Regional Softball & Baseball

A prelude to this week's Region C tournaments!

Softball

Holston (16-4)
at Grayson County
Although not much is known about the Grayson County Lady Blue Devils team, they met no challengers in their own district tournament. Grayson breezed through both rounds with a 11-0 first round win over Fort Chiswell and a 10-1 second round win over Galax. The Blue Devils are certainly a force to be reckoned with and appear to know a few things about swinging a softball bat.

Holston has had quite a season. Led in pitching by freshman and HogoOnline athlete of the year nominee, Morgan Lowe, the Cavs have made it back to the Region C tournament for the first time in the last 7 years. Last season the Cavs only won 5 games; this season they are 16-4 and survived the Hogo, perhaps the toughest softball district in Southwest Virginia.

Common Opponents
Chilhowie
Grayson County 11, Chilhowie 6
Holston 11, Chilhowie 0
Holston 9, Chilhowie 0
Galax
Grayson County 11, Galax 0
Grayson County 10, Galax 1
Holston 15, Galax 0
Holston 12, Galax 0


Galax
at Northwood (16-3)
The Lady Panthers capped off a tremendous regular season with a possibly even more tremendous district tournament. Northwood got revenge over near-season spoiler George Wythe, dismantled an always promising Patrick Henry squad for the regular season championship, and edged the hot Holston Cavaliers to seal the tournament deal. Led on the mound by Chelsey Cardwell, anything is possible for the Panthers. Their first round game should be a given but the Panthers cannot overlook the Maroon Tide. They are, afterall, in the Region C tournament for a reason.

Common Opponents
Chilhowie
Chilhowie 7, Galax 1
Galax 7, Chilhowie 3
Northwood 20, Chilhowie 5
Northwood 8, Chilhowie 0

BASEBALL

Patrick Henry (11-10-1) at
Grayson County (12-7)
One thing is for certain. The Rebels' side of the bracket is a tough road. Anytime you're on the same side as Grayson County and Glenvar, the odds are immediately stacked against you. The Rebels are playing hot, however. They knocked off season runner-up and county rival Holston, 12-5, and managed an impressive win over Chilhowie, who had not lost to a district team all year. The recent play of Jon Whitesides, Will Copenhaver, and Ronnie Groves have given PH the spark it needed to advance to the Region C playoffs after what seemed to be a lost season due to inconsistency.
Grayson County, although with seven losses, is still one of the premiere programs in all of Southwest Virginia. For most of the season the Blue Devils struggled to put runs on the board but had enough talent to seal twelve victories and a MED season and tournament championship. This isn't one of the Grayson County teams of this past decade but is certainly one that can win on any given night.

Common Opponents
Chilhowie
Chilhowie 7, Grayson County 6
Chilhowie 11, Grayson County 8
Chilhowie 2, Patrick Henry 1
Chilhowie 5, Patrick Henry 3
Patrick Henry 9, Chilhowie 6


Fort Chiswell (14-6)
at Chilhowie (16-6)
Fort Chiswell's success was no surprise this year as key standouts Hody Viars and Mark Gallimore led the Pioneers to a 14-6 season, a season and tournament runner-up spot in the MED, and a Region C berth. The Pioneers could possibly be the toughest #2 seed in the entire tournament, much to the misfortune of the Warriors. Fort Chiswell has scored more than 10 runs in over nearly half of their games including scores of 17, 19, and 21. They can certainly create runs and will require a magnificant pitching performance to be subdued.
Chilhowie overcame several close calls this regular season to garner a fourth consecutive regular season title but lost in the district tournament championship to PH. Now is not a good time for the Warriors to hit a slump and they best not overlook the Pioneers or they'll be at home after the first round like they were last year against a Bath County team most thought the Warriors would top.

Common Opponents
George Wythe
Fort Chiswell 10, George Wythe 6
Fort Chiswell 16, George Wythe 1
Chilhowie 11, George Wythe 0
Chilhowie 5, George Wythe 3
Northwood
Fort Chiswell 6, Northwood 2
Fort Chiswell 12, Northwood 2
Chilhowie 12, Northwood 3
Chilhowie 13, Northwood 4
Rural Retreat
Fort Chiswell 19, Rural Retreat 0
Fort Chiswell 17, Rural Retreat 0
Chilhowie 17, Rural Retreat 7
Chilhowie 12, Rural Retreat 2
Chilhowie 15, Rural Retreat 1
Galax
Fort Chiswell 11, Galax 1
Fort Chiswell 12, Galax 3
Fort Chiswell 4, Galax 3
Galax 5, Chilhowie 4
Grayson County
Grayson County 1, Fort Chiswell 0
Grayson County 9, Fort Chiswell 3
Chilhowie 7, Grayson County 6
Chilhowie 11, Grayson County 8