All-region lacrosse
Blacksburg and Christiansburg high schools are in their second year of playing varsity lacrosse and have placed two players on the Region D second team announced Thursday. Goalie Jamie Hollimion represented Blacksburg, while attacker Mathew Davidson was to the second team from Christiansburg.
On the girls’ side of the field, three players named to the all-region team. Katie Racek was named to the second team, while Kennedy Thomason and Zenna Carson was honorable mention.
Region 4D baseball
Blacksburg High School catcher Luke Goforth has been named to All-Region 4D baseball first-team. He was joined on the honorable mention list by teammates, pitchers Wesley McCoy and Colvin Colliver, who was also named honorable mention as a first baseman.
Region 4D soccer
Blacksburg High School had nine players named to the All-Region 4D boys’ soccer team. Forward Kade Wheeler was named to the first-team, along with teammates, Daniel Salom, Connor Cheynet, Stu Forsman and Nick Stilwell. Bruins named to the second team were: Sam Dickinson, Alex Mills and Henry Carman. Also, Jordan Stevens represented Blacksburg on the honorable mention team.
River Ridge girls’ soccer
Blacksburg placed seven players on the all-River Ridge girls’ soccer team announced Friday with cross-county rival adding five. Blacksburg’s first teamers included: Skyler Prosser, Eva Moeltner and Mazi Garza. Christiansburg first teamers were: Julia Johnson and Carly Walden. Second teamers from Blacksburg were: Kayla Monaghan, Morgan Cheynet, Julia Howland and Kinsey Verbrugge. Christiansburg had second teamers in: Haley Bragg, Jamie Adams and Michaela Weber.
Bailey, Bennett on All-Freshman Team
Justin’s World of Softball announced its’ All-Freshman Team on Friday, picking 19 rookies, including two Virginia Tech softball players in third baseman Kelsey Bennett and first baseman Jayme Bailey.
Bennett had arguably the best season by a freshman in school history, already owning many accolades, including ACC Freshman of the Year, first-team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman Team, NFCA first-team All-Region (Mid-Atlantic) and Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10.
The Georgia native finished with a .369 batting average, 14 home runs, 45 RBIs and a school-record .725 slugging percentage. Her 14 homers were the most by a freshman in program history.
Bailey was right up there with Bennett for one of the most historic years be a freshman in the maroon and orange, earning first-team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman Team, Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 and NFCA second-team All-Region (Mid-Atlantic).
The utility player, who also played second base in a handful of games, batted .380 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and a .497 on-base percentage. Her on-base percentage was the second-highest in school history and the top clip by a freshman.
Bennett and first-year coach Pete D’Amour are finalists for JWOS Freshman and Coach of the Year.
Hokie recognized for academics
Bashir Mosavel-Lo of the Virginia Tech track and field team was named to the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team in District 3, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The All-District team recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Mosavel-Lo will also be eligible to be voted on the upcoming Academic All-America Team, which will be released on June 27.
Mosavel-Lo has had a great sophomore campaign for the Hokies. The Richmond native finished fourth in the 800 meters at the ACC Indoor Championships and earned second team All-America honors with his showing in the 800 at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Outdoors, He helped the men secure their ninth ACC team title as he won his first ACC individual title with his time of 3 minutes, 13.49 seconds in the 800.
Yankees, chamber after hours
The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and the Pulaski Yankees are co-hosting Business After Hours at Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park on Thursday, June 6. The event will run from 5:30-7 p.m., with the Yankees providing light refreshments and entertainment options including corn hole, inflatables, and batting practice in the team’s hitting facility.
All Chamber members who attend the Business After Hours will receive two (2) flex tickets good for any 2019 regular season Pulaski Yankees home game.
RSVPs are requested by calling 674-1991 or emailing info@pulaskichamber.info.
Nine Hokies All-ACC preseason
The first of many preseason all-conference football squads came out on Wednesday courtesy of Athlon Sports. Virginia Tech landed nine players on the list, including five second-team selections.
Second-Team Offense
WR Damon Hazelton – Led Tech with 51 catches for 802 yards and eight TDs in 2018.
TE Dalton Keene – Owns 38 receptions for 508 yards with three TDs in 26 games (25 starts) for VT.
OL Christian Darrisaw – Earned Freshman All-American honors from 247 Sports in 2018.
Second-Team Defense
LB Rayshard Ashby – Honorable mention All-ACC selection in 2018, led Tech and ranked third in the ACC with 105 tackles.
Second-Team Specialists
P Oscar Bradburn – Honorable mention All-ACC pick in 2018 owns a 42.5-yard gross average with 47 punts inside the 20, in addition to 20 career punts of 50+ yards in 26 games with the Hokies.
Third-Team Defense
LB Dax Hollifield – Racked up 62 total tackles, 8.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks to go with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a true freshman a year ago.
Fourth-Team Offense
QB Ryan Willis – Finished third in the ACC with a 2.67 TD-to-INT ratio, fourth in passing yards per game (226.3 ypg), fourth in pass efficiency (138.0) and fifth in total offense (244.8 ypg) in 2018.
OL Silas Dzansi – Another in a long line of Fork Union grads for Tech. Started the final three games of 2018 at right tackle.
Fourth-Team Defense
S Reggie Floyd – Ranked second on the squad with 88 total tackles and tied for second with 9.5 as a junior in 2018.
Fireworks at Yanks’ games
The Pulaski Yankees are excited to announce fireworks will be lighting the sky above Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park this summer. The Yankees will host three post-game fireworks shows, with the first taking place on Opening Night June 21 presented by the Pulaski Motor Mile.
Star Country 94.9 will sponsor post-game fireworks on July 3, capping off the Fans Are Family Independence Day celebration presented by the Town of Pulaski. The third fireworks show will take place Friday, August 16 for the final Friday night home game of the regular season.