Colonial Forge senior Pete Reed would rather have his twin brother, Trey, with the Eagles’ track and field team full time.

But Trey is running sparingly this spring as he attempts to bulk up, heading into his freshman season with William & Mary’s football team.

So Pete is using the opportunity to emerge from his brother’s shadow.

Trey has been an all-Group AAA football and track performer and the Tribe awarded him a full scholarship.

Pete hasn’t earned the same type of recognition, but he took a step forward on Saturday.

He won the long jump, triple jump, 100 meters and 200 meters as the Eagles captured boys and girls Commonwealth District team titles on their home track.

“I miss him,” said Pete, who will compete for Virginia Military Institute’s track team next year. “But to be real about it, I’m trying to make a name for myself, which I’m doing.”

Pete had plenty of help on Saturday.

Desmond Weinberg–Jones won the 110 and 300 hurdles. He also finished second in the pole vault.

Senior David Pennesi won the 1,600, while fellow senior Corey Dabney captured the 3,200.

The Eagles also won the 3,200 relay on Friday, as they attempt to hit their stride heading into next Friday’s Northwest Region meet at the University of Virginia.

“I feel like we have a chance to fight for a win next week,” Weinberg–Jones said. “I feel like we’re coming out of districts really strong.”

Colonial Forge co-head coach Michael Porter said his girls may not have several “studs” who take top honors like the boys team, but they used their depth on Saturday to earn the crown.

Sophomore distance standout Frances Morales missed the meet with a foot injury, but several of her teammates stepped up.

Hailey Davidson won the discus. Freshman Crystal Jones won a title in the high jump. The Eagles also earned a win in the 3,200 relay.

But the Eagles’ depth carried them to the win over second-place Mountain View, 165–143.

As Wildcats coach Dave Davis watched four Eagles score points in the 3,200, the next-to-last race of the day, he said, “This is why I’m done.”

“We all stepped up to the plate,” said Megan Rebholz, who placed second in the 1,600 and 3,200. “We had a meeting on Friday and said, ‘Frances is out, but it doesn’t mean we’re out.’ We all just had to step up and do our best.”

The Wildcats made a strong push behind Kimberley Ficenec, Meshala Morton and Jenny Westerholm.

Ficenec won titles in the 400, 800 and 1,600. Morton captured the long jump, 100 and 200 and placed second in the 400. Westerholm won the 100 and 300 hurdles.

The 400 provided an interesting finish when Ficenec emerged at the end to edge Morton.

“Once we get on the track, whether you’re on my team or not,” Ficenec said, “It’s ‘Go time.’”

North Stafford’s Emily Cole won the 3,200 and the Wolverines’ girls captured the 400 and 1,600 relay titles. Stafford’s Ricky Martin won shot put and discus championships.

GIRLS MEET

Team scores: 1. Colonial Forge 165; 2. Mountain View 143; 3. Riverbend 79; 4. North Stafford 72 5. Stafford 66; 6. Brooke Point 54; 7. Albemarle 44; 8. Massaponax 31; 9. Orange 6.

Long jump: 1. Meshala Morton (MV) 17–4; 2. Savannah Osborne (Ma) 17–1; 3. Amanda Okani (CF) 15–10; 4. Emma Davis (MV) 15–10; 5. Victoria Atkins (Ri) 15–10; 6. Tnaja Briscoe (CF) 15–9; 7. Jeanne Rouse (MV) 15–7; 8. Brieona Booker (Al) 15–5.

High jump: 1. Crystal Jones (CF) 5–4; 2. Sydnei Foster (NS) 5–3; 3. Kailah Boateng (BP) 5–3; 4. Jenny Westerholm (MV) 5–0; 5. Kimberley Ficenec (MV) 5–0; 6. Amiaya Carey (St) 5–0; 7. Lauren Lieske (CF) 4–8; 8. Abby Ince (CF) 4–6.

Triple jump: 1. Osborne (Ma) 36–6; 2. Okani (CF) 35–10; 3. Booker (Al) 33–8; 4. Paige Ragsdale (Ri) 32–11; 5. Mia Reed (CF) 32–9; 6. Westerholm (MV) 32–9; 7. Briscoe (CF) 32–4; 8. Davis (MV) 32–0.

Shot put: 1. India Kithcart (St) 36–4; 2. Kiara Tucker (Ri) 36–1; 3. Feyth Scott (Ri) 34–9; 4. Hailey Davidson (CF) 33–0; 5. Tamera Owens (BP) 31–6; 6. Ebony Pennant (St) 31–4; 7. Camille Reid (St) 29–7; 8. Mariah Smith (MV) 29–4.

Discus: 1. Davidson (CF) 108–9; 2. Pennant (St) 104–5; 3. Tucker (Ri) 102–5; 4. Owens (BP) 95–0; 5. Kithcart (St) 94–0; 6. Audre Braxton (St) 92–7; 7. Rebecca Vilcheck (Or) 89–11; 8. Quaneisha Banks (Or) 84–11.

Pole vault: 1. Casey Russell (Al) 10–0; 2. Ashley Hinton (St) 10–0; 3. Michaela Connally (NS) 8–6; 4 (tie). Kaitlynn Beaulieu (CF), Emily Reinwald (MV), Katie Pilkington (NS) and Christina White (R) 7–6; 8. Kara Fairfax (St) 7–6.

100: 1. Morton (MV) 12.43; 2. Foster (NS) 12.83; 3. Gabren Webb (Ri) 12.87; 4. Zaire Canty (NS) 12.95; 5. Dolores Sims (BP) 12.97; 6. Osborne (Ma) 13.03; 7. Rouse (MV) 13.14; 8. Chantel Hardy (Ri) 13.29.

200: 1. Morton (MV) 25.49; 2. Webb (Ri) 26.12; 3. Rouse (MV) 26.47; 4. Osborne (Ma) 26.55; 5. Sims (BP) 27.01; 6. Tiana Hughes (BP) 27.04; 7. Briscoe (CF) 27.14; 8. Khadijah Johnson (CF) 27.33.

400: 1. Ficenec (MV) 57.20; 2. Morton (MV) 57.28; 3. Rouse (MV) 59.10; 4. Erica Battle (NS) 59.99; 5. Briscoe (CF) 1:00.06; 6. Whitney Hicks (NS) 1:01.82; 7. Seisha Scott (Ri) 1:02.25; 8. Courtney Williams (CF) 1:02.51.

800: 1. Ficenec (MV) 2:16.43; 2. Lilly Moore (CF) 2:24.99; 3. Nicole Meservey (CF) 2:25.26; 4. Graciela Slyer (CF) 2:26.34; 5. Courtney Brubaker (Ri) 2:28.46; 6. Julianne Rogers (St) 2:28.61; 7. Amanda Patterson (BP) 2:31.70; 8. Bianca Morales (MV) 2:36.34.

1,600: 1. Ficenec (MV) 5:13.23; 2. Megan Rebholz (CF) 5:15.56; 3. Ciera Ulan (Al) 5:18.15; 4. Jenna Walker (CF) 5:20.45; 5. Allison Huschke (Al) 5:21.12; 6. Shaina Manuel (CF) 5:32.67; 7. Casey Soper (Ri) 5:39.67; 8. Rain McKemie (Or) 5:41.60.

3,200: 1. Emily Cole (NS) 11:19.68; 2. Rebholz (CF) 11:31.54; 3. Hannah Lowery (St) 11:42.44; 4. Manuel (CF) 11:48.71; 5. Walker (CF) 11:57.56; 6. Allison Taylor (CF) 11:59.19; 7. Jordan Angers (MV) 12:28.13; 8. McKemie (Or) 12:32.70.

100 hurdles: 1. Westerholm (MV) 15.77; 2. Boateng (BP) 16.48; 3. Jamesa Jones (CF) 17.34; 4. Aliyah Cox (CF) 17.58; 5. Carey (St) 17.60; 6. Bethany West (BP) 17.91; 7. Christina White (Ri) 17.94; 8. Victoria Atkins (Ri) 18.14.

300 hurdles: 1. Westerholm (MV) 45.93; 2. Ragsdale (R) 49.04; 3. Johnson (CF) 49.95; 4. J. Jones (CF) 50.15; 5. White (Ri) 50.86; 6. Minna McFarland (CF) 51.19; 7. Alexus Anderson (Al) 51.74; 8. Boateng (BP) 52.22.

400 relay: 1. North Stafford 49.39; 2. Brooke Point 49.78; 3. Colonial Forge 50.76; 4. Massaponax 51.71; 5. Stafford 51.89; 6. Riverbend 52.42; 7. Mountain View 53.78; 8. Albemarle 54.31.

1,600 relay: 1. North Stafford 4:02.82; 2. Colonial Forge 4:08.67; 3. Mountain View 4:12.44; 4. Albemarle 4:17.64; 5. Brooke Point 4:23.65; 6. Riverbend 4:31.37; 7. Stafford 4:40.53.

3,200 relay: 1. Colonial Forge (Taylor, Kaitlynn Beaulieu, Moore, Rebholz) 9:45.20; 2. Albemarle 10:04.91; 3. Mountain View 10:25.08; 4. Stafford 10:29.91; 5. North Stafford 10:41.82; 6. Riverbend 10:50.81; 7. Brooke Point 11:04.34; 8. Orange 11:15.23.

BOYS MEET

Team scores: 1. Colonial Forge 170; 2. North Stafford 111; 3. Mountain View 94; 4. Stafford 75; 5. Albemarle 73; 6. Brooke Point 53; 7. Riverbend 50; 8. Massaponax 25; 9. Orange 8.

Long jump: 1. Pete Reed (CF) 22–11; 2. Joe Deberry (CF) 20–4; 3. Elijah Brown (Ri) 20–4; 4. Nicholas Troche (Al) 20–1; 5. T.J. Williams (NS) 19–1; 6. Jeramey Manuel (BP) 18–11; 7. Vincent Hunter (MV) 18–10; 8. Zachary Sims (Ma) 18–8.

High jump: 1. Zach Zeutlau (NS) 6–0; 2. Akeem Jean–Charles (CF) 5–10; 3. Paul White (Ri) 5–6; 4. Matt Hottle (BP) 5–6; 5. Ryan Hennessy (MV) 5–6; 6 (tie). Deberry (CF) and Sam Francis (NS) 5–4.

Triple jump: 1. Reed (CF) 45–7; 2. Williams (NS) 43–10; 3. Darin Council (NS) 41–11; 4. Manasseh Bowles (NS) 41–1; 5. Manuel (BP) 39–6; 6. Donald Osafo (MV) 39–2; 7. Shawn Austin (BP) 39–1; 8. Deberry (CF) 38–11.

Shot put: 1. Ricky Martin (St) 47–3; 2. Chris Lansford (St) 46–9; 3. Council (NS) 44–9; 4. Vinny Mihota (Ma) 44–5; 5. Joe Cline (BP) 44–3; 6. Cullen Guthrie (NS) 42–11; 7. Sean Bruffey (Ri) 41–10; 8. Robert Beckwith (St) 41–3.

Discus: 1. Martin (St) 136–0; 2. Ben Zaccagnino (Ri) 132–1; 3. Council (NS) 122–5; 4. Mihota (Ma) 122–1; 5. Kyle Sullivan (St) 121–9; 6. Bryce Newcomer (Ri) 120–10; 7. Isaac Nichols (MV) 118–2; 8. Adam Pruitt (St) 116–7.

Pole vault: 1. Trynity Ojeda (NS) 12–3; 2. Desmond Weinberg–Jones (CF) 11–6; 3. Josh Brunson (MV) 11–6; 4. Krister Briehl (Al) 10–0; 5. Liam Davis (St) 9–6; 6. Jaymz Jackson (Ri) 9–0; 7. Jake Phillips (Al) 9–0; 8. Jacob Butt (NS) 8–6.

100: 1. Reed (CF) 11.02; 2. Kendall Hill (MV) 11.35; 3. Avery Price (CF) 11.55; 4. Jean–Charles (CF) 11.56; 5. James Villien (Al) 11.64; 6. Sims (Ma) 11.73; 7. Tony Kemp (St) 11.80; 8. Robert Finley (MV) 11.88.

200: 1. Reed (CF) 22.31; 2. Hill (MV) 22.83; 3. Justin Crabbe (St) 23.27; 4. Neil Deabreu (BP) 23.38; 5. Brandon Watts (MV) 23.44; 6. Price (CF) 23.56; 7. Bowles (NS) 23.66; 8. Trenton Day (Or) 23.82.

400: 1. Crabbe (St) 50.37; 2. Robert Fast (NS) 50.46; 3. Day (Or) 51.68; 4. Watts (MV) 52.08; 5. Brown (Ri) 52.27; 6. Jeremiah Fletcher (St) 52.80; 7. Mouad Rais (NS) 53.04; 8. Lemuel Howard (CF) 53.18.

800: 1. Ryan Thomas (Al) 1:55.69; 2. Ricky Cappetta (CF) 1:57.35; 3. David Pennesi (CF) 1:58.23; 4. Adam Visokay (Al) 1:58.26; 5. Jesus Amezquita (MV) 1:59.30; 6. Brian O’Loughlin (CF) 1:59.74; 7. Nic Wolfe (MV) 1:59.97; 8. Luke Lysher (St) 2:00.20.

1,600: 1. Pennesi (CF) 4:23.62; 2. Amezquita (MV) 4:25.59; 3. O’Loughlin (CF) 4:26.09; 4. Ben Deal (A) 4:28.93; 5. Shaquon Wilkins (Ri) 4:29.66; 6. Joey Abbatiello (St) 4:30.34; 7. Garrett Horne (Ri) 4:34.72; 8. Chris Springer (Al) 4:38.36.

3,200: 1. Corey Dabney (CF) 9:49.83; 2. Robert Walker (BP) 9:50.02; 3. Garrett Goldstone (NS) 9:50.76; 4. Zach Gentry (Al) 9:51.24; 5. Wilkins (Ri) 9:57.94; 6. Chris Rosati (CF) 10:06.93; 7. Zachary Batt (NS) 10:12.37; 8. Ben Ramirez (St) 10:16.81.

110 hurdles: 1. Weinberg–Jones (CF) 15.51; 2. Sims (Ma) 15.64; 3. B.J. Northam (MV) 16.03; 4. Jacob Simons (Al) 16.39; 5. Francis (NS) 16.43; 6. Matt Hottle (BP) 16.52; 7. Jordan McCall (NS) 16.55; 8. Odera Okani (CF) 16.63.

300 hurdles: 1. Weinberg–Jones (CF) 40.76; 2. Northam (MV) 40.78; 3. Ojeda (NS) 42.22; 4. Hottle (BP) 43.12; 5. Simons (Al) 43.49; 6. David Aguilar (CF) 44.03; 7. Francis (NS) 44.55; 8. McCall (NS) 44.56.

400 relay: 1. Mountain View 44.50; 2. Albemarle 44.62; 3. Brooke Point 45.64; 4. North Stafford 46.06; 5. Riverbend 46.75; 6. Massaponax 47.08; 7. Stafford 49.60.

1,600 relay: 1. Mountain View 3:26.15; 2. Colonial Forge 3:30.32; 3. Albemarle 3:31.98; 4. North Stafford 3:33.04; 5. Brooke Point 3:36.91; 6. Stafford 3:43.22; 7. Riverbend 3:43.73.

3,200 relay: 1. Colonial Forge (Dabney, Pennesi, O’Loughlin, Cappetta) 7:58.47; 2. Albemarle 8:02.60; 3. Stafford 8:04.08; 4. North Stafford 8:16.64; 5. Brooke Point 8:16.64; 6. Mountain View 8:49.85; 7. Riverbend 8:57.64; 8. Orange 9:36.63.

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
tcoghill@freelancestar.com

Chargers starting pitching Jo–Ellen Cabrera struck out 12 Blue Devils and crushed a three-run home run to pace the Chancellor softball team to a 4–2 victory over Culpeper in the Battlefield District tiebreaker for regional seedings at Eastern View Saturday.

Cabrera limited Culpeper to four hits on the mound, and had two hits at the plate. Laura Phoebus had a hit and an RBI. Taylor Hedrick and Tessa Bunting each had a hit and a run scored.

For the Blue Devils, Miranda Cropp had 10 strikeouts and Erica Damone went 3-for-3 with a run scored.

In the Region I playoffs at King George High School Monday, Chancellor (15–6, 13–2) will play play Spotsylvania at 5 p.m., followed by Culpeper against Caroline.

R H E
Chancellor 0000 040 4 7 2
Culpeper 0020 000 2 4 2
JO-ELLEN CABRERA and Elaine Wood. MIRANDA CROPP and Colby Mocarski

GIRLS TENNIS
Riverbend 5, Franklin County 1

Jessie Walthall recorded a straight set victory Saturday to help Riverbend earn its first ever Northwest Region AAA title as the Bears defeated Franklin County.

Taylor Nichols, Julia Klaczynski, Katherine Johnson and Kara Perusse also won singles matches for Riverbend (23-0).

Leanna Cantor tallied Franklin County’s lone match win.

Nichols will play in the regional individual tournament next week. Also, Nichols and Klaczynski, who has not dropped a game in the entire regional tournament, will participate in the event as a doubles team.

The Bears host the first round of the state tournament May 29.

Singles: Taylor Nichols (R) d. Whitney Amos 6-1, 6-0, Julia Klaczynski (R) d. Nora Ferguson 6-0, 6-0, Katherine Johnson (R) d. Taylor Ranson 6-1, 6-0, Leanne Cantor (FC) d. Halley Edwards 6-3, 6-1, Kara Perusse (R) d. Kayla Anderson 6-1, 6-3, Jessie Walthall (R) d. Emily Philpott 6-1, 6-4.

It is the policy of The Free Lance–Star to correct factual errors in a timely fashion. We welcome your calls at 540/374-5400.

COMMONWEALTH
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Stafford 2, North Stafford 0
Riverbend 4, Mountain View 0
Colonial Forge 4, Brooke Point 0
Albemarle 8, Orange 5
Thursday’s semifinals
Colonial Forge 7, Riverbend 0
Stafford 16, Albemarle 6
Friday’s final
Colonial Forge 3, Stafford 1
Friday’s consolation game
Albemarle 8, Riverbend 5

COMMONWEALTH
Tuesday’s quarterfinal
Stafford 3, Massaponax 2
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Albemarle 2, Riverbend 0
North Stafford 17, Brooke Point 1
Colonial Forge 4, Orange 3
Thursday’s semifinals
North Stafford 3, Stafford 2
Albemarle 4, Colonial Forge 2
Friday’s final
North Stafford 1, Albemarle 0
Friday’s consolation game
Colonial Forge 3, Stafford 2

COMMONWEALTH
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
North Stafford 1, Riverbend 0 (N. Stafford wins 4–3 in PKs)
Colonial Forge 9, Orange 2
Albemarle 4, Stafford 0
Massaponax 2, Mountain View 1
Thursday’s semifinals
Colonial Forge 4, North Stafford 2
Albemarle 4, Massaponax 2
Monday’s final
Albemarle at Colonial Forge
Monday’s consolation game
North Stafford at Massaponax

COMMONWEALTH
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Mountain View 1, Riverbend 0
Colonial Forge 7, Stafford 0
Massaponax 3, North Stafford 2 (Mass. won 4–2 in PKs)
Albemarle 11, Brooke Point 0
Thursday’s semifinals
Albemarle 2, Mountain View 1 (Albemarle won 4–3 on PKs)
Colonial Forge 2, Massaponax 0
Monday’s final
Colonial Forge at Albemarle
Monday’s consolation
Massaponax at Mountain View

BATTLEFIELD
Wednesday’s semifinals
James Monroe 5, Courtland 0
Eastern View 5, Culpeper 0
Friday’s final
James Monroe 5, Eastern View 4
Thursday’s consolation
Courtland 5, Culpeper 2

NORTHWEST REGION
Wednesday’s semifinal
Riverbend 5, Colonial Forge 2
Friday’s semifinal
Franklin County 5, Broad Run 0
Today’s final
Franklin Co. at Riverbend

NORTHWEST REGION
Friday’s quarterfinals
Potomac at Colonial Forge
Forest Park at Battlefield
North Stafford 7, Broad Run 4
Today’s quarterfinal
Mountain View at Osbourn Park, 6

The Baltimore Orioles have blindsided baseball’s experts, boasting the American League’s best record (26–14) after winning last night’s series opener 2–1 on Nick Markakis’ 11th-inning solo home run. This despite a mediocre 4.05 earned-run average from their starting pitchers and the second-most errors (39) in the big leagues. Leading the majors in home runs (62) and bullpen ERA (2.09) helps mitigate those shortcomings.

Meanwhile, a pitching staff with baseball’s best overall ERA (2.90) and most strikeouts (341) has allowed the Washington Nationals to hang around the top of the National League East standings, compensating for an injury-riddled lineup that has produced a meager .243 team batting average (.220 with runners in scoring position).

If you’re a fan of either team (or both), savor this weekend’s three-game series at Nationals Park and the return set for June 22–24 at Camden Yards. A World Series rematch seems farfetched—at least this year.

Oh, there was plenty for fans of both teams in Friday night’s late-arriving crowd of 36,680 to cheer.

If not for Texas’ Josh Hamilton, Baltimore’s Adam Jones might be the American League MVP leader, and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg is arguably baseball’s most dominant pitcher not named Justin Verlander. If the Orioles’ young pitchers mature and the Nationals can stay healthy, each team seems poised for future success.

And don’t discount the value of veteran managers Davey Johnson and Buck Showalter infusing confidence and fundamentals into young teams with no pedigrees. Johnson has a World Series ring and the No. 2 winning percentage (.562) among living managers, while Showalter laid the groundwork for future World Series appearances in New York, Arizona and Texas. That helps explain how Baltimore has baseball’s best road record (14–5) and Washington is still 10–7 in one-run games.

Still, it’s hard to imagine either team (neither of which has experienced a 21st-century playoff race) sustaining this pace for four more months. To constitute a real contender (even in a season of expanded playoffs), it might be necessary to merge the franchises into a mini-all-star team.

Imagine a rotation dominated by Washington’s Strasburg (3–1, 2.25 ERA), Gio Gonzalez (5–1, 2.22) and hard-luck Jordan Zimmermann (2–4, 2.58), with Baltimore’s Taiwanese rookie, Wei–Yin Chen (4–0, 2.45) and Jason Hammel (4–1, 2.68), with the Orioles’ Jim Johnson (22 straight saves converted) closing. That doesn’t even include Jake Arrieta and Edwin Jackson, who pitched brilliantly Friday night.

They could pitch to the Orioles’ gold glove-winner Matt Wieters, who has eight homers and can give Buster Posey a run for best young catcher.

Put Washington’s Adam LaRoche (.327, 30 RBIs) and Ryan Zimmerman (struggling at .232 but great with the glove) on the corners of the infield, with Baltimore’s Robert Andino (.268) and J.J. Hardy (nine homers) up the middle, with Nationals phenom Bryce Harper (.247) in left field and Baltimore’s Jones (13 homers, gold glove defense) in center and Markakis (seven) in right. Let Baltimore’s Wilson Betemit DH until Washington’s Michael Morse or Jayson Werth comes off the disabled list.

These franchises are intertwined, anyway, by more than the regional TV network that broadcasts both their games.

Orioles backup first baseman Nick Johnson was Montreal’s best player when the Expos relocated to D.C. in 2005. A gruesome broken leg caused him to miss the 2007 season and hastened the end of his stay, but he said before the game that “I’ve still got a lot of friendships over there,” citing Zimmerman in particular, and that he’s happy for the Nationals’ success.

“I read the paper. I pay attention,” he said.

Davey Johnson, the Nationals’ skipper, returns the favor. He played eight seasons for the Orioles and managed them to their last winning season, in 1997. Peter Angelos, in his infinite wisdom, fired Johnson on the same day he won the 1997 AL manager of the year award, and after Johnson got past the snub, he suffered along with his former team from afar.

“Any time you play for a club, you have great regard for that club. They become your favorite, and you want to see them do well,” said Johnson, 69. “I’ve followed them since I was a teenager, and that was a long time ago. I’m really happy they’re playing great, sitting at the top of their division—a very tough division.”

Johnson isn’t even the only former Oriole to manage the Nationals. Their first skipper was Frank Robinson, whom the Orioles honored with a statue outside Camden Yards last month.

Asked about his favorite Oriole memories, Johnson said he cherished the team’s off-field shenanigans. He cited a party after winning the 1966 World Series, when he and catcher Andy Etchebarren noted Robinson (that year’s AL MVP) at the bottom of a filled swimming pool.

“We both jumped in the pool and saved him,” Johnson said. “He didn’t know how to swim, and he was nothing but muscle, so that was a struggle but we dang sure weren’t going to let him drown.”

At the moment, both Johnson’s current employer and his former one have their heads above water. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
sdeshazo@freelancestar.com

It had been five years since Colonial Forge hoisted the Commonwealth District baseball tournament championship trophy.

On Friday night, the top-seeded Eagles got back in the act after outlasting sixth-seeded Stafford,

3–1, in a strong performance by both teams. It is the school’s fourth tournament title.

“This is a very loose group,” Eagles coach Shawn Szakelyhidi said. “They don’t get nervous and they have a great time. I’m really proud of them.”

After crafty reliever Colton Steber struck out the Indians’ Shane Haley to close out the victory, Colonial Forge’s players charged to the mound and piled on top of each other.

“This feels really great,” said Eagles first baseman Scott Gates, one of eight seniors on the squad. “It’s good to be undisputed champs.”

The tournament title comes on the heels of the Eagles’ regular season championship and gives them a boost of confidence heading into the upcoming Northwest Region playoffs.

Colonial Forge (18–5) gets a first-round bye and will play a home game a week from Monday against a team to be determined.

Stafford (7–14), which pounded No. 2 seed Albemarle, 16–6, on Thursday, will host a regional first-round game next Thursday.

“We knew we had the capability to do this at the beginning of the season,” said Eagles designated hitter Chase Boster. “Pitching depth is what takes you through these tournaments. That’s what we have and that’s what Stafford has.”

Pitching was a key ingredient in Friday’s success, but solid defense and timely hitting also helped fuel Colonial Forge’s victory.

Boster and Carter Siweck were big keys on the mound in the tournament’s first two rounds. Against Stafford, it was more of a committee approach.

Corey Schaefer made his first start of the year and blanked the Indians for four innings. Sophomore John Gardner pitched a strong fifth, and then Steber preserved the win with four strikeouts in the last two frames.

The Eagles’ offense struck early and bunched all three runs in two innings. After that, the pitching and defense took over, although Stafford made things interesting late in the game.

In the bottom of the second, Boster walked and Anthony Malocu singled up the middle. Gates then followed with a drive to the gap in left center to score both runners.

In the third, the Eagles added two more runs on RBI hits by Boster and Cole Migliorini. Migliorini drove in Cameron Parks, who had led off the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a bunt by Lucas Behning.

After David Edwards flied out to center, Boster brought home courtesy runner Matt Jackson with a hard-hit grounder past short.

“You always want to see a little more offense, and tonight I thought we struck the ball well,” Szakelyhidi said.

Despite the 3–0 deficit, Stafford showed its mettle. The Indians got runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth, but were able to capitalize just once.

In the fifth, designated hitter Niko Cribbs singled and made it to third after a drive to right by Haley, but was tagged out at the plate on a steal attempt.

Things looked bright again for the Indians when back-to-back doubles by Trejon Smith and Cody Beacon produced their only run in the sixth. But Steber ended the threat with a pair of crucial strikeouts.

“I pretty much bore down and composed myself,” said Steber. “I just did what I do.”

Despite the loss, Stafford coach Tommy Harrison was pleased with the Indians’ performance.

“We got down early and didn’t swing the bats really well” Harrison said. “But I’m happy with the way we kept battling. There’s a lot of teams that are done right now, but we still have a game on Thursday.”

R H E
Stafford 0000 010 1 6 1
Colonial Forge 0120 000 3 6 1
ADAM SHARROW, Skip Saylers (4) and Matt Yelverton. COREY SCHAEFER, John Gardner (5), Colton Steber (6) and Drew Mikula.

Steve Franzello: 540/374-5440
sports@freelancestar.com

COLONIAL FORGE 3, STAFFORD 2
Colonial Forge’s Morgan Kyer went 2-for-4 with a home run and knocked in all three Colonial Forge runs to help the Eagles to a 3–2 win against Stafford in the Commonwealth District softball tournament consolation game on Friday.
With the win, Colonial Forge advances to Thursday’s Northwest Region first round.
Lauren and Ashley Vastano each had a hit and an RBI, and Ashley Parker provided a double for the Eagles (10–12).
Dana Jacobs and Kristen Weadon each supplied a hit and a run scored, and Megan Reed added an RBI for Stafford.

R H E
Colonial Forge 0001 020 3 6 1
Stafford 2000 000 2 6 1
LEXI MARKERT–SABANDO and Morgan Kyer. MEGAN REED and Kristen Weadon.

CHANCELLOR 3, SPOTSYLVANIA 0
Elaine Wood had a home run and scored two runs and Heather McDaniel added two hits and an RBI to help Chancellor get a Battlefield District win.
With the win and Culpeper’s loss on Wednesday, the Chargers and Blue Devils finished in a tie for first place and will play a tiebreaker game today, at 10 a.m., at Eastern View. The winner gets the top seed in the district tournament and an automatic berth in the Region I tournament.
Taylor Hedrick provided two hits for Chancellor (14–6, 12–2).
Makayla Baker and Allyson Sharpe had two hits each for the Knights.

R H E
Chancellor 0111 000 3 8 2
Spotsylvania 0000 000 0 8 4
JO-ELLEN CABRERA and Riley Pates, Elaine Wood (3). JEN BONALEWICZ, Makayla Baker (5) and Casey Scheaffer.

KING GEORGE 8,
JAMES MONROE 0
Pitchers Taylor Brandts and Courtney Beck combined to fan 11 Yellow Jackets (12–8, 7–7) batters as the Foxes ended their season with a victory.
On offense, Beck had two doubles and Brandts a triple. Kari McCullough went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Katelyn O’Campo connected for a double.

R H E
King George 4300 001 8 11 0
James Monroe 0000 000 0 1 5
TAYLOR BRANDTS, Courtney Beck (5) and Monica Brandts. TERRY McCULLOUGH, Kathleen MacIndoe (3) and L. Swain.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS
SOFTBALL
CAROLINE 9, CULPEPER 1
CAROLINE 4, COURTLAND 3
Caroline’s Abby Morrow drove in three runs and held the first-place Blue Devils to one hit in the opener. Paige Simlucik was 2 for 2 with four RBIs.
In the nightcap, Courtney Didlake doubled home a run and scored for Caroline (13–7, 9–5 Battlefield District).

R H E
Culpeper 0000 010 1 1 1
Caroline 0012 06x 9 6 2
MIRANDA CROPP, Carolyn Campbell and Colby McCarski. ABBY MORROW and Courtney Didlake.

R H E
Courtland 0200 100 3 — —
Caroline 0030 01x 4 — —
JENNA HENDLEY and Lea Rose. ABBY MORROW and Courtney Didlake.

LOUISA 3, POWHATAN 2
Morgan Kocolis scored the winning run in the ninth inning as Louisa won the first-place playoff game for the Jefferson District title.
McKenzie Riner was 2-for-4 with a two-RBI triple in the seventh inning that tied the game for the Lions.
Louisa (18–3) has a first-round district tournament bye. It plays Tuesday in a district semifinal at Charlottesville.

R H E
Powhatan 001 001 000 2 7 2
Louisa 000 000 201 3 7 2
RACHEL WALTERS and Christina Boyles. Brianna Cox, BRITTANY WRATCHFORD (6) and Haley Goad.

BY JUSTIN RICE

North Stafford pitcher Kelsie Barker said she was tired. Sure, softball pitchers are accustomed to high pitch counts and long games, but 24 innings over three days is a lot to ask even for a pitcher as strong as Barker.

If she was worn out like she claimed, Barker certainly didn’t pitch that way on Friday.

The Wolverines’ senior ace threw 10 shutout innings and Jess Nowak singled in the game’s only run, leading North Stafford to a 1–0 win against Albemarle and the school’s second straight Commonwealth District tournament title.

The Wolverines (20–2) have a bye in the Northwest Region tournament first round and won’t play again until Memorial Day.

So Barker will have a long time to recuperate after a 12-inning game Thursday and last night’s 10-inning marathon.

“You get tired,” said Barker, who struck out 12 and scattered three hits with no walks. “I was definitely tired. I was sore this morning. But adrenaline gets you going.”

Barker was outstanding, and Nowak was able to earn a bit of redemption with her one-out, game-winning single in the 10th.

The senior shortstop was at the plate with two outs in the fifth inning and the bases loaded—the best chance North had to score in the game’s first nine innings.

She struck out on three pitches.

“I started dwelling on it, but I realized I needed to let it go,” Nowak said. “Usually I’m good at just letting it go. It’s over; move on.”

Sam Barbarczuk hit a one-out single in the 10th and took second on an error. She then made a heads-up base-running decision, returning to second and avoiding a tag on Julia Barbarczuk’s grounder to short.

That brought Nowak to the plate with the winning run at second and a chance to erase that earlier strikeout.

She lined a two-strike pitch back up the middle, and Sam Barbarczuk slid into home under a high throw, setting off the Wolverines’ celebration.

“I was just looking for a strike,” Nowak said. “I’m going to look for my pitch, choke up and get that run in.”

North Stafford coach Pam Kantor knew—even with the missed opportunity earlier—Nowak was the player who would get the run home.

“She’s my best contact hitter; she always puts it in play,” Kantor said. “I never have to tell her anything. Jess knows what to do, it’s just a matter of her getting it done.”

Kantor wasn’t worried about Barker getting it done, either.

Rain mixed up the district tournament schedule this week. The contests that were to be played Tuesday, Thursday and Friday turned into games on three straight days.

Barker pitched only two innings in a five-inning quarterfinal win against Brooke Point, but she had to pitch 12 frames on Thursday, when Stafford took the Wolverines to extra innings.

The Patriots may have thought they could take advantage of fatigue. Instead, they got one of Barker’s most gutsy efforts.

She retired 12 of the first 13 batters she faced—the lone exception a fourth-inning hitter who reached on an error, but was then called out for leaving base early.

Albemarle’s three hits were scattered over three separate innings, no Patriot reached third base, and Barker never pitched to more than four hitters in any one frame.

“Twenty-four innings is a lot. I could see her getting a little bit tired,” Kantor said. “But when the runners got on, that glove was still popping. Kelsie wasn’t going to let this game get away, no matter how many innings she had pitched before.”

R H E
Albemarle 0 000 000 000 0 3 3
N. Staff. 0 000 000 001 1 5 2
LINDSAY CHANEY and Katelyn Kean. KELSIE BARKER and Beth Kelley.

Justin Rice: 540/368-5045
jrice@freelancestar.com

GIRLS TENNIS
JAMES MONROE 5,
EASTERN VIEW 4
James Monroe’s girls tennis team took two of three doubles matches to beat Eastern View, 5–4, on Friday in the Battlefield District team tournament championship match.
Both teams will play in the Region I tournament next week.

Singles: Anna Kate Tyler (EV) d. Audrey Dyer 7–6 (7–5), 6–2; Monica Mitchell (JM) d. Rose Bennett 6–3, 0–6, 6–3; Sierra Mills (EV) d. Erin Dyer 6–3, 3–6, 6–1; Alicia Paulose (JM) d. Glenna Straus 6–4, 6–3; Kaylan Peacher (EV) d. Emmie Snead 3–6, 6–4, 6-4; Sarah Frank (JM) d. Rachel Dillard 6–2, 7–6 (7–2).
Doubles: Dyer–Dyer (JM) d. Tyler–Bennett 1–6, 6–3, 7–5; Mills–Straus (ev) d. Mitchell–Paulose 6-2, 6–4; King–Snead (JM) win 6–2, 6–1.

BASEBALL
SPOTSYLVANIA 11, CHANCELLOR 1
Jacob King finished a hit batsman away from a perfect game and struck out six, and Trevor Talley went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to help Spotsylvania clinch a share of first in the Battlefield District.
Logan Chandler finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Nick Perry scored three runs and Jacob Conradt–Eberlin two, and Tommy Houck added a double for the Knights (14–6, 11–3).
The district tournament begins Tuesday at King George.

R H E
Chancellor 100 00 1 0 4
Spotsylvania 022 34 11 9 6
JASON MORGAN, Chris Barlow (5) and Andrew LeMaster. JACOB KING and Tommy Houck.

EASTERN VIEW 7, CULPEPER 3
Justin Gardiner was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Ben Pittman provided a double and two RBIs for Eastern View, which clinched the fourth and final spot in the Battlefield District tournament with the win.
A.J. Stead picked up the win on the mound for the Cyclones (11–9, 8–6).
Cory Slawson had a two-run homer run, and Chris Miller added a solo shot for Culpeper.

BOYS LACROSSE
NORTH STAFFORD 7,
BROAD RUN 4
North Stafford’s lacrosse team used smothering defensive work led by defensemen Matt Resh and Cody Cortell and goaltender Scott Hayman to defeat Broad Run, 7–4, on Friday in the Northwest Region quarterfinals.
Hayman stopped 15 of 19 shots on goal. Justin Taylor scored four goals to pace the Wolverines (11–6), who will face the winner of today’s Mountain View–Osbourn Park quarterfinal on Tuesday
at 6 p.m. Should the Wildcats win, the Wolverines will host the semifinal.

BOYS SOCCER
CHANCELLOR 7, SPOTSYLVANIA 2
Reynaldo Montecino scored three goals to help Chancellor (8–5–1 in district) earn a tie for third place with King George.
The Chargers will play top-seeded Courtland on Wednesday at James Monroe in the district tournament semifinals.
Kaleb Lusczek, Nolan Bonner and Jacob Burke also had goals. Burke and Jared Clemens had two assists each, and Jared Clemens also had an assist.
Zach Hamlett and Kyle Newton had goals for the Knights.

GIRLS SOCCER
KING GEORGE 2,
JAMES MONROE 1
Cabi Caron and Carley Armentrout each scored to lift homestanding King George to a Battlefield District win.
Allison Black scored for James Monroe.
Lindsey Armentrout and Claire Larsen provided assists for the Foxes (7–7–2, 5–7–2), who finished the season in fifth place in the district, just missing out on a spot in the tournament semifinals.

CHANCELLOR 2, SPOTSYLVANIA 0
The Knights fell to 8–5–1 in the Battlefield District. They’ll play top-seeded Courtland on Tuesday at Chancellor in the district tournament semifinals.