Month: June 2017

Radford shows improvement in 7 on 7

The Radford Bobcats once again traveled to Va. Tech to do some 7 on 7 and looked better than last week. They outscored Graham 2 to 1 and and the only one they lost , was to Richlands by a 3-2 score. The Bobcats then played Narrows to a 2-2 tie, Bluefield Beavers to a 1 all tie and then play Blacksburg even at 2-2. Radford used freshman Zane Rupe , freshman P J Prioleau and senior Trace Shepherd all at quarterback. They looked better not only on defense but also on offense . Radford head coach Matthew Saunders said,” We have a lot of work to do.” Radford looks to be athletic once again at their skilled positions but young.

Pioneers play some 7 on 7

The Fort Chiswell Pioneers went to Ferrum College and faced some very tough competition. Besides the Pioneers , Cave Spring, Jefferson Forest, Northside, Amherst, Liberty-Bedford, Blacksburg, Gretna , Martinsville and Floyd Co were all in attendance. The Pioneers played and beat Cave Spring and then they lost to Martinsville by two scores and to Jefferson Forest . After breaking for lunch Fort Chiswell had to once again play Jefferson Forest and lost in overtime by a point. Their other afternoon contest was against Wm. Fleming and they lost by a couple of scores. Fort Chiswell head coach Todd Tiller remarked,” We played well at times. I liked a lot of things that I saw today. I thought Brody Crockett and freshman Dylan Bailey played well at quarterback. I also liked what I saw from Sean Morgan, Logan Newman, Anthony Morris , Ethan Woods, Tanner Bailey and J.P. Poole.” Coach then said,” We played and competed hard. I think we got a little tired late in the day but thats ok. It was a great learning experience for all of us.”

NRV Tigers to play at WV University this weekend

The New River Valley Tigers travel baseball team will be traveling to Morgantown, West Virginia.

Trey Hodson

Their first game is scheduled for Friday, June 23 versus VA Revo team. Game time is 12:30 pm and will be played at Fairmont St. Then on Saturday the Tigers will go up against the US Elite 2019 National squad with the game to be played at West Virginia University, and the first pitch being 9 am. Then at 1:40 pm at WVU the Tigers will play against the Maryland Bombers. Their Sunday contest will also be at WVU against Beaver Valley National Team with the start time of 4:00 pm.

Patrick Kepler
Jacob Stuart

Coach Todd Davis said, “We will be a little short handed this weekend as Pulaski Co. Cougar pitcher/ outfielder Hunter Shrewsbury and Tazewell player Sid Willis will not be able to make this weekend’s games.” Davis then remarked, “We’ll probably use Jacob Stuart, Trey Hodson, Chris Martin, Patrick Kepler, Caleb Wetzel, Conner Lewis and Wyatt Hage. Former Pulaski Co. player Camden Underwood could also see action on the mound.”

Pulaski Co. looking for JV coach

The Pulaski Co. Cougar basketball program will be looking for a new junior varsity coach for the 2017-18 season. Coach C J Burgis has resigned as the head junior varsity coach. The JV team just this past weekend at Va. Tech and won the championship under the direction of varsity assistant coach Brandon Smith. The Cougar varsity team made it to the Elite 8 portion of the varsity camp with head coach Andrew Hart.

Cougars say good-bye to 11 baseball Seniors

Pulaski Co. Cougar baseball program and Head Coach Jared King Said good-bye to 11 seniors at their baseball banquet. Those 11 are: Thomas Anderson, Dylan ” Double D ” Danner, Kam Hall, Zakk Jones, Andrew Lowe, Jordan Lytton, Vann Prince, Alex Roope, J.T. Thompson , Camden Underwood and Tyler “Wads” Waddell. Lowe was named to first team All- State as catcher , Hall was named to All Regional team as a first baseman and Waddell made second team All Conference as an outfielder. The 11 seniors

Mr. Hall presents scholarship awards to Zakk Jones and Dylan Danner- Picture Courtesy of Rodney Sports Now

were awarded shirts, bars , duffel bags and warm-ups, sweats -top and pants. The baseball booster club- Diamond Club- awarded two schloarships , one to Zakk Jones and the other to Dylan Danner. Christie Lowe was recognized for her work and support of the baseball team. Coach King also recognized the other 10 players on his varsity team that includes; Bailey Ayers, Alex Akers, Braeden Blevins, Trent Blankenship, Chandler Dunnigan, Drew Mabry , Jonathan Minnick, Brandon Neel, Jon Osteen and Hunter Shrewsbury. Coach King remarked,” These seniors are the first class that’s been with me for their four years here. The juniors were willing to except their roles on a team with 11 seniors. Having 21 players and only nine positions isn’t the best thing to have but this team worked that all out. ” Coach King then said,” I also believe that you learn more from your team than you teach them.” He then added,” All the parents deserve lots of gratitude for the success of this team. I want to think all of them that helped with fundraisers and running concessions. I also want to think the trainers for their help on keeping our players healthy.” Coach then thanked his coaches- Zac Chrisley and Tanner Dotson. He also thanked junior varsity head coach Greg Allen.

Junior varsity head coach Greg Allen recognized his squad as he introduced them: Logan Burchette, Cooper Dunnigan, Jackson Callahan, Alex Dalton, Chase Dotson, Jon Jon Howlett, Will Huff, Punkie Foster, Austin Gallimore, Will Jarrells, Caleb Kirtner,Micah Minnick, Zane Ratcliffe, Chris Remington and Conner Compton. The junior varsity included five eighth graders . Coach Allen said,” This group I had as much fun being around than any group I have coached.”

Cougar Varsity Baseball Team – Picture Courtesy of Rodney Sports Now

The Cougars varsity team won 12 ball games and made it to the conference semifinals. The 12 wins are the most in one season by a Cougar team in at least six years.

New River Valley Tigers travel team goes 2-2 at Sevierville

(Photos courtesy NRV Tigers)

Camden Underwood – Pulaski Co.

The NRV Tigers kicked off their summer travel baseball season going to Sevierville, Tennessee last weekend and came away with 2 wins and 2 losses in pool play. Their opening saw them lose to Gwinnett Aces 3-1. They had only two hits with Austin Atkins and Trey Hodson accounting for those. Hodson pitched 4.1 inns, surrendered two runs on seven hits and struck out four. The Tigers then walloped the Diamond 17U team 11-0 in five innings. Sid Willis, the Tazewell Bulldog, went 4 inns and gave up just two hits and had three strike outs. He also went 3 for 3 at the plate and knocked in three. Hodson and Logan Altizer both were 2 for 3. Hodson scored twice and had two RBIs. Atkins had one RBI and scored a run.

Jacob Stuart- Galax

The third game of the weekend on Saturday saw the Tigers beat the Northwest Tenn. Pioneers 3-2 to improve to 2-1. Jacob Stuart got the win going 5 inns. He allowed one hit and struck out four. Caleb Franklin was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Caleb Wetzel was 2 for 2. Wyatt Hage, Camden Underwood,a former Pulaski Co. Cougar, and Stuart had one hit apiece. Underwood and Franklin both scored a run in the win.

Tigers Coach Todd Davis talking to Hunter Shrewsbury- Pulaski Co.

The late Saturday game saw the NRV Tigers lose on a controversial call that ended the game and the Tigers on the wrong end of a 4-3 score to the Tri-Cities Royals. Atkins was 2 for 3 with a double, Underwood was 1 for 3. Chris Martin had an RBI. Pulaski Co. Cougar Hunter Shrewsbury was tagged with the loss. He allowed six hits and four runs but only two of those four were earned. He walked one and struck out three. In their last at bat with the bases loaded and two outs, the Tigers batter hit a shot in the hole at short. It appeared the batter had beaten the threw to first, but was called out. The first baseman’s foot wasn’t even on the bag. Tiger head coach Todd Davis said, “We played well at times and our pitching was very good. We will travel to West Virginia University to play June 22 – 25th.” The loss to Tri-Cities left them at 2-2 in pool play and out of advancing to Sunday to continue to play.

Sid Willis – Tazewell

Seven -on- Seven Football

Are you ready for some football ? Well the official first day of high school football is about six weeks away, but seven teams started their 7 -on -7 season already. With Va. Tech hosting Blacksburg, Radford, Narrows, Virginia High, Richlands, Graham and Bluefield (WV) Beavers people got to see an early glimpse of the upcoming season. All the teams played each other once on defense and then the next time on offense. Well mother nature had her own agenda as an electrical storm move to close to what is know as ” Chicken Hill ” on the Va. Tech campus. The Bobcats got to play Richlands on offense and defense and got outscored 3 to 0. Radford only got to play Va. High on defense and allowed one score. They also only played on defense versus Bluefield and the Beavers scored twice.

Radford played Narrows and scored twice, scored once against Graham and then played Blacksburg only on offense and scored two times. Mother nature had taken away the rest of the 7 -on- 7 matchups . Zane Rupe a freshman and Trace Shepherd saw most if not all the time at quarterback for the Bobcats. Radford will be in the scrimmage on August 11 at Pulaski Co. along with Magna Vista, Liberty Christian ( LCA) and the host Cougars.

Group 1A All State is selected

Some local baseball players have been named to the Group 1A All State teams. Outfielder Tanner Bailey has been selected on first team All State. Auburn’s catcher Kyle Altizer was named first team catcher and Dylan Akers also made first team utility player. Auburn head coach Eric Altizer was named 1A Coach of the Year. Hunter Williams of Windsor, Austin Smallwood of Eastside and Cole Holsinger of Stonewall Jackson were named as pitchers. Cole Harness – Eastside first baseman, Davis Powell of Windsor second base, Jacob Adams shortstop of Altavista and the third baseman was Honaker’s Brandon Looney. Joining Bailey in the outfield are Blake Rhoten of Eastside , Blake Stinson of Honaker, Jacob Council of Windsor and Altavista’s Shyhiem Pannell.

Making Second Team All State are Dallas Beasley as pitcher and Chance Davis at shortstop both of Fort Chiswell. Keith Reed of Auburn as pitcher. Others on the team are: Covington’s- Tyler Dressler at second base, Logan Morrison of Luray at first baseman, Matt Kleinfelt at third of Lancaster. He also was named as a pitcher on the second team. Nick Dotson of Stonewall Jackson was utility player, and Chris Fowler was designated hitter of Central- Lunenburg.The outfielders are Tyler Jackson of Patrick Henry- Glade Spring, Justin Spiers of Surry and Hunter Williams of Windsor. The catcher is Windsor’s Trevor Kiser.

Auburn vs Windsor in Action

(Photography courtesy Tina Quesenberry)

Auburn Eagles celebrate the win!
Third baseman for Auburn Cole Epperly #33 tagging out the Dukes runner #22 Jacob Council.
#4 Dylan Akers makes contact with the ball.
Auburn pitcher Keith Reed.

Auburn wins state title

The Auburn Eagles behind the pitching performance of Dylan Akers and Adam Quesenberry’s three RBIs won the group 1A state baseball championship 6 – 0 over a very talented Stonewall Jackson Generals. Akers pitched a complete game two-hitter , striking out two and walking no one. Quesenberry had three singles and scored a run. Hunter Perkins put the icing on the cake in the top of the seventh with Auburn leading 5 – 0 as he hit a solo home run over the left field fence 330 feet away. Auburn scored a single run in the first with Cole Epperly singling in Quesenberry to take a early lead. They would then add two more in the second inning as Quesenberry singled in Aaric Huff, and Ryan Albert scored on a wild pitch. They would add two more in the fourth as Quesenberry singled to left bringing in Albert and Brady Harris.

Stonewall Jackson (14-12) could only manage two hits. The first was by David Moomaw leading off the bottom of the third, but was quickly erased by a line drive to second baseman Albert who doubled him off of first. The Generals started the fourth inning with a lead-off double by Dylan Vann, but he also was erased as Tyler Somers hit a line shot back to the pitcher, Akers. Akers would then wheel and fire the ball to second base to double off Vann. The only other runner to reach base by the Generals was Vann in the first inning who was hit by a pitch, but was stranded on second base.

Auburn (24-2) won their first state baseball title as they dominated offensively and defensively over two days of action against Windsor and Stonewall Jackson.

Following the final game was an amazing display of sportsmanship by both teams and their fans. Stonewall Jackson not only received the runner-up trophy for the state championship, but they also were awarded the Sportsmanship Award. They took a knee as the Auburn Eagles were awarded their championship medals and the the State Championship trophy. This display of sportsmanship speaks highly of the players, their coaches, their parents and their schools.