke by defeating Battlefield, 2-1, in nine innings on Pete Nielsen’s RBI double.
BREAKFAST LINKS:
- Alexis Champion needed to make amends. The senior Bucknell softball recruit did so by smacking “a Battlefield home run” to lead the Bobcats to a 3-2 win over Hayfield.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
A pair of 5A North lacrosse finals. After reading this post, follow @DillonMullan for updates on the girls’ game, and this reporter @JoeyLoMonaco for all the happenings between the Stone Bridge and Statesmen boys.
PHOTOS FROM LAST NIGHT:
Langley beats Oakton 1-0 for spot in Virginia 6A North title game
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Jacob Lavovitz scores the game’s only goal to lead the Saxons past Oakton.
