High school sports notebook

Lilly will coach Benedictine football

Benedictine didn't have to look far for its new football coach.

Greg Lilly, the school's director of admissions and a member of Dan Rolfe's coaching staff, has been named to fill the vacancy left by Rolfe's resignation.

Rolfe is leaving to coach at Fort Defiance in Augusta County.

"I am confident that his enthusiasm and hard work will be a positive experience for the Cadets who will play for him in the future," Benedictine Principal John McGinty said. "He has done an excellent job as an assistant coach while serving first as a social studies teacher and as director of admissions for the past three years."

A University of Richmond graduate, Lilly played quarterback for the Spiders from 1990-93 and was the Yankee Conference offensive player of the year in 1992. He served in the Marine Corps for 7½ years and did two tours of duty in Iraq before coming to Benedictine.

McGinty said the Cadets greeted Lilly's appointment with a loud roar of approval. Lilly will continue as director of admissions.

"It makes you feel good . . . makes you feel wanted," said Lilly, 37. "I hope they feel that way after two-a-days at summer camp. . . . Being a high school football coach has been a goal of mine since I got out of the Marines."

Lilly, who attended Benedictine graduate Bobby Ross' football camps as a teenager, said he wants to build on the momentum and enthusiasm Rolfe established in his four-year tenure.

"It's special to me to coach in a place where I've felt this welcome and has a great tradition all together," he said.

Bailey Field re-opening

The Highland Springs baseball team will sponsor a community day March 14 to "Bring Back Bailey Field."

The Springers' baseball field has been the site for classroom trailers for two years while the school has undergone extensive renovations.

The field has been re-done, and members of the Bailey family will be on hand for the grand re-opening and first-pitch ceremonies. The rain date is March 15 at 2 p.m.

For more information, call baseball coach B.J. Crowder at (804) 426-2382.

Milestone scorers

Steven Allen, son of coach Ed Allen, became the eighth boys basketball player in New Kent High history to reach the 1,000-career points mark. Steven Allen was a first-team all-Bay Rivers selection. He is the first junior to pass 1,000 points.

State gymnastics

Lee-Davis freshman Hannah Chenault bounced back from injury to take third place in bars at the Group AAA gymnastics championships at West Potomac High in Alexandria. Chenault, sidelined by a foot injury at the Central Region meet, posted a personal-best 9.8 at the state meet. All-around winner Kirsten Strausbaugh of Kellam (Virginia Beach) won bars with a 9.9. Atlee's Cameron Overstreet was ninth all-around with a 37.52.

Spain commits

Petersburg High junior Quinton Spain already has made his college choice. The Wave's 6-6, 345-pound two-way tackle has given a verbal commitment to West Virginia University. He can't sign a scholarship letter of intent until February 2010.

"North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and Maryland were all involved, but West Virginia had been on it since last summer," Petersburg coach Mike Scott said.

Spain was a second-team all-Central District defensive tackle and an honorable mention All-Metro offensive tackle last fall. He currently is a member of the Wave's top-ranked basketball team.

Where they are going