AAA softball Times-Dispatch softball player of the year Lauren Vinson of Prince George headlines the Richmond area selections to the Virginia High School Coaches Association Group AAA all-state team. Joining Vinson, who spearheaded the Royals’ first Central Region championship and advancement to the state semifinals, are Leona Rainey of Mills Godwin and Morgan Reynolds of Cosby. Rainey was the Colonial District and Central Region player of the year. Reynolds was the Dominion District player of the year.

Coaches and newly graduated athletes have descended upon Hampton and Newport News for the annual Virginia High School Coaches Association clinics and all-star games. This is the 16th year the summer rite has been based in Hampton. The all-star games are a last fling for many of the athletes before they head off to colleges and universities. Athletes from all three Virginia High School League classifications (Group AAA, AA and A) are housed and fed at Hampton University. Five of the eight all-star games are scheduled at Christopher Newport University.

Year: Senior
  Position: First base
  The skinny: Batting in a district with four standout pitchers, Bridgeman hit .558. Among her hits were nine doubles, four triples and a home run. She knocked in 28 runs and scored 19. Was the Generals’ scholar-athlete of the year and first-team all-Central District and all-region. She’s headed to Longwood.

Quarterfinals: Top bracket, Midlothian (17-3) at Deep Run (17-2), 7 p.m.; Thomas Dale (17-3) at Atlee (12-5), 7; Lower bracket, Mills Godwin (12-7) at Cosby (19-3), 5; Lee-Davis (16-4) at Prince George (17-4), 7
  Semifinals: Thursday at Hanover High, 5 and 7 p.m.
  Final: Friday at Hanover High,
7 p.m.

The Cosby and Midlothian softball teams were ready to play their showdown game for first place in the Dominion District right on time. One of the umpires was not. After he arrived 35 minutes late, he made a close call on the first batter at first base that went Cosby’s way. Little did anyone in attendance on a cool, gray late afternoon at Midlothian know how much things would go wrong for the Trojans, who began the game ranked No. 2 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 and undefeated in the district.