Denbigh's Hollis Continues Football Life in Finland

From Daily Press Newport News Town Square edition of September 26, 2013. This is the original version before editing -- in other words, not adjusted to fit within a certain space .. laugh.

For Dwayne Hollis, perseverance has been his key to success.

(Right) On the video wall, Hollis
returns punt for a Rooster
record 93 yards

As a 5’8”, 125 pound sophomore at Denbigh High School in the mid 2000’s, Hollis was judged as too small to play football. A couple of his coaches tried to steer him toward cross-country, figuring that his slight build and natural speed would be better suited for trails, rather than pads. But the youngster refused to yield to adversity. Even while attending several distance running practices, he continued to mold himself into a football player, eventually tacking on 25 pounds and earning his way into the starting Patriot lineup as a senior cornerback.

Simultaneously, he also grew into a standout track athlete, competing in the short sprints for a Denbigh team that finished the 2007 outdoor season with a fourth place state AAA finish. Part of that success came from Hollis’ ability in the pole vault, where his drive for excellence helped him to develop into a 13-foot vaulter.

Although he had speed, the size was still lacking. But the word quit never entered the vocabulary of the Newport News native. He found a spot on the Division III North Carolina Wesleyan football team. Little by little, his skills honed and his physique grew. But the speed always worked to his advantage. Hollis became a return man, and by his sophomore year, he had scored a touchdown by interception, punt and kickoff return.

Hollis' final two years served only to bolster his status as a one man human highlight reel for the Bishops.

The accolades piled up. He became the first NCWC player to earn All-American honors, as a defensive back. Hollis was also chosen as a Beyond Sports (BSN) All-American as a return specialist. For his senior year, Hollis, now 5’9“ and 165 (about the same size as Redskins Hall of Famer Darrell Green), recorded four interceptions (one returned for a TD), 46 tackles and a fumble recovery, while averaging over 13 yards per punt return and 24 for each kickoff return (with three more touchdowns). It was hard not to notice the speedster, and his accomplishments earned Hollis a spot in the Division III Senior Bowl.

It also earned Hollis a great connection. Wide receivers coach Kevin Burant had worked for a year with the Helsinki Roosters and received a call from his former colleagues asking if he knew any potential return specialists. The link was made and a flight was booked.

Hollis immediately noticed that professional football was lower key in Finland. Along with a 10-game season, there was a more laid back attitude.

“We practiced about three times a week and usually played on weekends. I enjoyed the nightlife sometimes.”

He also got introduced to coaching, working with the younger Roosters team.

Although Hollis didn’t arrive until the fourth game, he made an immediate impact, helping Helsinki maintain an undefeated record while defending their Maple Bowl title with a 52-31 win over the Helsinki Wolverines. Despite his late start, Hollis led the Roosters in all-purpose yards with 883, and scored six touchdowns in seven games – four as a wide receiver and two on returns. In the championship game, he caught five passes for 96 yards and a 50-yard touchdown.

The best may be yet to come.

“I’m about to get an agent,” says Hollis, ready to continue his professional aspirations, whether they be in the Arena Football League, or Canada. But, the ultimate goal remains the NFL.

For now, he is putting his newfound coaching skills to work, helping with the defensive squad at his high school alma mater, which got off to a surprising 2-1 start. For Hollis, it was a natural extension of his football experience.

“Every summer, I trained for college football at Denbigh H.S.. I was going to coach there before I left (for Finland).

Overall, Hollis is pleased with the opportunity to continue his football career.

“It was good to go to another country because not too many people go to Europe, let alone to play the sport they love.”

What was most surprising about Finland?

“It was different because a lot of people walk and ride bikes everywhere. One thing that I found shocking is that they don’t use traffic lights on Sunday. And they use kilometers, not miles.”

Christopher Newport U. Football Off to First 3-0 Start in School History; defeats Shenandoah 34-6

I had the opportunity to cover my first college football game the other night. Now I have written articles about a few college sporting events (really, the Virginia Duals wrestling tournament and a couple of cross-country meets) but this was the first shot at football. My initial reaction -- I could get used to this. At the high school games, the press boxes mirror the elements and are either too hot, too cold, too wet, whatever. Also, at the college games, there is food -- three sandwiches for me on Saturday night, thank you very much. And they bring the stats to you -- no compiling by oneself. The sports information folks also make the players available to you, which is much easier than chasing a high school kid halfway across a gridiron.

Deadline was sketchy at the Daily Press on Saturday night, so I don't know if my final version ever ran anywhere. Here's a link to the version on the Internet, which was widely, well..from the looks of the numbers, widely missed.

(http://www.dailypress.com/sports/colleges/dp-spt-shenandoah-cnu-0922-20130921,0,3660745.story)

Just in case, here's my final version, complete with quotes --

NEWPORT NEWS --- Looking to capitalize on its first 2-0 start in team history, Christopher Newport rediscovered an old weapon – the right arm of backup quarterback Lyndon Garner – to blast Shenandoah University 34-6 before a capacity Family Day crowd of 6,192 at Pomoco Stadium on Saturday night.

The Captains entered the game ranked 25^th nationally, according to D3football.com, but had trouble hitting all cylinders on their first drive. Quarterback Marcus Morrast misfired on his first three passes. But Paul Dukes carried the early load, chugging out 36 yards on five carries as the Captains marched 63 yards down the field. However, their 13-play drive stalled on the three-yard line when Hornets defensive end Evan Griffin darted around the right end to level Morrast and force an incompletion on third-and-goal. Mason Studer’s 20-yard field goal gave CNU an early 3-0 advantage.

But Morrast suffered a shoulder injury on the final play and was relegated to the sideline, forcing Garner, the senior quarterback from Essex H.S. in Tappahannock, into the game.

Garner, who saw limited action as a junior after starting ten games as a sophomore, had not seen action this season until Saturday, but was ready when the call came.

“I just had to stay focused,” said Garner, who finished 9 of 11 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. “The biggest shift was getting back to game speed after working with the scout team all week.”

The new signal caller made an immediate impact on the first play of his second drive, as wide receiver Rudy Rudolph got behind the safeties and caught a strike from Garner, outracing the defense to the end zone for an 83-yard score.

The Garner-Rudolph combination struck again less than two minutes later, this time for a 53 yard score on the Captains next possession, giving CNU a 17-0 lead. Having found its rhythm, the Captains poured it on, with Strom Parker adding another score, this one on a 10-yard blast up the middle. In all, CNU tallied 347 yards in the opening half.

Having Rudolph as a target helped Garner in the early going.

“He’s our top target. A tall guy. I just throw the ball, and he’ll catch it every time.”

The Hornets (1-2)  lone scoring opportunity in the first half fizzled out on the Captain 12 with 2:26 left in the second quarter as a fourth-and-eight pass from Drew Ferguson to Charles McMillan sailed high into the end zone and was dropped.

A 26-yard field goal by Studer provided the only scoring for the third quarter as the Captains switched to a ball control offense.

The Hornets finally scored with 8:57 left, as Brandon Adams caught a flare pass from Ferguson and bounced into the end zone, with the assistance of several missed Captain tackles.

Daquan Davis added the Captains final score, bursting through the middle for a 18-yard touchdown.

Coach Matt Kelchner was pleased with his defense, which held the Hornets to 267 total yards, particularly after watching Shenandoah play Ferrum last week.

“They were down 21-7, and just came out and pounded them. With a new coach and a new system, I thought they had it going.”

Senior linebacker Evan Moog led the effort with 13 tackles.

“He’s playing as well as anybody in the country right now,” said Kelchner.

Kelchner also gave credit to the defensive line.

“Coach Kepa (defensive line coach) is doing a great job. The front four held up on the line, which freed up our linebackers.”

With the win, the Captains raised their record to 3-0, the fastest start in school history.

Shenandoah   0, 0, 0, 6   -- 6

CNU              3, 21, 3, 7 – 34

CNU – Studer 20 FG

CNU – Rudolph 83 pass from Garner (Studer kick)

CNU – Rudolph 53 pass from Garner (Studer kick)

CNU – Parker 10 run (Studer kick)

CNU – Studer 26 FG

Shen – Adams 19 pass from Ferguson (run failed)

CNU – Davis 18 run (Studer kick)

                         Shenandoah   CNU

First downs;      14, 21

Rushes-yards;   25-54, 44-239

Passing yards;   213, 232

Comp-att-int;   21-37-1, 10-16-0

Penalties-yards; 6-45, 9-85

Punts-avg;       6-28.5, 5-38.2

Fumbles-lost;   0-0, 2-0

New Job Update - Six Weeks in SoBo

Six weeks down in South Boston, VA.

The experience has been interesting. While I can’t discuss the specifics of the new job, I can report that things are going well. School has started again, and learning is taking place.

My soon to be home away from home in SoBo, VA

In the meantime, my own education is continuing.

It had not occurred to me until recently that I have never lived in a city with less than 100,000 residents. Alexandria, Newport News, even Staten Island (New York City), where I attended undergrad school at Wagner College are cities with all the trappings of a metropolis. Traffic is one. Suffice it to say, after 48 years of living in a metropolis, there are certain things that one takes for granted.

Like 7-11’s and cab or bus service.

While enjoying a steak sub at a local eatery last month, I was ready for a “nightcap,” and asked the teenage waitress where I could get a Slurpee.

Her look of befuddlement embarrassed me.

“A... what?”

From the next table, a woman who was educated in these sorts of things was kind enough to chime in. “We have Sheetz.”

Duly noted. No Slurpee’s in South Boston.

A couple of days later, the squealing from my brakes was too much to handle. I knew the pads had to be changed, so I followed some good advice and took my car to a place called Rice and Sons. It was close to my hotel, the South Boston Inn, so I walked home, figuring that I’d just catch a cab the next morning while the work was being done. (Point of note - brake pads, rotation and new inspection sticker - $160, less than half of what I would have paid in Newport News)

Imagine my surprise the next morning when I walked to the lobby and asked for a cab.

“There used to be one here, but I think it closed.”

I called work and someone had to pick me up. That doesn’t happen everywhere.

South Boston has a population of about 8,500 spread out over 12 square miles. It’s quaint, and it has seen better days. There are a lot of closed up businesses in the downtown area. Still, I’m optimistic enough to think the town will rebound. And, if a real estate speculator or two might be reading this, there are some foreclosed single family homes here that can be had for less than 50-60K. And by homes, I mean three bedroom colonials with a yard and the need for some TLC and elbow grease.

While the word “urgency” isn’t part of the SoBo lexicon, I am enjoying the friendliness of the town folks, and the quiet and lack of traffic is refreshing. Raj and Amil Gupta, who run the South Boston Inn, have been great innkeepers during my elongated stay there. If you’re in the region, I highly recommend it. Not the Ritz, but enough bang for the buck ($50 a night, in my case) to make the stay worthwhile. The room is clean, and there is Wi-Fi and cable. In simple terms – five weeks, no bedbugs.

Of course, I really miss being away from home. It’s hard to be away all week.

Ride and Tie???

When Toby Keith sang about wanting to be a working westerner in his classic melody “Should Have Been a Cowboy,” his yearning for living the lifestyle of one who wears a ten gallon hat came from the fact that he never learned how to “rope and ride.”

Toby Keith forgot about the running
part of being a cowboy. Running?

Perhaps he forgot the part about running.

Four local residents won’t have the same problem this weekend, as they will pair off and compete at the 43^rd Annual Ride and Tie World Championship in Ft. Bragg, California.

In fact, the teams of Mary Gibbs and Greg Brander, as well as Dave and Rhonda Venable, were the first two entries when the application process started on April 1^st. Gibbs is a Poquoson resident while Brander and the Venable’s hail from Yorktown.

Ride and Tie?

Before critiquing the roping and riding abilities of those involved, it helps to better understand the event.

As noted from its literature, the participants in Ride & Tie events race both on horses and under their own power, covering distances of 20 to 100 miles. The Championship in Ft. Bragg (located in upper California, four hours north of San Francisco by car) is a 35-mile race, noted for its ruggedness and breathtaking scenery.  The objective, as noted by the Ride & Tie Association, states:

"The goal is to get all three team members, two humans and one horse, across a cross-country course by alternating riding and running. The rider, being faster, rides ahead and ties the horse to a tree and then continues down the trail on foot. The team member who started out on foot gets to the horse, unties, mounts up, and rides past the runner, ties the horse...and this leapfrog continues over the entire course."

One unique aspect of the event comes from the strategy which each pair chooses to utilize. When, where, and how a team exchanges riding for running is almost entirely up to each duo, giving each team a signature characteristic.

There are other challenges, such as, the terrain. While the horses tend to maintain their balance and the humans are in above-average physical condition (Rhonda Venable is a former Peninsula Track Club president and Bethel High cross-country coach), there are plenty of opportunities for turned ankles and contact bumps. Straying off the beaten path can be nerve-wracking, especially after nightfall. During the Old Dominion Endurance Event, held last month in Orkney, VA, the evening race also included nighttime fog which Bradner said was "a little bit surreal. Distances got distorted and the trail was even more confusing." The athletes (and horses) had to rely on glow-sticks placed along the course by race planners.

While the Ride and Tie event is entrenched in its Western roots, the competition has become more popular in other parts of the world, mostly because of the attention given on social media, particularly Facebook, says Ride and Tie president Ben Volk. Volk adds that “we are still trying to get the word out via the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) and other worldwide equestrian websites.”

Additional information about Ride & Ties can be found at www.rideandtie.org.

Open Mike Night --- Remembering My Singing Days (Boy Could Garrick Play)

I woke up this morning in South Boston, VA (still staying at the SoBo Inn for a bit longer) and went right to my Facebook account, a common practice. Not sure why it's the first thing I check in the morning; perhaps it validates that nothing too crazy happened overnight and there is still a semblance of normalcy in the world. Back to South Boston and why I'm here -- the new job is still going very well and I'll be re-opening the school in a couple of weeks. Just waiting on some computer cable to be installed and my admissions/job placement process to be completed.

Back to the point. First thing I noticed on Facebook this morning were wedding reception pictures posted by a W&M classmate, specifically author Sean Heuvel. Live from the Officers Club at Fort Belvoir. I had to laugh and make a pithy comment -- "hey an old karaoke haunt from LONG ago!"

Probably about 18 years for anyone keeping time.

I have tried over the years to obtain footage (mostly by my sister Carrie) that was taken of me singing - anything - just to prove that I did it once upon a time. Any footage is on VHS and I only know that it's at my parents house somewhere.

The funniest thing is that my singing comrades during the 90's might be surprised to learn that it has become a thing of the past for me. Never found a great spot in Newport News, although Elizabeth and I liked Chadwick's at Point Plaza back when we lived a stone's throw away. Many of my fellow songsters, have gone on to sing in bands (Five by Five comes to mind..ahem..Vicki! Billy Clemens is also rocking along, keeping the spirit of Cash and Haggard alive.) Some of my singing buddies are no longer with us - actually, more than I can count on one hand, possibly two.

With time to think tonight, and every night here, I took a trip down Memory Lane and ended up on the wooden platform of GW's in Old Town Alexandria. Back in the day, GW's was the open mike spot for country and our place to go on Sunday nights. Sunny usually won or placed high in the contests. She passed away a few years ago. Tommy was the classic country singer, complete with a ten gallon hat and stage name. He has moved back to the Ohio side of the Ohio/West Virginia line. We lost GW, also known as Gary Wayne Miller, last year. Heck, GW's is now the Rockit Grill. Point being, we'll never be able to relive this time, but it was SO MUCH FUN. After singing with the various bands, karaoke suddenly lost its luster, and it's little surprise that I essentially gave it up within a couple of years.

Some favorite moments included singing an eight minute rendition of "Mustang Sally" with Benny Dean and Southern Rain one New Year's Eve (1998?), a version complete with extended solos. Other memorable times for me included sitting in with a few of the bands at various honky tonks up and down Route 1.

During that time, my favorite guitarist to sing with was a dude named Garrick Alden. He played with City Slicker, and a couple of other bands. Didn't matter if you brought your voice to the stage or not -- when Garrick was playing, you were always going to sound good cause he rocked the house.

I found a recent video of Garrick and it's posted on the right. Just a minute long jam that gives one an idea of how talented he is. And yes, he has been a session player in Nashville. There's no way he'd remember me, but his playing popped up in my head this morning so I went looking for him tonight. Just glad to see that the old boy is still grinding his axe -- well!! Rock On Garrick!

Bateman Inducted into World Karate Hall of Fame

Adding another accolade to a long list of achievements, Jeff Bateman, the lifelong Hampton (VA) resident, karate instructor and owner of the Isshinkan Academy of Martial Arts, was recently inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.

Kyoshi Bateman (far right) with a group of medal
winning students at last year's Commonwealth Games

Over his long and illustrious career, Bateman has earned numerous awards and titles, while rising to the ranks of 8^th Degree black belt in karate and 7^th Degree black belt in Zen Okinawan Kobudo. Much of his training has been conducted under the guidance and tutelage of Master Tadashi Yamashita, with whom he has been affiliated since 1988.

While entering a Hall of Fame is not unusual for the 54-year old Bateman (he is already recognized as a Hall of Famer by 12 different sanctions), there were a couple of noteworthy twists at the most recent ceremony, which was held in Tannersville, PA this past June.

The first surprise for Bateman came when he saw the list of inductees.

“If you have ever seen the (1988) movie “Bloodsport,” the character that Jean-Claude Van Damme plays is a guy named Frank Dux. The movie is based on the true story of Dux (pronounced Dukes), who infiltrated the underground (and illegal) Kumite matches of Hong Kong, while gaining notoriety as a fighter for things like scoring the quickest knockout.”

At the World Karate Union ceremony, Dux was inducted next to Bateman (“he was one and I was two”), as both men were awarded the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award of Honor in testament to their 30-plus years of martial arts instruction.

The second special event came in the form of two more Hall of Fame inductions, to Bateman’s students, turned fledgling teachers, Nathan Luckado and Brandon Kolipano.

“That was the neatest thing,” said Bateman. “Martial arts is all about respect, dedication and loyalty. They make time out of their busy schedules to come out from Virginia Beach and Whaleysville volunteering to teach and help me. Both have been with me for over ten years.” Luckado and Kolipano were nominated by their mentor and inducted as Associate Instructors of the Year.

In the past year, Bateman has closed his dojo on North King St., but is now working in conjunction with the Hampton Parks and Recreation Department and operating his school on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Fort Monroe Community Center.

After over a year of peaceful negotiations, the city and the teacher came to an agreement that appears at face value to be symbiotic.

“They (Hampton Parks and Rec) wanted me to teach, and I wanted to be on Fort Monroe.”

 While the early membership numbers are low, Bateman retains optimism.

“Our student base is not there yet,” admits the kyoshi. “Some of our students from the old school came over. But the economy is tight, and it can be hard to ask someone to pay money for karate lessons when they might need it for...well, food!”

Speaking of the other positive aspects to be gained, Bateman continues. “I want to make lessons affordable for people. Our classes are right on the water, overlooking the Hampton River. The scenery is beautiful. The facility is beautiful. And the instruction is top notch.”

The Hampton dojo for Jeff Bateman’s Isshinkan Academy of Martial Arts has moved to the Ft. Monroe Community Center, which is located on the former Army base at 100 Stirwell Rd. Current classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:00. For more information, call their phone number at 757-544-KICK (5425), while the website can be found at www.jbkarate.com.

Remembering Joy Meyer - Update - 5K Race in Newport News (Mariners Museum on Sat. Aug. 17)

In Joy Meyer's memory, the Menchville cross-country team will be participating in the Smart Smiles 5K race next Saturday. It's at Mariners Museum park across from Warwick H.S. on August 17th. Check in is at 7, race starts at 8. High school students get in for $10, and for everyone else it's $20.

From teammate Sarah Scott - "After Joy passed away, our team decided we wanted to have a race to honor her. Because it's quite difficult to book a race this late in the season, we contacted the Smart Smiles Race directors to see if we could sort of use their race to gather together a bunch of teams and run for Joy. They said of course so now we are trying to spread the word. The Smart Smiles Race seems appropriate because everyone remembers Joy by her fantastic smile So if you can, please come out to run next Saturday, August 17th at 8 am, in honor of a remarkable girl. Teams are most welcome! We want as many people there to run with Joy as possible! Thank you!"

I have been fighting myself for the past few days. After the saddest event in my 16-plus year coaching career, I have wanted to write something about the passing of Joy Meyer, a 14-year old incoming freshman who briefly ran for our Menchville H.S. cross-country team before collapsing at practice and passing away last Thursday. When  I accepted this new position teaching for the Department of Corrections three weeks ago, I had to give up coaching the team, which was a tough decision, and one which has been noted here recently. 

In a million years, I never would have expected such a tragic event to occur. In the end it was nobody's fault, but rather one of those unfortunate and unavoidable events, the kind that we hear about happening (to somebody else) every few years -- the kind that makes you go -- wow, there was a person who was so full of life. In the short time I knew her, let there be no mistake. That person was Joy.

Being out of town, I missed Menchville's first day of practice after Joy's passing, which was yesterday. I'll also be hard pressed to be able to attend the service on Wednesday evening and funeral on Thursday. Thankfully, I was promised that if I wrote a statement recalling my time with Joy, it would be read at the team gathering. I did and it was. 

I probably have to apologize to a few people. Posting this does stand the risk of stepping on the privacy of the family and the sanctity of the team bond. Which is why I have been fighting myself. But there are still many positives which can occur because of Joy's life. One of them is the Memorial Fund, noted here from the Facebook page created in her memory. Please read and contribute if you are able. Below the Facebook section is what I had to write about my remembrance of Joy Meyer. Of course she left us too soon. Teammate Christian Gray, who at 17 is far beyond his years as a leader, role model and team co-captain had some wonderful things to say about Joy. But the best quote I have read so far came from her Gildersleeve Middle School classmate, Danielle Richard, who said.. "Imagine if you were looking at a pile of diamonds. Wouldn't you take the biggest and brightest one first?"

Makes sense when you think about it. And the Menchville team will continue to run with Joy.

R.I.P Joy Meyer We Love You

7 hours ago near Newport News

There is a Joy Meyer Memorial Fund that donations can be made to at the Riverside Health System Employees Credit Union. I believe all donations go there directly. I will not be handling donations of any kind. I'm sorry for the confusion. ~Danielle Richard

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  Glenn Woodell Donations can be made at the Riverside Health System Employees Credit Union or at the Hampton Roads Neurology office: 12200 Warwick Boulevard, Suite 110, Newport News, VA 23601. (757) 534-5100. The POC is Julie Rejzer (pronounced like 'razor').

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***

It’s amazing when someone is only a part of your life for a short time, yet leaves such a large impact. Like many of us, I only knew Joy for a couple of months, but her memory will stay with me for a very long time.

I remember our first meeting well, just because it was so memorable.

Back in June, a few of us visited Gildersleeve to promote our team. It was a great day as David, Sarah and Stephanie spoke to the 8^th graders about how great it was to be on the cross-country team. Following one of the presentations, we went to our table and were followed by quite a few students. In fact, about 42 people signed up that day, but the only name I remembered was that of the young lady who marched right up to me and announced – “Hi Coach, I’m Joy and I want to run.”

For about 10 minutes we had a nice talk. No, she had never run and wanted to know if it was hard. I told her, honestly, yes, but if you join, I promised her it would be fun. She enthusiastically signed up.

On the first day of conditioning, once again, she made a beeline right up to me. “Do you remember me?” Now, I am terrible with recalling names, but I wasn’t going to get cornered. “Yes I do. You’re Joy!” She was so happy to see that I did indeed know who she was and I was quite relieved to not get stumped.

I was only able to see practice for three weeks, but do recall the enthusiasm that Joy had for running. As the coaches have mentioned, she really lived up to her name. Her smile could light up a room and it looks like she was a great friend and enlightening presence to many. Although her time with us was short, I truly believe that her memory will last in our minds and hearts. My prayers are with Joy’s family, and I would like to make one request – that our team and Menchville cross-country family will dedicate this season to Joy’s memory. I’ll miss her greatly, but know that she has become a brighter light in a fantastic place.

Yorktown American Little Leaguers Win Virginia District 7 Title

I like these kind of stories. Perhaps covering little league baseball teams reminds me of my younger days in Alexandria, scouring the outfield, while sporting my Hank Aaron mitt and a maroon #4 Eugene Simpson and Sons uniform. Our Simpson teams only enjoyed limited success -- 7-17 during the two years I played, but these nine and ten year old youngsters from Yorktown, VA enjoyed more success. Here's the story of York American.   (From a recent article published in the York County/Poquoson Town Square section of the Daily Press)

The York County American (9-10) little league team capped a successful season by winning the District 7 championship in late June and earning a berth to the state championship tournament which started on July 17 at the Tuckahoe Sports Complex in Richmond.

For manager Nick LaBella and his team, the road to the state round was relatively smooth. The Americans won their opening contest, knocking off Northampton 14-6, and followed with a 13-9 win over their county mates from York National. In that game, Austin Reese, Dylan Kizer and Xavier Martin each drove in two runs.

This led to a semifinal showdown against Hampton Wythe, a game which brought out the big bats for the Americans, who blasted their way to a 25-5 win.

For the championship, the Americans drew a rematch with Northampton, who followed their initial loss to win the next two games and capture the losers bracket. Hungry for revenge, the challengers battled tough for four innings and were trailing 1-0 when the skies opened up, causing a rain delay.

Returning to the field at the Phoebus complex the next day, the Americans rediscovered their offensive firepower and pulled away with a 9-2 victory, and the district championship.

David Winer pitched 5 1/3 innings and struck out six to earn the win. Julian La Bella struck out the final two batters and added a two run triple. Connor Castle (RBI single). Seth Porter (RBI single). Xavier Martin (sacrifice fly). Christian Norris (two-run single) each provided clutch hits.

Heading to Richmond, Coach LaBella showed confidence in his squad.

“We have a real solid team. We’re deep in pitching – seven quality pitchers. That is the key for us getting to where we want to be. We field well and are just solid all around.”

The objective of the state tournament was to play well in the first round of pool play and earn a bid to the single elimination draw. Unfortunately, the Americans went 1-2 in the pool and did not make the next round.

In the first matchup, the Americans fell to Broadway 14-4. Although, they were bloodied, the team remained determined and followed with a 28-3 rout over Coeburn. In the Coeburn game,  LaBella (6-6, five runs) and Ryan Scheiderer (5 for 5, four runs, 4 RBI) stood out as the offensive heroes. Martin and Porter also added three hits and a pair of runs batted in.

But the victory celebration was short as the Americans were eliminated in the next game, a tough 8-5 loss to Cave Spring.

Coach LaBella was realistic about what went wrong. “We committed a lot of errors during the tournament that directly affected the outcome of each game. But, at 10 years old it happens,” He also noted the contributions on offense and defense from Blake Boudreaux and Austin Reese, who went 2-3 in the Coeburn game, while also striking out four in two innings as a pitcher.

But Coach LaBella retains hope for next season, if only based on this year’s competition..

“The two teams we lost to (Broadway and Cave Spring) advanced to the elimination bracket.”

"Pop" Pitts Track Classic Makes Debut

The inaugural Richard “Pop” Pitts Track Classic was held on Saturday at Todd Stadium in Newport News, VA. Named for the legendary Norfolk State basketball player, and later Menchville H.S. athletic director, the meet featured over 340 athletes between the ages of five and 18 competing in a full slate of events.

Pitts was on hand to fire the starting pistol for the first race. “Steve Lewis (former Menchville track coach) hired me in 1976 as an assistant and told me that I’d be his starter. I’ve started a lot of races since then.” 

Speaking of the origin of the meet, Pitts added that it is designed with a singular purpose.

“It gives kids who aren’t going to nationals (Junior Olympic national championships will be held next weekend in Greensboro, NC) a chance to have a culminating event for the summer.”

There were several outstanding performances in the younger age groups. DeJah Nunn (East End Flyers) won the Sub-Bantam (9 years old) 800-meter run with a time of 3:17.51. Michaela Rose of the F.I.A Ambassadors captured the Bantam (10 years old) 3000 meters with a time of 11:23.29.

Adriana Shockley (14.41) and Edward Richardson (13.31), also from the East End Flyers, won the 80-meter hurdles in the Midget (12) age group. Jasmine Tilmon, from the Virginia Elite DP squad, took the Midget girls 100-meter title in 13.32.

Clint Gault of Virginia Elite won the Youth (14) 3000 meters in 9:56.06.

Among local high school athletes, Carolyn Brown (Phoebus) won the girls 100 meters in the Young (17-18) category with a clocking of 12.29.