PH & NW play close - softball season no disappointment

The two district juggernauts met on May 1st to decide who was going to withold the number one spot atop the season' s standings. Although NW ended their 9 game winning streak, the game hardly disappointed fans on either side as PH edged the Panthers 2-0. The two meet again on May 14 as the last district game for both teams. Should the teams hold steady until then, one could expect an outcome at least as thrilling as the first one; if not more.

Chilhowie: Unless the Warriors reschedule the postponements of Fort Chiswell or Abingdon, their season is on the brink of closure. The Warriors's season started late due to the success of the lady's basketball squad, and surprisingly they wound up playing more district games in the span of time since then than any other team. With that being said, the Warriors lost their last district game against the Maroons of Wythetown, 2-3, at home. This setback sent them spiraling back into fourth spot. Should Chilhowie win out and George Wythe win only one of their next two district games, a tie for third is in the making - probably yielding a coin flip. Blech.

George Wythe: The Maroons ended a mid-season four game losing skid with a mid-season four game winning streak. Not bad. Nabbing high scoring wins over the Mountain Empire's Bland County and Fort Chiswell as well as a (non-reported score) win over RR provided the catalyst necessary for GW to oust Chilhowie from the third spot in the standings. The Maroons were penciled to play four away games in four days. Northwood (2-14 loss), Bland County (unreported), Pulaski County on May 7 and Patrick Henry on May 8. Should the Maroons muster the energy to defeat PH in the last of the four day stint and overcome Holston on the 13th, they take the third spot in the district outright. If they only win one or the other, it'll be left up to Chilhowie or the side of quarter.

Holston: Hard work will eventually payoff. After speaking with Cav head coach Lisa Blackburn, I'm sure that's the team's motto. "Heartbreaking" was the word she used to describe every Cavalier loss this season and I would have to agree. What other team in the history of high school sports has gone 1-14 and has only been mercy ruled once? I can't name one, mainly because I haven't researched it, but Holston for sure is one of those teams. Of their 14 losses this season, the Cavs have been outscored by an average of 3.7 points per game. If you take away the 16-1 loss to Patrick Henry on May 5th, their only mercy rule loss, they've lossed those 13 games by an average of 2.8 points per game. Imagine losing by an average of less than 3 points thirteen times - in a row. That's what the Cavs have done but hard work has finally paid off as the Cavs took an 8-3 victory over the RR Indians last Thursday. So maybe the Indians are winless, but now the Cavs aren't and with five games remaining, I doubt they remain a one win team for long either.

Northwood: One may be the loneliest number that you'll ever do, according to Three Dog Night's popular 1969 hit. Two can be as bad as one, if that's what you were outscored by against the number one team. So maybe it's a stretch. In Glade Spring on May 1st, the Panthers marched off the field with an ended 9 game win streak and second place in the standings. Feeling frustrated with the defeat, the Panthers hosted GW four days later and whopped them 14-2. Before hosting the Rebels in the rematch slated for May 14, the Panthers must travel to Rural Retreat and host Bland County - the Panthers are likely to show no mercy. One can only hope that the rematch is as tooth and nail as the last.

Patrick Henry: This team is full of solid softball players; Barbrow, Kelly, Weddle, Thomas, Haynes...Haynes, among others. These Lady Rebels have made a big boom in the Hogoheegee this season earning the top spot in the season standings with a 13-3-1 overall record and an unblemished 7-0 record against district opponents. The Rebels suffered a setback on May 6 with a 4-1 loss to Virginia High and must host three more home games before traveling to Saltville to defend the top spot against the Panthers once more. PH is good enough to run the table but it certainly will not be a simple task - George Wythe, rival John Battle, Holston, and of course Northwood all stand in the way. The next week should be interesting.

Rural Retreat: Yesterday's score between Fort Chiswell and Rural Retreat went unreported. The Indians still have two district games remaining, including Northwood and an away game against the Lady Cavs of Damascus. Should the Indians win at least one of their next two games and Holston loses out - the Indians could tie up the fifth spot - the lone, bright opportunity for Rural Retreat in this down season.