Richmond Times-Dispatch: Place an Ad | Subscribe | Manage Account | Advertise With Us

HIGH SCHOOL STATE PLAYOFFS: Paths to crowns

ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH

Cosby’s Adam Nelson (9) and Mills Godwin’s Aaron Riedel battled in last Friday’s Central Region final. Cosby won 2-0.

By Staff Reports
Published: June 2, 2009
Updated: June 2, 2009

Baseball

Today's Group AAA quarterfinals: Top bracket, Menchville (23-2) at Stafford (17-6), 6 p.m., Deep Run (14-9) at West Springfield (22-4), 6:30; Lower bracket, Battlefield (15-11) vs. Cox (22-5), 6 at ODU, Lake Braddock (17-6) at Hanover (22-1), 7
Tickets: $8 (children 6 and under free when accompanied by an adult)
Semifinals: Friday at Westfield High School in Chantilly, 3 and 7 p.m.
Final: Saturday at Westfield, 3 p.m.
On the local front: Center Region champ Hanover will throw right-hander Jake Mayers (8-0, 0.95 ERA). Nos. 2-5 hitters Jeb Weymouth (.423), Mayers (.385), Austin Erb (.500) and Laine Denton (.419) have combined for 21 homers and 98 RBI. Brian Derner, a curveballing left-hander for Northern Region runner-up Lake Braddock, threw almost 14 innings in the first three games of the region tournament. . . . Central Region runner-up Deep Run recovered from a 3-6 stretch in midseason. The Wildcats have yielded three runs or less in five of their past seven games behind pitchers R.C. Orlan and Seth Greene. Northern Region champ West Springfield is armed with pitchers Mike Kent (Clemson signee) and Bobby Wahl, a junior who has committed to Mississippi.
Players to watch: Hanover P/3B Jake Mayers, 1B Austin Erb; Deep Run P R.C. Orlan, C Jake Snyder; Lake Braddock P Brian Derner; West Springfield P Mike Kent, P Bobby Wahl; Menchville P Ethan Carter, P Austin Chrismon and OF Matt Armstead; Cox SS Chris Taylor, P Richie Salter; Stafford P Daniel King.
Team to beat: Menchville, which was ranked No.1 in the nation earlier this season by Baseball America.
Teams to watch: Hanover, West Springfield. The Hawks have won 17 consecutive games, the Spartans 16.

Softball

Today's Group AAA quarterfinals: Tickets $8. Upper bracket: Tallwood (19-6) at Loudoun Valley (22-4), 5 p.m.; Atlee (14-6) at South County (22-0), 7; Lower bracket: Battlefield (23-2) at Great Bridge (21-3), 3; Centreville (18-5) at Prince George (20-4), 7
Tickets: $8 (children 6 and under free when accompanied by an adult)
Semifinals: Friday, 4 and 7 p.m., at Westfield (note: game times could change because of graduations)
Final: Saturday, 2 p.m., at Westfield
On the local front: Central Region champion Prince George won its first region title for longtime coach Pat Waguespack. The Royals are in the state tourney for the first time since 2003. Centreville, the Northern runner-up, hasn't been in the state field since losing to Atlee in the quarterfinals in 2002. Atlee won the state title then but is in the elite eight for the first time since. Three-year-old South County (Lorton) won its first Northern Region title in any sport.
Players to watch: Whomever can hit a sterling group of pitchers: PG's Lauren Vinson (21 innings in two games last Saturday); Atlee's Jackie Jenkins (20 innings in one night against Lee-Davis); Centreville's Jessica Ferrick, daughter of coach Rich Ferrick; Great Bridge's Kaitlynn Szczepanski; South County's Chelsey Dunham.
Team to beat: South County stayed unbeaten with a close win in the region semis. Battlefield was state runner-up last year.
Team to watch: Prince George won all three region games in its last at-bat.
Group AA quarterfinal: Powhatan (21-2) at Broad Run (19-3). Tough draw for the Indians, who are back in state play after missing last year. Broad Run is the two-time defending state champion, but pitcher Caitlyn Delahaba graduated.

Girls soccer

Today's Group AAA quarterfinals: Atlee (17-1-2) at Chantilly (17-2-1), 6:30 p.m.; Oakton (14-4) at Mills Godwin (16-3-1), 7; Kempsville (12-5-2) at Riverbend (17-3-2), 5:30; Forest Park (13-7) at Frank W. Cox (19-1-2), 5:30 at Old Dominion
University's Powhatan Field
Tickets: $8 (children 6 and under free when accompanied
by an adult)
Semifinals: Friday at Westfield High School in Chantilly;
2 and 4 p.m.
Final: Saturday at Westfield High School, 1 p.m.
On the local front: Central Region champion Mills Godwin, resourceful and tenacious, simply finds a way to win. The Eagles produced late, dramatic goals in each of their three regional victories. Mills Godwin is making its seventh consecutive appearance in the state Group AAA quarterfinals. Region runner-up Atlee, eager and athletic, may have arrived ahead of schedule. It relies heavily upon youngsters who weren't part of the program when Atlee won the region title two years ago. The Raiders' speed on the flanks could create problems for an opponent who chooses to play inattentive defense.
Players to watch: Mills Godwin F Marie Krider; Mills Godwin F Sarah Bellotti; Atlee F Sam Armentrout; Atlee G Taylor Hoy; Riverbend M Meredyth Frye; Kempsville F Allie Boubouheropoulos; Chantilly M/F Kristen Melchiori; Cox M Jessie Klamut; Forest Park M/F Denesha Soto; Oakton M Christy Hassell
Team to beat: Chantilly. A fine defensive team, the Chargers have allowed only six goals during their current nine-match winning streak.
Team to watch: Cox is celebrating its fourth consecutive Eastern Region title.

Boys soccer

Today's Group AAA quarterfinals: Upper bracket: Hickory at Patrick Henry-Roanoke, 6:30 p.m.; Mills Godwin (16-2-2) at Robinson (15-1-2), 7; Lower bracket: Gar-Field at Frank Cox, 7:30; Westfield (15-3-0) at Cosby (17-1-1), 7
Tickets: $8 (children 6 and under free when accompanied by
an adult)
Semifinals: Friday, 6 and 8 p.m., at Westfield (note: game times will change if Cosby wins tonight)
Final: Saturday, 3 p.m., at Westfield
On the local front: Cosby gets to stay at home thanks to a convincing 2-0 victory against Mills Godwin. The Titans rely on team speed and will try to dictate a tempo that is to their liking. They'll have to shut down senior Sean Murnane, whose team would have home-field advantage in the final. Mills Godwin has to do what no other team has done this year - get a ball past Samir Badr. Robinson's goaltender plays on the U-17 national team, and will play professionally in Europe after graduating.
Players to watch: Cosby seniors Nick DeProspero and Patrick McDaniel, senior goaltender Sean Stowe, Westfield senior Murnane, Robinson juniors Koko Makumbi and Badr, Mills Godwin senior goaltender Jack Van Arsdale, senior Thomas Trail.
Team to beat: Robinson feels unbeatable behind Badr, who has scored more goals (1) than he's allowed (0) this year.
Team to watch: The winners of the Cosby-Westfield and Mills Godwin-Robinson games will enter the semifinals as favorites.