Softball: Don't Tell the Wookiee but the Evil Empire was Crowned 14U AGSL Champions

(June 26, 2013) - Scott DeBergh is the polar opposite of Darth Vader but that didn't stop him from leading the Evil Empire 14U softball team to the Ashburn Girls Softball League championship this spring.

The Evil Empire roster included: Bri Alzamora, Rachel Ambrose, AnneMarie DeBergh, Gracie DeBergh, Taylor Harvey, Brooke Johnson, Katie Kelly, Lydia Kidwell, Abby Patterson, Leah Steiner, Blaire Tickle, Caitlin Kerr, and Rebecca Tunney.

Replay Sports N Training is the sponsor of Viva Loudoun's
softball & baseball coverage!

Softball: Cheers Sports and Viva Loudoun 2013 All-Loudoun Team *Updated*

(June 20, 2013) - Cheers Sports and Viva Loudoun 2013 All-Loudoun Softball:

**list is updated ... we omitted Alyana Furr of Woodgrove when typing up the list!

Cheers Sports and Viva Loudoun 2013 All-Loudoun
Softball

Co-Athletes of the Year: Niki Prince (SR) and Sydney Broderick (SR) Stone Bridge
Coach of the Year: Billy Rice, Stone Bridge

Pitchers
Kiley Jacobus (SR) Loudoun County
Kelly McDaniel (SR) Stone Bridge
Jazmyn Rohrer (JR) Woodgrove
Corinne Vennitti (JR) Woodgrove

Infield/Catcher
Rachel Harris (JR) Woodgrove
Niki Prince (SR) Stone Bridge
McKall Miller (SR) Broad Run
Jordan Counts (JR) Briar Woods
Alyana Furr (SR) Woodgrove

Outfield
Mackenzie Moler (SR) Woodgrove
Lynn Brantley (SR) Briar Woods
Ashley Cole (SR) Woodgrove
Sydney Broderick (SR) Stone Bridge

DH/Utility
Emily Kenny (SO) Stone Bridge
Victoria Wright (SR) Dominion

Photo shoot for above selections on Sunday, June 23 at Replay Sports N Training in Ashburn at noon. Full details here. RSVP to Dan Sousa by June 21 via text (703.509.8826) or email (dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com)

Please send any corrections on spellings of names or years in school to Dan Sousa (dan.sousa@verizon.net)

Softball: Woodgrove Falls One Game Shy of Retaining AA State Title

By Jason S Rufner
Special to Viva Loudoun
Radford (June 10, 2013) - Making an appearance in the Group AA state championship softball game for the third consecutive season, the defending champion Woodgrove Wolverines suffered a 9-3 loss to Cave Spring in Radford on Sunday.

"We might have been trying to do a little bit too much, trying to overpower the ball a little bit," Woodgrove coach Joe Spicer said as his players showed somber expressions in the game's aftermath.

The Wolverines (26-3) were not without offensive opportunities against the Knights (24-4).

Softball: Stone Bridge Comeback Falls Short as Great Bridge Outlasts Bulldogs, 10-9, in AAA State Finals

By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Chantilly (June 9, 2013) – For the second time in school history, Stone Bridge High School fell shy of collecting the Bulldogs first VHSL AAA state softball title after coming up just one run short of a come from behind victory against Great Bridge, falling 10-9 at Westfield High School Sunday.

“I guess the only way it could have been a little better is if we could have got one right there and given ourselves a chance,” Bulldogs coach Billy Rice said.

Stone Bridge fought back from an 8-run, fifth inning deficit to pull within one run in the seventh.

“The Stone Bridge kids are awesome,” Great Bridge coach Kirk Clayton said. “That is a fantastic team. They had us pretty scared there at the end. They just came back: hitting, hitting, hitting, hitting.”

With one out and two runners aboard in the final frame, Stone Bridge cleanup hitter and starting pitcher Kelly McDaniel stepped up to the plate and ripped a line drive at the third baseman who caught the ball before throwing to second to double off the runner ending the Bulldogs magical season at 28-2.

Softball: Defending AA State Champion Woodgrove Claws Way Back into State Finals

By Jason S Rufner
Special to Viva Loudoun

Radford (June 8, 2013) - The three-year-old Woodgrove High School softball program made it a perfecdt 3-for-3 in getting to AA softball championship games with  the Wolverines 6-2 state semifinal win over Fort Defiance at Radford University on Saturday.

Woodgrove, which finished state runner-up in 2011 and won the state title last year, defends its crown at 1 p.m. Sunday at Radford as the Wolverines (26-2) take on Region IV champion Cave Spring (23-4).

"When you're chasing one, it's easy, but when you're defending one, I think that's one of the hardest things to do in sports," said Woodgrove's veteran coach Joe Spicer, who won state crowns with Loudoun Valley in 2003 and 2005.

Softball: Stone Bridge Advances to AAA State Title Game After Knocking off Reigning State Champs Cosby, 9-1

 By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Chantilly (June 8, 2013) - Stone Bridge High School had five players with multi-hit games while senior Kelly McDaniel led the way in the pitching circle, allowing only one run, as the Bulldogs knocked off reigning state champion Cosby, 9-1 on Saturday afternoon at Westfield High School to advance to the VHSL state championship game.

Stone Bridge (28-1) will face Great Bridge at 1 p.m. Sunday in the state finals at Westfield High School. Great Bridge beat Orange County, 4-1, Saturday in the other semifinal match-up.

Offensively Saturday Stone Bridge was led by sophomore Emily Kenny (2-4, HR, 4 RBI, R) and aided by seniors Sydney Broderick (2-2, 2B, 2 BB, SB, 2 RBI, 2 R), Katie Bellino (2-3, 2B, BB, R) and McDaniel (2-4, 2 RBI, R). The Bulldogs fifth multi-hit game came off the bat of senior leadoff batter Niki Prince (3-5, 2B, SB, 2 R).

Semfinal Saturday: Baseball, Softball, Soccer Teams Play to Earn Trip to Sunday State Championships; Lax, Tennis Hold State Finals

(June 8, 2013) - The weather this week has turned VHSL's traditional State Title Saturday into Semifinal Saturday as teams battle today in the baseball, softball and soccer state semifinals with a Sunday state championship date on the line.

In lacrosse and tennis, state championships will be played today:

Baseball
AAA at Wesfield High School
Lake Braddock vs. Great Bridge, 3 p.m.
Hanover vs. Oakton, 7 p.m.

AA at Calfee Park, Pulaski
Amherst County vs. Sherando, 4 p.m.
Tunstall vs. Woodgrove, 7 p.m.

A Division 2 at Radford
Grayson County vs. Wilson Memorial, 4 p.m.
Glenvar vs. Nandua, 7 p.m.

A Division 1 at Kiwinas Park, Salem
Auburn vs. William Campbell, 10 a.m.
Clintwood vs. Riverheads, 1 p.m.

Softball
AAA at Westfield High School
Cosby vs. Stone Bridge, 4 p.m.
Great Bridge vs. Orange County, 7 p.m.

AA at Radford
Fort defiance vs. Woodgrove, 4 p.m.
Cave Spring vs. King George, 7 p.m.

A Division 2 at Veterans Field
Floyd County vs. Northumberland, 4 p.m.
James River-Buchanan vs. Goochland, 7 p.m.

A Division 1 at Moyer Complex, Salem
Honaker vs. East Rockingham, 10 a.m.
Eastside vs. Madison County, 1 p.m.

Boys Soccer
AAA at Westfield High School
Cosby vs. Oakton, 2 p.m.
Midlothian vs. Mount Vernon, 4 p.m.

AA
E.C. Glass vs. Briar Woods, noon
Blacksburg vs. Tuscarora, 2 p.m.

A at Salem High School
Radford vs. Stonewall Jackson-Quicksburg, 10 a.m.
George Mason vs. Galax, noon

Girls Soccer
AAA at Westfield High School
Deep Run vs. Colonial Forge, 10 a.m.
Frank W. Cox vs. Battlefield, noon

AA at Radford
Blacksburg vs. Briar Woods, 4 p.m.
Salem vs. Woodgrove, 6 p.m.

A at Salem High School
Radford vs. George Mason, 2 p.m.
James River-Buchanan vs. Stuarts Draft, 4 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse
State Finals at Westfield High School
James Madison vs. Chantilly, 8 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse
State Finals at Westfield High School
Langley vs. James Madison, 6 p.m.

Boys Tennis
AA State Finals at Virginia Tennis Center
Briar Woods vs. E.C. Glass, 9 a.m.

A State Finals at Radford
Glenvar vs. George Mason, 9 a.m.

Girls Tennis
AA State Finals at Virginia Tennis Center
Western Albemarle vs. Jamestown, 9 a.m.

A State Finals at Radford
Radford vs. George Mason, 9 a.m.

AA State Semifinals: VHSL Moves Baseball, Softball at Westfield to Saturday and Sunday

(June 6, 2013) - The VHSL AAA state semifinal baseball and softball games have been pushed back a day due to the incoming storm. Stone Bridge High School will now play at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Westfield High School against Cosby.

VHSL released the following notes Thursday:

• Due to the pending weather forecast, all VHSL Group AAA softball semifinal games will be played at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8. The VHSL Group AAA championship game will be played at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, June 9th.
  
• Due to the pending weather forecast, all VHSL Group AAA baseball semifinal games will be played at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8. The VHSL Group AAA championship game will be played at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, June 9th.

Breaking News: VHSL Postpones State Semifinals on Fri. June 7 Due to Tropical Storm Andrea

(June 6, 2013) - Due to the predicted weather forecast of tropical storm Andrea, VHSL semifinal events for baseball, soccer and softball scheduled for Friday, June 7, at the Radford Spring Jubilee have been postponed until Saturday, June 8. All finals will now be held on Sunday, June 9.

Boys and girls tennis semifinals will go on as scheduled for Friday, June 7.

All semifinal sites and times, originally scheduled for Friday, will be in effect for Saturday. If there should be any further changes in that schedule; the VHSL will notify media and schools immediately.

Spring Sports: VHSL State Quarterfinals and Semifinals Scores - 66 Contests in Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Tennis

2013 Virginia High School League State Quarterfinals
Baseball
AAA
Great Bridge 3, Douglas Freeman 0
Lake Braddock 5, Patriot 4
Hanover 5, Floyd E. Kellam 0
Oakton 4, Hylton 3

AA
Amherst County 3, Bassett 2
Sherando 5, Culpeper 3
Tunstall 20, Alleghany 3
Woodgrove 2, Warhill  1 (12)

A - Division 2
Glenvar 8, Gate City 1
Nandua 4, William Monroe 2
Grayson County 7, Honaker 5
Wilson Memorial 1, King William 0 (9)

A - Division 1
Auburn 3, J.I. Burton 2
William Campbell 18, Surry County 3
Clintwood 6, Covington 4
Riverheads 4, Rappahannock 2

Softball
AAA
Cosby 5, Gloucester 2
Stone Bridge 6, Osbourn 3
Great Bridge 2, Atlee 0
Orange County 1, James Madison 0

AA
Fort Defiance 5, Tazewell 0
Woodgrove 33, Tabb 2
Cave Spring 10, Broadway 9 (8)
King George 4, Powhatan 1

A - Division 2
Floyd County 7, Gate City 2
Northumberland 4, Dan River 1
James River-Buchanan 3, John Battle 0
Goochland 2, King William 1

A - Division 1
Honaker 3, Holston 2.
East Rockingham 22, Colonial Beach 1
Eastside 12, Northwood 1
Madison County 3, Rappahannock 0

Boys Soccer
AAA
Cosby 1, Landstown 0 (2OT)
Oakton 4, Broad Run 1
Midlothian 2, First Colonial 1
Mount Vernon 4, Forest Park 4 (20T, MV advances on PKs, 4-2)

AA
E.C. Glass 4, Cave Spring 1
Briar Woods 3, Culpeper 0
Blacksburg 2, Turner Ashby 1
Tuscarora 2, Lafayette  1

A
Radford 4, Lebanon 0
Stonewall Jackson-Quicksburg 2, Northampton 1
Galax 2, Gate City 0
George Mason 4, West Point 0

Girls Soccer
AAA
Deep Run 4, Floyd E. Kellam 0
Colonial Forge 2, Chantilly 0
Frank W. Cox 3, Douglas Freeman 0
Battlefield 1, Yorktown 0

AA
Blacksburg 1, Jefferson Forest 0
Briar Woods 3, Jamestown 0
Salem 2, Northside 1
Woodgrove 3, Courtland 1

A
Radford 11, John Battle 0
George Mason 10, King William 0
James River-Buchanan 3, Gate City 1
Stuarts Draft 5, Northampton 0

Girls Lacrosse
Open Semifinals
James Madison 26, Osbourn Park 10
Langley 12, Loudoun Valley 4

Boys Tennis
AA
E.C. Glass 5, Blacksburg 0
Handley 5, Jamestown 3
Hidden Valley 5, Spotswood 1
Briar Woods 5, James Monroe 4

Girls Tennis
AA
E.C. Glass 5, Abingdon 2
Western Albemarle 5, Eastern View 1
Hidden Valley 5, Boadway 1
Jamestown 5, Handley 2

Softball: Stone Bridge Senior Kelly McDaniel Uses Bat, Arm to Guide Stone Bridge to 6-3 Come-from-Behind State Quarterfinal Win Over Osoburn

By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Ashburn (June 4, 2013) - The Stone Bridge High School softball team has seldom had to play from behind this season, but on Tuesday night in the Virginia AAA state quarterfinals the Bulldogs found themselves behind Osbourn, 3-0, and they would have to dig their way out of to keep their season alive. Senior Kelly McDaniel rose to the occasion, hitting the go ahead 2-run home run in the fifth inning while earning the win in the pitching circle as Stone Bridge took down Osbourn, 6-3.

Softball: 2013 All-Region II Team Released

(June 4, 2013) - The 2013 All-Region II softball team was released this week:

2013 All-Region II Softball 
Player of the year: Justina Augustine, Faquier
Coach of the Year: Mark Ott, Faquier

First Team
Jordan Counts, Briar Woods, At-Large
Kiley Jacobus, Loudoun Co, At-Large
Rachel Harris, Woodgrove, Catcher
Tori-Jo Brown, Skyline
McKenzie Riner, Louisa Co., Infield
Sarah Clark, Millbrook, Infield
Justina Augustine, Fauquier, Infield
Alayna Furr, Woodgrove, Infield
Rachel Shiflett, Powhatan, Outfield
Katie Seymour, Sherando, Outfield
Mackenzie Moler, Woodgrove, Outfield
Sara Beamer, Skyline, Pitcher
Tess Miller, Fauquier, Pitcher

Second Team 

Softball: 2013 All-Northwest Region Team Released

(June 4, 2013) - The 2013 All-Northwest Region softball team was released Tuesday:

Player of the Year: Aysha Richardson (Orange)
Coach of the Year: Doris Buzzell (Orange)

2013 Northwest Region Softball 
First Team
1. Evie Raley Forest Park Soph IF
2. Meg Bane Halifax Sr IF
3. McKall Miller Broad Run Sr IF
4. Aysha Richardson Orange Sr P
5. Jess Middleton Forest Park Jr P
6. Jessica South Osbourn Park Sr OF
7. Mackenzie Chitwood Franklin Cnty. Soph C
8. Taylor Barnes Halifax Fresh P
9. Brittany Coffey Osbourn Soph C
10. Frankie Beller Broad Run Sr OF
11. Haley Jones Orange Sr IF
12. Caroline Porco Albemarle Sr OF

Second Team

Softball: Stone Bridge, Woodgrove Girls Bring Home Regional Titles

See Jeff Vennitti's photo gallery from the Region II finals at Powhatan

(June 3, 2013) - The Stone Bridge and Woodgrove high school softball teams brought back regional titles to Loudoun Friday with the Bulldogs taking the AAA Northern Region title with a 4-0 win over Madison at Falls Church High School and the Wolverines taking the AA Region II title wit a 6-0 win on the road at Powhatan.

For Woodgrove it was a third straight Region II title and for Stone Bridge it was back-to-back Northern Region crowns.

Both teams earned VHSL state quarterfinal home games Tuesday, June 4 with Stone Bridge (26-1) hosting Osbourn at 5:30 p.m. and Woodgrove (24-2) hosting Tabb at 6 p.m.

See Stone Bridge softball galleries from games this year against Edison, O'Connell and Madison

Recaps of both games ...

Spring Sports: 11 Loudoun Teams Plays this Week in State Tournaments!

(June 3, 2013) - School ends this week in Loudoun on Thursday but athletes from 11 local teams hope they are still playing on Saturday as the Virginia High School League holds its annual state tournaments in baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and tennis this week. Those teams with hopes of bringing a state title back to Loudoun and their next state game:

• Baseball: Woodgrove: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at Warhill, 6:30 p.m.
• Softball: Stone Bridge: AAA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Osbourn, 5:30 p.m.
• Softball: Woodgrove: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Tabb, 6 p.m.
• Boys Lacrosse: Dominion: state semifinals Wed. June 5 vs. Madison at Westfield High School, 5 p.m. 
• Girls Lacrosse: Loudoun Valley state semifinals Tues. June 5 vs. Langley at Westfield High School, 7:30 p.m.
• Boys Soccer: Briar Woods: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Culpeper, 5:30 p.m.
• Boys Soccer: Broad Run: AAA quaerterfinals Tues. June 4 at Oakton,  7 p.m.  
• Boys Soccer: Tuscarora: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 vs. Lafayette at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Girls Soccer: Briar Woods: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Jamestown, 7:30 p.m.
• Girls Soccer: Woodgrove: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at Courtland, 6 p.m.
• Boys Tennis: Briar Woods: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 vs. James Monroe at the University of Mary Washington

Ticket prices at each venue are $10. Senior citizens must pay at state events.

Tuscarora: Huskies Hold College Signing Ceremony for Seven Seniors

(May 31, 2013) - Tuscarora High School hosted a signing ceremony on May 29 for seven Husky athletes that will continue their athletic careers in college. The athletes represented the football, softball, and soccer programs.
Front Row:
Ally Kuhn (Softball- Stockton College )
Annie Hartman (Soccer – Virginia Wesleyan)
Brittany McCullock (Softball – Green Mountain College)
Back Row:
Myron Hernandez (Soccer – Shepard University)
Darrius Anderson (Football – Bluefield College)
Drew Davidson (Football – Christopher Newport University)
Adrien Stinger (Football – St. Francis College).

Softball: Harris, Rorher Lead Woodgrove to Region II Finals with Extra Innings Win Over Fauquier

Viva Loudoun photographer spoke with Rachel Harris after her walk-off hit clinched Woodgrove's win Thursday in 10 innings.

(May 31, 2013) - The AA defending state champion Woodgrove High School softball team needed a 15-strikeout performance from junior Jazmyn Rohrer and a game-wining RBI by junior Rachel Harris in the bottom of the 10th inning to clinch a return to the state tournament and a trip to Powhatan tonight to play in the Region II finals.

Softball: Stone Bridge's Niki Prince Named Northern Region Player of the Year; Three Teammates Make First Team

Stone Bridge SR Niki Prince smacking a triple this season.

(May 31, 2013) - The 25-1 Stone Bridge High School softball team will take the field at 4 p.m. today in the Northern Region finals against Liberty District foe Madison at Falls Church High School with some new honors in tow as senior shortstop Niki Prince has been named the region's Player of the Year and three of her teammates -- senior pitcher Kelly McDaniel, sophomore third base Emily Kenny and senior outfielder Sydney Broderick -- have been named first team in a vote of the region's coaches.

And, quite naturally, Stone Bridge's Billy Rice has been named the Coach of the Year.

2013 All-Northern Region Softball Team
First Team
Pitcher of the Year Taylor Nuehart Hayfield 12
Player of the Year Niki Prince Stone Bridge 12

Pitcher Kelly McDaniel Stone Bridge 12
Catcher Heather Ferguson Herndon 12
1st Base Amanda Hendrix Lake Braddock 10
2nd Base Kiana Shurlund Fairfax 10
Short Stop Whitney Burks South County 11
3rd Base Emily Kenny Stone Bridge 10
Outfield Sydney Broderick Stone Bridge 12
Outfield Christi Geisler McLean 12
Outfield Jocelyn Hotter Annandale 11
At-Large Ashley Fleisch Lake Braddock 11
At-Large Rebecca Martin South County 11
At-Large Kat Olson Madison 11
At-Large Jenny Peel Washington-Lee 12
At-Large Sabrina Pierce Chantilly
10 At-Large Stormy Zyzyk Mount Vernon 10
DP/Flex Teresa Cardamone Chantilly 12

Coach of the Year Billy Rice Stone Bridge

Softball: Stone Bridge Swats Way to State Tournament

(May 30, 2013) - The Stone Bridge High School softball team, which is averaging 13.5 runs per game in the postseason, had just an average night in the Northern Region semifinals as the Bulldogs bashed their way to a 13-1 win over Langley.

Stone Bridge (25-1), with 81 runs in six postseason games and 286 runs total, has qualified for the state tournament and will play Liberty District rival Madison Friday in the Northern Region finals.

College Choice Chart: Class of 2013 Now Up to 171 Athletes Committed to Play at Next Level

(May 30, 2013) - The Viva Loudoun College Choice Chart is now up to 171 athletes from the Class of 2013 that will play at the next level. Recently added from Tuscarora High School:

• Logan Feierbach (XC/Track) William and Mary
• Brittany McCullock (Softball) Green Mountain College
• Myron Hernandez (soccer) Shepherd

And from Stone Bridge High School, Trevor Mack will play ice hockey at IUP.

Last year the Class of 2012 set a record with 207 athletes committed. This year's class is the second largest with Class of 2010 at 159 and the Class of 2011 at 145.