Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Blacksburg High School dominated the River Ridge District players of the year in three spring sports announced on Friday. Erin Bishop is the district’s girls soccer player of year, and Craig Huxtable is the boys soccer player of the year. Blacksburg’s Brice Abbott was named the River Ridge District baseball player of the year.
Bishop, a senior, has led the Bruins to the top spot in the district and scored 22 goals with 14 assists so far this season. Bishop was joined on the first team by teammates Bella Garza, Ginny Crawford, Charlotte Ellis, Elayna Weatherspoon and goalie Anna Dove. Christiansburg’s Ava Rose was also named to the RRD first-team.
Blacksburg’s Piper Berger and Tea Bissell were joined on the second-team by Christiansburg’s Madison Clark and Abby Saunders.
Cave Spring’s Erin Smith was named this year’s coach of the year.
Abbott was named to the RRD first-team for baseball at first base. The district player-of-the-year was joined on the first team by teammates Sam Szefc (pitcher and shortstop) and Major Marshall (catcher).
Christiansburg placed two on the first-team, Gavin Dow at designated hitter and Rocco Fizzano at pitcher.
Christiansburg had six named to the second-team. They included: Sam Dudash and Gavin Dow at the pitcher position, catcher Charlie Bolling, Rocco Fazzano at second and Ethan Wayman at third base. Blacksburg’s Reese Tyson was second-team outfielder.
Huxtable has helped lead the Blacksburg boys’ soccer team to another River Ridge District title. He has scored 12 goals with eight assists in 15 matches so this far this season.
His coach, Shelley Blumenthal was named the RRD coach of the year after leading the team to a 15-1 record and another appearance in the state 4D playoffs. He has won the RRD coach of the year award a record 16-times.
Huxtable was joined on the first-team by four teammates, Nathan Pratt, Paul Distler, Tommy Monoghan and Nathan Prate.
Christiansburg placed three on the first=team with Sami Selfe, Nick Litos and Luca Pickeral.
Keanan Kopp and Ethan Eshenmann gave Blacksburg two players on the second-team along with Christiansburg’s Gavin Rose, Hayden Yopp and Grey McDowell.
Christiansburg placed three players on the all-RRD softball first-team. Shortstop Addison Reason was joined by outfielder Aubrey Davis and first baseman Tyleigh Dillard. Blacksburg’s Claire McMahon was named to the first-team as a utility player.
Catcher Reagan Smith of Christiansburg was named to the second team along with Blacksburg outfielder Keely Semtner.
