Thomas Dale High School | Archive | May, 2009

Baseball, 5/26/09: Dale’s Britt a hero

Posted on 27 May 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

It’s official.

Thomas Dale baseball doesn’t like anything easy.

After giving up a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, Taylor Britt had the game-winning hit as the Knights beat Lee-Davis 6-5 in the Central Region baseball quarterfinals.

The Knights will face Deep Run Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at RF&P Park. The Wildcats topped Manchester, who had been the DigitalSports No. 1 team pretty much the whole season.

Dale’s whole season has been filled with no-hitters thrown and close games won. Add Tuesday to the list.

Up 5-3 with ace Bill Cullen cruising, L-D stud sophomore Jordan Boze blasted Cullen’s offering well over the center-field wall to tie the game at 5 in the top of the seventh.

But the Confederates of the Capital District could get no more.

Andrew Hacker, who came in to throw terrific relief for L-D, struck out a batter. He had eight whiffs.

But Ryan Moore hit a sharp grounder to first that Will Burton couldn’t handle. He tried to get it to Hacker at first, but it was not in time.

“That was just a good at-bat for him to get on base,” TD coach Chris Marshall said of Moore.

The next batter walked to set the stage for Britt to drive in pinch runner Murphy Allen as the Knights went berserk.

“I saw the first pitch come in and he just grooved it,” Britt said. “I saw all the coaches just flip out like, ‘I can’t believe you missed it.’

“I just took it [opposite] like I had been doing all day in BP.”

Lee-Davis     101 010 2 – 5 9 1
Thomas Dale 310 010 1 – 6 8 2
Mike Kluver, Andrew Hacker (4) and Will Connerley; Bill Cullen and Ryan Carter.
Records: Lee-Davis (14-6); Thomas Dale (18-4)

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Boys soccer, 5/26/09: Raiders pull shocker

Posted on 27 May 2009 by .

Atlee used some brotherly love to upset previously-unbeaten Thomas Dale, the final No. 1 in the DigitalSports boys soccer top 10.

Ryan Boothe crossed to Jordan Boothe for the game’s lone goal in the Raiders’ 1-0 win over the Knights in the Central Region quarterfinals.

Dale, playing without Will Bates (U.S. National Team event), had strong opportunities throughout, especially late.

But the Raiders defense, led by keeper Michael McCabe, was outstanding. McCabe had eight stops on the night.

Atlee will face Cosby, a 3-0 winner over Deep Run, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Cosby.

Atlee           1 0 – 1
Thomas Dale 0 0 – 0
A: J. Boothe
Saves: McCabe (A) 8; Bill Groben (TD) 4
Records: Atlee (11-4-2); Thomas Dale (16-1)

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Girls soccer, 5/27/09: Improbable win for Godwin

Posted on 27 May 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

For 79 minutes and 42 seconds, Thomas Dale dominated Mills Godwin.

But a girls soccer match goes 80 minutes in regulation.

The Eagles scored just before the final whistle, and Marie Krider‘s goal in the third overtime gave Godwin an improbable 2-1 victory over the Knights in the Central Region semifinals.

Thomas Dale, winners of 25 straight Central District titles, has yet to reach a state tournament. It looked like the Knights would punch their ticket Wednesday night.

John Kabler‘s bunch played inspired and confident soccer, getting two corners just two minutes into the match.

The Eagles, headed to their seventh straight state tourney, were on their heels.

Then in the 32nd minute, Meghan Richards lifted a shot that Godwin keeper Jessie Ashworth saved but couldn’t hold on to. Sarah Haws followed the offering and put it in easily for a 1-0 lead.

The advantage looked rock solid. Dale’s defense was stifling, as Godwin couldn’t get anything going.

Even the routine plays that the Eagles usually complete with ease were going out of bounds or being halted by Dale defenders like Samantha Kuda and Hannah Robbins – for all but 18 seconds.

Lauren Abraham slipped a ball through three Dale defenders to Sarah Bellotti‘s feet. She slipped it past Dale’s diving goalie Chrissy Dowlen to shock Dale’s crowd and ignite Godwin’s faithful.

“It was such a great goal. It just showed how much work ethic we have,” Abraham said. “I came up from defense and I saw an opportunity to pass the ball to Bellotti. I called Marie off, who played an awesome game. I played it to Bellotti and it worked out from there.”

“She screamed at Marie,” Bellotti said. “She played it and I was just trying to get to the ball as fast as I could.”

Just as fast regulation ended, two overtimes elapsed and the dangerous Anne Lumpkin lined up a corner kick. It was a beauty.

Ellen Upton tried to head it in by jumping in front of a Dale defender. She missed, but it ricocheted right to Krider, who knocked in the winner with her left foot.

“We came out and we were ready to win. I think we kind of underestimated them a little bit,” said Krider, who will lead the Eagles against Atlee in the final, who beat Midlothian 2-1. “They came out strong, we weren’t really ready for that. They got one in in the first half.

“After that goal we were just fighting for it.”

For 80 minutes and more.

Mills Godwin  0 1 0 0 1 – 2
Thomas Dale 1 0 0 0 0 – 1
MG: Bellotti, Krider
TD: Haws
Saves: Ashworth (MG) 7; Dowlen (TD) 5
Records: Mills Godwin (15-3-1); Thomas Dale (17-2-1)

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Girls soccer, 5/26/09: Knights blank Hawks

Posted on 26 May 2009 by .

Two sophomores did the scoring as Thomas Dale defeated Hanover 3-0 Tuesday afternoon in the Central Region girls soccer quarterfinals.

Hailey Flores scored twice, once in each half, and Sarah Haws added another in the first half.

The Knights move on to face Mills Godwin, a 1-0 winner over Cosby, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Cosby High School in the semifinals.

The winner earns a berth into the region final and the state Group AAA tournament.

“My team played a really nice ball through,” Flores said. “I just hustled as fast as I could and drove up the field and scored. So, it was nice.

“It’s really nice to win the first round, but no resting. We have a tough, tough game [Wednesday].”

Hanover       0 0 – 0
Thomas Dale 2 1 – 3
TD: Flores 2, Laws
Saves: Nicole Shelton (H) 5; Rachel Moore (H) 4; Chrissy Dowlen (TD) 4
Records: Hanover (11-5-1); Thomas Dale (17-1-1)

– Stephen M. Lewis

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Sticks Top 10s, 5/19/09

Posted on 19 May 2009 by .

FINAL POLLS!
Records as of Sunday, May 17
BASEBALL TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Manchester
(18-1, 1)
2. Hanover (15-1, 2)
3. Thomas Dale (17-3, 3)

4. Mills Godwin (15-4, 4)

5. Lee-Davis (13-4, 5)
6. Matoaca (16-4, 6)

7. Dinwiddie (14-5, 8)
8. Douglas Freeman (12-7, 9)
9. Deep Run (10-7, 7)
10. James River (10-7, NR)

Others receiving
votes: Midlothian (10-8, 10); Prince George (11-7, NR); Atlee (9-7, NR); Cosby (10-8, NR)

SOFTBALL TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)

1. Midlothian (15-2, 3)
2. Deep Run (15-2, 1)

3. Cosby (16-3, 2)
4. Prince George (16-3, 5)

5. Thomas Dale (15-3, 4)

6. Atlee (11-3, 6)
7. Lee-Davis
(14-4, 7)
8. J.R. Tucker (13-5, 10)
9. Matoaca (13-5, 9)
10. Colonial Heights (14-5, 8)

Coaches and the DigitalSports staff vote on the polls.
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Soccer Top 10s, 5/19/09

Posted on 19 May 2009 by .

FINAL POLLS!
Records as of Sunday, May 17
GIRLS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Atlee (13-0-2, 1)

2. Deep Run (9-2-2, 2)

3. Cosby (12-2-1, 3)

4. Mills Godwin
(10-3-1, 4)
5. Clover Hill (10-3-2, 6)

6. Midlothian (9-3-2, 5)
7. Thomas Dale (12-1-1, 8)
8. Hanover (9-3-1, 7)
9. Douglas Freeman (9-4-1, 9)
10. Lee-Davis (9-7, NR)

Other receiving votes: Monacan (6-7-1, 10)

BOYS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)

1. Thomas Dale (14-0, 1)

2. Cosby
(12-1-1, 2)

3. Mills Godwin (12-1-2, 3)

4. Deep Run (11-2, 6)
5. Monacan (10-3-1, 4)
6. Midlothian (10-4-1, 5)
7. Matoaca (12-2-1, 7)

8. Lee-Davis (10-3-1, 8)
9. Atlee (8-3-2, 9)
10. Hanover (9-4-1, 10)

Others receiving
votes: Clover Hill (7-6-1, NR); J.R. Tucker (8-5-1, 10); Douglas Freeman (7-4-1, NR)


Coaches and the DigitalSports staff vote on the polls.
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Softball, 5/12/09: Prince George’s Vinson clutch

Posted on 13 May 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Two years ago, Prince George’s Lauren Vinson dominated the Central District, mowing down batters as Weed Eaters slice down dandelions.

It was her district.

But 2008 brought another pitching hot-shot in Lacey Waldrop, who led Thomas Dale to four straight wins over Vinson’s Royals, dating to the start of Tuesday’s fifth matchup between the pitchers.

It was Vinson’s turn to shine, as the junior led the Royals, ranked fifth in the DigitalSports Top 10, to a 2-0 victory over the No. 4 Knights.

With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Vinson stepped into the box looking at Charmaine Thweatt on second, Taylor Worley on third and Waldrop in the circle.

She fouled off some hot stuff from the sophomore, took some strikes and balls and was ready for her pitch.

“I was definitely feeling the pressure there,” Vinson said. “I was just waiting for my pitch. I kind of figured she would be throwing an off-speed pitch.”

Sure indeed, Waldrop took the mustard off and Vinson whipped a single down the left-field line.

Worley scored easily, and Thweatt slid in under the tag of Alexa Tuck for the final margin.

The win all but wraps up the district crown for the Royals, who have two meetings left with Petersburg.

“Lauren threw the ball well,” said Dale coach Dennis Jones of Vinson, who had 13 strikeouts. “They came up with hits when they needed them.”

Worley received a free pass from Dale, and Lowe blooped an offering from Waldrop (18 strikeouts) to set the two-out table for Vinson.

“It just speaks to our team to win all those games in close fashion,” Prince George coach Pat Waguespack said. “To be able to pitch it, catch it and make all those infield plays …

“As a hitter you want to be in that situation and I’m sure Lauren wants to be in that situation.”

Prince George 000 000 02 – 2 2 1
Thomas Dale   000 000 00 – 0 2 1
Vinson and Lowe; Waldrop and Tuck
Records: Prince George (11-1 Central, 14-3); Thomas Dale (9-2, 13-3)

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Baseball, 5/12/09: Dale cools Prince George

Posted on 13 May 2009 by .

by Derek “Big D” Nash
DigitalSports Correspondent

In what was looking to add up to a grueling pitcher’s duel, the Thomas Dale Knights beat the Prince George Royals 5-1 Tuesday evening at the Knights’ home field.

As Thomas Dale was clinching on to a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, the Knights, ranked third in the DigitalSports Top 10, exploded for four runs to make it 5-0.

The Royals, coming off wins over No. 6 Matoaca and No. 8 Dinwiddie, added a run in the top of the seventh to make it 5-1, but couldn’t overcome Dale’s ace pitcher Bill Cullen.

Cullen finished with a complete game, striking out 10 batters on the day. He also had a no hitter through 4 2/3 innings before it was broken up with a bloop single to right field.
 
Dale moves one step closer to sewing up the regular season Central District title.

They have three games left this week at Colonial Heights on Wednesday, home against Hopewell (senior night) on Thursday and at Petersburg on Friday.

The Knights are currently 10-1 in district play with a 14-3 record overall. Prince George dropped to 7-5 in the district, 9-8 overall.

Prince George 000 000 1 – 1  3 2
Thomas Dale   010 004 X – 5 11 1
 Runion and Montgomery; Cullen and Carter
Records: Thomas Dale (10-1 Central, 14-3); Prince George (7-5, 9-8)
 

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Soccer Top 10s, 5/11/09

Posted on 11 May 2009 by .

Records as of Sunday, May 10
GIRLS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Atlee (11-0-2, 1)

2. Deep Run (6-2-2, 5)

3. Cosby (11-2-1, 3)

4. Mills Godwin
(8-3-1, 2)
5. Midlothian (8-2-2, 4)
6. Clover Hill (7-3-2, 6)
7. Hanover (8-2-1, 8)
8. Thomas Dale (9-1-1, 9)
9. Douglas Freeman (8-3-1, 7)
10. Monacan (6-4-1, 10)

Match of the week – No. 1 Atlee topped No. 7 Hanover 4-1 on Monday afternoon. Mia Warlick scored twice.

BOYS TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)

1. Thomas Dale (10-0, 1)

2. Cosby
(11-1-1, 2)

3. Mills Godwin (10-1-2, 4)
4. Monacan (9-2-1, 5)
5. Midlothian (8-3-1, 6)

6. Deep Run (8-2, 3)
7. Matoaca (9-2-1, 7)

8. Lee-Davis (9-3-1, 9)
9. Atlee (7-3-2, 8)
10. J.R. Tucker (7-4-1, 10)


Others receiving
votes: Hanover (7-4-1, NR); Clover Hill (5-5-1, NR); Hermitage (6-7, NR); James River (4-5-3, NR)

Match of the week
– No. 5 Midlothian visits fourth-ranked Monacan Thursday at 7 p.m.

Coaches and the DigitalSports staff vote on the polls.
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Sticks Top 10s, 5/11/09

Posted on 11 May 2009 by .

Records as of Sunday, May 10
BASEBALL TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Manchester
(15-0, 1)
2. Hanover (13-1, 2)
3. Thomas Dale (13-3, 3)

4. Mills Godwin (12-4, 6)

5. Lee-Davis (11-4, 5)
6. Matoaca (13-4, 4)

7. Deep Run (9-5, 8)

8. Dinwiddie (13-5, 7)

9. Douglas Freeman (10-6, 10)
10. Midlothian (9-6, 9)

Others receiving
votes: Hopewell (12-5, NR); James River (9-6, NR); Prince George (9-7, NR); Patrick Henry (9-7, NR)

Game of the week
– No. 7 Deep Run visits No. 9 Douglas Freeman Tuesday at 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL TOP 10
Current
STANDINGS HERE!

Rank, Team (Record, Previous Ranking)
1. Deep Run (13-1, 1)

2. Cosby (11-2, 2)

3. Midlothian (12-1, 3)
4. Thomas Dale (13-2, 4)

5. Prince George (12-3, 5)

6. Atlee (9-3, 6)
7. Lee-Davis
(12-4, 7)
8. Colonial Heights (11-3, 8)
9. Matoaca (10-5, 9)
10. J.R. Tucker (10-5, NR)

Others receiving
votes: Mills Godwin (6-5, NR); Hanover (9-6, NR); Hermitage (7-6, 10)

Game of the week – No. 5 Prince George heads to fourth-ranked Thomas Dale Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Coaches and the DigitalSports staff vote on the polls.
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