Brentsville baseball ready for state playoffs

By Robert Daski

Published: June 2, 2008

STATE QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW CAPSULES

GROUP AA BASEBALL
Who: Poquoson (18-8) at Brentsville (22-2)
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
About Poquoson: The Region II runner-up, the Islanders reached the state quarterfinals last season. Sophomore left-hander Kyle Crockett is expected to start today. He has a 7-4 record, a 1.62 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 65 innings.
About Brentsville: The Tigers are in the state tournament for the first time since moving to Group AA in 2003. Brentsville’s top two hitters are junior first baseman Hayden Gilmer (.368, 5 home runs, 26 RBI), sophomore third baseman Justin Weaver (.400, 3 homers, 16 RBI) and senior outfielder Justin Frazier (.400, 27 RBI.). Brentsville’s top two pitchers are junior Rich Lindsay (6-0, 3.10 ERA, 54 strikeouts, one save) and senior Scott Betterly (8-1, 1.64, 75 strikeouts and one save).
GROUP AAA SOFTBALL
Who: Midlothian (20-5) at Battlefield (23-3)
When: Tonight, 5 p.m.
About Midlothian: The Trojans are led by junior shortstop Cay Manuel, who is the daughter of the team’s head coach, Denise Manuel, and sophomore catcher Rudy Edmonds.
About Battlefield: The Bobcats are in the state tournament for the first time since the school opened in 2004. The Bobcats’ top two hitters are junior catcher Courtney Liddle (.406, five homers, 14 RBI) and junior pitcher/outfielder Brittany Black (.406, six homers, 27 RBI).
Battlefield’s top two pitchers are senior Megan Sutphin (12-3, 0.62, 81 strikeouts) and Black (10-0, 0.32, 113 strikeouts).

GROUP AAA BOYS SOCCER
Who: Deep Run (19-2-1) at Osbourn Park (17-2-3)
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
About Deep Run: This is the sixth-year school’s first trip to states. The Wildcats feature three Division I signees in senior forward Brian Ownby (Virginia), senior goalie Cameron Murray (VMI) and senior defender Brandon Gray (VMI). Ownby, the Central Region Player of the Year, is in the under-18 National Team pool. Deep Run coach Steve Chapman is stepping down after the season for another job. He has been the program’s only coach. One of Deep Run’s regular-season victories came against Woodbridge.
About Osbourn Park: The Group AAA state runner-up last season, the Yellow Jackets defeated Osbourn Friday in overtime to claim the program’s second straight Northwest Region title. Senior goalie Joey Dennis, who has signed with Mt. Olive, is the team’s anchor on defense, while senior midfielder Anthony Payne, who has also signed with Mt. Olive, is the team’s leading goal scorer.

Who: Osbourn (14-6-1) at Thomas Dale (20-1)
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
About Osbourn: This is the Eagles’ first-ever state tournament appearance. Leading scorers are junior forward Moris Ramirez (13 goals, 8 assists) and junior midfielder Travis Pittman (seven goals). Senior goalie Chris Fenner has signed with Towson.
About Thomas Dale: The Knights won state titles in 2006 and 2006, going unbeaten in both those seasons. Thomas Dale’s only loss this season was to Hopewell. The Knights are 107-4 in the last five years and are led by junior forward Will Bates and senior midfielder Patrick Innes.
GROUP AA BOYS SOCCER
Who: Brentsville (12-5-3) at Jamestown (18-2)
When: Tonight, 6 p.m.
About Brentsville: The Tigers are making their first trip to the state tournament in 10 years and first ever as a Group AA program. Senior midfielders Julien Coy and Robbie Cronauer and junior forward Jimmy Ford were first-team all-district selections.
About Jamestown: The Eagles were a state semifinalist last season and are coached by a former player, Bobby O’Brien. Senior forwards Kramer Runager and Winston Matthieson lead the attack. The question mark will be in goal. Starting goalie Myles Antonini suffered a concussion a few weeks ago in a game, but could be back tonight.
GROUP AAA GIRLS SOCCER
Who: Battlefield (19-1-1) at Mills Godwin (17-1)
When: Tonight, 6 p.m.
About Battlefield: This is the fourth-year school’s first trip to states. Forwards Sahar Aflaki (31 goals, 10 assists) and Jessye Jewell (25 goals, 18 assists) lead the Bobcats’ attack. Goalie Kristen Norkus has 10 shutouts and has allowed only five goals.
About Mills Godwin: The Eagles have made the state tournament six straight years. Their only loss this season was to private school state champion Collegiate. Senior forward Anne Marie Cole, senior defender Andrea Keller, junior midfielder Anne Lumpkin and senior goalie Lindsay Rowe lead Mills Godwin.

Who: Deep Run (13-4-2) at Woodbridge (18-1-1)
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
About Deep Run: A very young team, the Wildcats are in the state tournament for the first time. Three of Deep Run’s losses were to Mills Godwin, while the other was to Cosby.
About Woodbridge: The Vikings are in states for the second straight season. Sophomore forward Kristen Lybert (29 goals, seven assists), senior midfielder Katie Douez (one goal, 11 assists) and senior defender Kathleen Smith lead the way. Smith was the Cardinal District Player of the Year.

STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, JUNE 3
State quartefinal schedule
Group AA baseball
Broad Run (21-4) at Powhatan (22-3-1), 5 p.m.
Waynesboro (17-6) at Abingdon (19-7), 7 p.m.
Poquoson (18-8) at Brentsville (22-2), 7 p.m.
Hidden Valley (21-4) at Alleghany (23-1), 5 p.m.

Group AAA softball
Loudoun Valley at Deep Run, 6 p.m.
Herndon at Hickory, 6 p.m.
Midlothian (20-5) at Battlefield (23-3), 5 p.m.
Woodside at Westfield, 6 p.m.
Group AAA boys soccer
Osbourn (14-6-1) at Thomas Dale (20-1), 7 p.m.
Robinson vs. Cox at Va. Beach Sportsplex, 7 p.m.
Deep Run (19-2-1) at Osbourn Park (17-2-3), 7 p.m.
Kecoughtan at Stone Bridge, 6 p.m.
Group AA boys soccer
Brentsville (12-5-3) at Jamestown (18-2), 6 p.m.
Northside at Blacksburg, 7 p.m.
Grafton at Park View, 6 p.m.
Hidden Valley at Turner Ashby, 6 p.m.
Group AAA girls soccer
Battlefield (19-1-1) at Mills Godwin (17-1), 6 p.m.
Westfield vs. Cox at Va. Beach Sportsplex, 5 p.m.
Deep Run (13-4-2) at Woodbridge (18-1-1), 7 p.m.
First Colonial at Robinson, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
State semifinal schedule
Group AA baseball at Caffee Park, Pulaski
Broad Run-Powhatan winner vs. Waynesboro-Abingdon winner, 10 a.m.
Poquoson-Brentsville winner vs. Hidden Valley-Alleghany winner, 1 p.m.

Group AAA softball at Westfield High School
Loudoun Valley-Deep Run winner vs. Herndon-Hickory winner, 4 p.m.
Midlothian-Battlefield winner vs. Woodside-Westfield winner, 7 p.m.
Group AAA girls soccer at Westfield High School
Battlefield-Mills Godwin winner vs. Westfield-Cox winner, 2 p.m.
Deep Run-Woodbridge winner vs. First Colonial-Robinson winner, 4 p.m.
Group AAA boys soccer at Westfield High School
Osbourn-Thomas Dale winner vs. Robinson-Cox winner, 6 p.m.
Deep Run-Osbourn Park winner vs. Kecoughtan-Stone Bridge winner, 8 p.m.
Group AA boys soccer at Radford
Brentsville-Jamestown winner vs. Blacksburg-Northside winner, 10 a.m.
Park View-Grafton winner vs. Hidden Valley-Turner Ashby winner, noon
SATURDAY, JUNE 7
State final schedule
Group AA baseball at Radford, 1 p.m.
Group AAA softball at Westfield, 4 p.m.
Group AAA girls soccer at Westfield, 1 p.m.
Group AAA boys soccer at Westfield, 3 p.m.
Group AA boys soccer at Radford, 10 a.m.