Long wows with combine performance
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
February 26, 2008

Chris Long, already projected as a high first-round choice in the looming NFL Draft, said he went to Indianapolis for the NFL combine with something to prove.

According to his critics, Long’s mission was accomplished.

“It was a good day,” Long said Monday evening, moments after returning home to Charlottesville from his two-day combine stint. “I was happy I was able to show them who I am.”

What the recent Virginia All-American wanted to show was that there was much more to him than what some scouting reports pointed out.

“Some people see me for my motor and nothing else,” Long said. “This was a chance to show I was a pretty good athlete.”

Commentators on the NFL Network’s coverage of Monday’s workouts marveled at Long’s athletic ability and even laughed aloud in amazement to how easily the 6-foot-3, 272-pound defensive end handled every challenge.

His 40-yard dash time of 4.75 was impressive (the best for any player his size or larger), while Long also recorded a 34-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot, 4-inch long jump. He also negotiated change of direction and pursuit drills without a hitch.

“This is just not an overachiever guy, this is a freakishly athletic kid,” one of the commentators said.

Todd McShay, director of scouting for ESPN Scouts Inc., was impressed with what he saw from Long during the physical portion of the combine.

“He has a great motor and it showed today,” McShay said. “He showed that is his a pretty good athlete, too. He ran well. It wasn’t the best time, but he ran well. He did all of the things that you would expect him to do.”

McShay said what impressed him the most was how Long displayed the most fluid hips of all the defensive ends working on the position drills, which indicated that the former Cavalier could play either defensive end or outside linebacker in the NFL.

“If he gets drafted by a team with a 3-4 scheme, he can do all the little things that you need from a defensive end, outside linebacker, possibly even inside linebacker,” McShay said. “Scouts love his versatility.”

Some of those scouts, in particular Mike Mayock, who has Long ranked No. 2 on his overall draft list behind Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, believe that Long played out of position at Virginia by necessity.

“Virginia didn’t have a guy who could [play defensive end in the 3-4], and some people had a hard time evaluating him because it was 270 pounds lined up against 330 every week and that’s not what he will see in the NFL,” Mayock said. “These drills show he can be a 4-3 rush end or a 3-4 outside linebacker.”

Long said it didn’t matter to him what position he plays in the pros.

“Teams asked me a lot of questions, and there are teams that have interest in me doing a bunch of different things,” Long said. “I made it clear that I’m willing to do anything in their system. I’m not going to limit myself to a position. They’ll put me in the best position to succeed.”

While he performed well in the physical portion of the two-day tests, there were other obligations as well, such as the Wonderlic Test and interviews with various clubs.

Long said the IQ test wasn’t as difficult as one might think and that he was hoping to score in the mid-30’s, which would supposedly mean that he’s smarter than a chemist on that scale.

“I don’t believe it,” Long chuckled.

Then came the meetings. He met with nine or 10 teams, visiting their suites for about 15 minutes each, shaking hands with a number of representatives from each organization and answering questions as he was sized up.

“That’s the part that makes running the 40 and that other stuff so tough,” Long said in reference to the interviews and hectic schedule. “You’ve been working hard mentally and not sleeping much for a couple of days, so you have to perform under less than optimal circumstances.”

Long has been rated as high as the No. 1 pick, currently owned by the Bill Parcells’ managed Miami Dolphins, to a sure-fire top 10 pick in a class rich with defensive ends (as many as six defensive ends could be drafted in the first round).

“In two months, my life’s going to change drastically,” Long said. “I could be in any number of places. But at the end of the day, I’m a football player and have to prove myself in camp. It’s something I don’t dwell on as to where I’m going to go. The draft isn’t what’s important to me, but what I do when I get there and the career I form thereafter.”

Long participated in most of the drills, except for the bench pressing and the linebacker drills.

“I’m going to do that (the linebacker drills) on my Pro Day (at Virginia in March),” Long said. “I want to work with coach Al Groh a little bit.”

About that time, Long interrupted his TV interview in Indianapolis for a shout out to his coach.

“[Groh’s] at home,” Long said, looking into the TV camera lens. “Hi coach Groh.”

Back in Charlottesville, Long expounded on why he skipped those linebacker drills until UVa’s Pro Day.

“I want coach Groh to help me hone those skills because he’s the best at what he does,” Long said. “He’s coached a lot of great 3-4 linebackers. Heck, he’s a pioneer with 3-4 linebackers. That’s a best-case scenario, working with him.”

Another Wahoo is getting some rave reviews by NFL scouts. All-ACC guard Branden Albert, who declared for the draft after his junior season at UVa, was rated as high as the No. 1 offensive lineman available in the draft by one scout, and anywhere from eighth to 19th in several overall projections.
 

Wallace verbals to Cavs
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 26, 2008

Dominique Wallace has been giddy since Sunday.

The running back from Fredericksburg’s Chancellor High happily accepted a scholarship offer from Virginia football coach Al Groh, joining Harrisonburg running back Alex Owah as a verbal commitment for the Class of 2009.

“I am very excited, not that it is out of the way, but because I get to wear that blue and orange and be a Cavalier. That is the main thing,” Wallace said Monday night. “Do you know how when something is so exciting and sometimes you just sit there and laugh because you are so excited and smiling and stuff?

“That’s the way it feels. I’m so excited for some reason right now that I get to open the next chapter in my life.”

Wallace, a first-team all-region selection, rushed for 1,529 yards on 204 carries this season. He also scored 24 touchdowns.

Given his excitement to land at Virginia, one could easily assume that Wallace grew up desiring to play for the Cavaliers. That was not the case.

“I didn’t start watching college football until late in middle school,” Wallace said. “I’m a Penn State fan. Well, not anymore, I guess, and Penn State offered me, too.

“People thought I was going to go to Penn State because I was a Penn State fan, but I just feel UVa is the perfect fit for me.”

Wallace cited academics, the success of the football program and Virginia’s proximity to friends and family.

“I have been [in Fredericksburg] since kindergarten so if I go somewhere far away, what would be the point?” Wallace asked. “Why don’t I give the people that I grew up with and the people that actually helped me become what I am today the chance to come see me play personally and not on TV?”

Wallace, who said he is 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds and runs a 4.48 40-yard dash, is uncertain of an academic focus at Virginia, but may look into computer programming.

“I am real smart and I am able to remember numbers,” he joked.

Several coaches in the Battlefield District won’t forget the gaudy numbers posted by Wallace this season.

After being limited with a sprained ankle against Spotsylvania as a sophomore, Wallace got redemption this year, rushing for 350 yards against his rival.

“They thought they did something [my sophomore year],” Wallace recounted. “I just went out, and I am not being rude, but I just went out on a mission.

“That game solidified that I was the player of the year in the district on offense.”

Also a first-team linebacker in the Battlefield District, Wallace said he was recruited solely as a running back.

This weekend, Wallace will compete in the VHSL indoor track championships and intends to run outdoor track again, where he almost certainly will cross paths with Owah.

Wallace lost the most recent battle with his future teammate.

“This is a whole new year,” he joked.

 

Fredericksburg standout commits to U.Va.
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008 - 12:00 AM

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- A day after hosting many of its recruiting targets in the junior class, the University of Virginia football program received its second commitment for 2009.
Dominique Wallace, a 6-0, 225-pound running back from Chancellor High in Fredericksburg, called U.Va. coach Al Groh with his decision Monday. Wallace was among the prospects who attended the Cavaliers' Junior Day on Sunday.
"Whenever I go there, I just feel like I need to be part of that atmosphere and that football team," said Wallace, whose grade-point average in his core classes is a 3.3.

Wallace, who also starts at outside linebacker for Chancellor, said he had scholarship offers from Penn State, N.C. State and Maryland as well as U.Va., "and I was expecting more."

In 2007, Wallace was the Battlefield District's offensive player of the year. He's an unusual blend of size and speed, having been timed in 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash. In indoor track, he's a sprinter, but Wallace doesn't avoid contact when he has the football.

"I love truckin' people," hee said. "That's my specialty."

Virginia's first recruit for 2009 was Alex Owah, a tailback from Harrisonburg High who committed in late December. Owah was named to The Associated Press' all-Group AA second team after the 2007 season.
-- Jeff White
 

U.Va. loses key player
Ex-Hermitage star Fitzgerald no longer attending the school
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008 - 12:05 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Football standout Jeffrey Fitzgerald is no longer enrolled at the University of Virginia, school spokesman Jim Daves confirmed last night.

Fitzgerald told The Times-Dispatch last night that "at this point there's not much I know for sure," but the former Hermitage High star's next stop might be Kansas State, where the coach is former U.Va. offensive coordinator Ron Prince.

Asked last night about his plans, Fitzgerald said, "I've got to figure out some more things before I can comment. At this point, I'm really uncertain."

Fitzgerald's future at U.Va. has been the subject of speculation since last month when The Charlottesville Daily Progress, citing unidentified sources, reported that Fitzgerald had told his teammates he'd be leaving the football program.

Privacy laws prevent U.Va. from discussing what led to Fitzgerald's departure. However, multiple sources have confirmed to The Times-Dispatch that Fitzgerald had an academic issue that would prevent him from remaining at U.Va.

Cavaliers coach Al Groh told The Times-Dispatch last night that "Jeffrey has been a wonderful player for us and a great teammate. He's a high-character person, and we recognize at this point in his life his desire to move on to something else. We're supportive of that, and we're involved with helping him in that respect."

After redshirting as a freshman in 2005, Fitzgerald started at defensive end for Groh in '06 and '07. In his two seasons, he made 12 sacks, intercepted four passes and scored two touchdowns, and he was expected to contend for all-ACC honors this coming season.

Fitzgerald, who had shoulder surgery last month, remained enrolled at U.Va. until recently.

It's not clear if he would be eligible to play at another NCAA school in the fall. That might depend on whether he's deemed to have left U.Va. in good academic standing. If not, 2009 would be Fitzgerald's final college season.

In the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day, Fitzgerald had eight tackles, including a sack, and broke up a pass. His departure means Virginia must replace its starting defensive front from last season: ends Chris Long and Fitzgerald and nose tackle Allen Billyk.

The Cavaliers begin spring practice March 21. Their spring game is April 12 at Scott Stadium.

 

Fitzgerald leaves Virginia
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 26, 2008

The fears of Virginia football fans have come to fruition.

Jeffrey Fitzgerald, a two-year starter at defensive end, is officially a former member of the Virginia football program.

While unable to speak about the specifics due to privacy issues, Virginia assistant athletic director for media relations Jim Daves confirmed that Fitzgerald had withdrawn from the university.

As previously reported by The Daily Progress, Fitzgerald informed teammates of his impending departure in late January. After a ruling on his status on Jan. 20, the rising junior was allowed to remain enrolled after filing an appeal, multiple sources confirmed.

Fitzgerald started all 13 games this season opposite senior defensive end Chris Long in the team’s 3-4 defense.

Voted the top rookie in the state after the 2006 season, Fitzgerald produced impressive stats during his career, which include four interceptions, 12 sacks and 23½ tackles for loss.

The Cavaliers, who went 9-4 this season and played Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl, also lost four underclassmen to academic woes in January, including starting quarterback Jameel Sewell and cornerback Chris Cook.

Earlier this month, Virginia coach Al Groh said all four players planned to apply for reinstatement after serving a one-year suspension.

Fitzgerald does not have that luxury, but he does maintain numerous options thanks to a redshirt season in 2005.

He could apply for the NFL’s supplemental draft, which will be held in July, or attempt to transfer to a school at the NCAA Division I-AA level (or lower), maintaining two years of eligibility.

Fitzgerald could also transfer to a Division I-A program outside of the ACC, and be eligible to play during the 2009 season.

Several attempts to reach Fitzgerald were unsuccesful and Daves confirmed that Groh would be unable to comment on the matter.

 

U.VA. NOTES
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Jeff Jones regaining his touch
Virginia basketball player Jeff Jones is slowly emerging from his midseason slump.

Jones, in his fourth consecutive start at shooting guard, scored nine points Sunday in U.Va.'s 78-60 romp over N.C. State in Charlottesville. That's the most he's had against an ACC foe.

His struggles from beyond the 3-point arc continued -- Jones was 0 for 2 -- but the 6-4, 193-pound freshman showed a deft touch around the basket on drives and post moves, and he finished 4 of 8 from the floor.

Jones, the all-time leading scorer in Philadelphia's Catholic League, started Virginia's first 13 games. In his third game, he made five treys and scored 15 points -- still his career high -- in a 75-72 victory at Arizona on Nov. 17. Jones didn't hit another 3-pointer, however, until Feb. 9.

"It's not for lack of work," Virginia coach Dave Leitao said. "It's something young guys go through. I believe, and I'm sure he believes, that he can shoot the ball. He has his whole life. It's just, I think, for some guys a process you've got to go through psychologically."

Leitao said he expects that Jones, who's shooting 21.9 percent from long range, will "look back at this time of his career at some point and probably laugh at it."

Jones (4.3 ppg) said he's confident that the shooting touch he has shown in practice eventually will "carry over, because what you do in practice carries over to the games."

GT court dried up, but too late
Outside Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum, a hard rain started Thursday morning and continued into the night.

Inside the arena, officials decided around 7:20 p.m. that water on the court from a leak in the roof had made it too dangerous for ACC rivals Georgia Tech and Virginia to play their men's basketball game, which had been scheduled to start at 7 p.m. And so the game was postponed.

"About a half-hour after we canceled the game," Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt said yesterday, "everything kind of dried up. . . . The facilities people said if we'd waited another half-hour, 45 minutes, we probably would have been able to play the game. But the officials had to make the call, and I don't think anybody can knock them for doing what they did."

The game was rescheduled for next Monday night in Atlanta.

Former Collegiate star shines
On an afternoon when freshman Adam Ghitelman struggled at goalie for the U.Va. men's lacrosse team, his replacement, graduate student Bud Petit, fared much better.

The former Collegiate star played the final 18 minutes and 23 seconds Saturday and helped Virginia beat Stony Brook 15-13 at Klockner Stadium. Petit had five saves and allowed only two goals.

"He made a save right when he came in, and it lifted the team a little bit," U.Va. coach Dom Starsia said. "Bud's an easy guy to rally around."

Still, when Virginia (2-0) hosts Vermont (0-1) this afternoon, Ghitelman is likely to be back with the first team.

"The decision to start Adam was made over six months," Starsia said. "It wasn't made over 20 minutes."

Third-ranked U.Va. takes on Syracuse this weekend in Baltimore. Don't expect to see senior attackman Ben Rubeor, the Cavaliers' leading scorer in 2007, play against Vermont or the'Cuse.

Rubeor's workload in practice is increasing, but he "clearly is not ready yet," Starsia said yesterday.

Rubeor is recovering from an injury to his right kneecap, and graduate student Peter Lamade has been starting in his place. Lamade transferred to U.Va. from Duke, where he was a starting midfielder.

Tennis team honored at JPJ
During a first-half timeout Sunday, the crowd at JPJ Arena rose to applaud a group of young men on the court. The cheers were for Somdev Devvarman and the other U.Va. men's tennis players.

Virginia beat Ohio State last week in Seattle to win the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's national indoor team championship. Devvarman, the defending NCAA singles champion, was named to the all-tournament team in Seattle, as were two other Cavaliers, Treat Huey and Sanam Singhm.

Devvarman was selected at No. 1 singles and at No. 1 doubles with Huey. Singh was all-tournament at No. 4 singles. -- Jeff White

 

Jones starting to turn corner
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 26, 2008

Someday, Virginia coach Dave Leitao says Jeff Jones will look back on his freshman year and laugh.

But until the last couple of games, Jones - not to mention Wahoo Nation - probably wanted to cry.

Jones, the highly touted shooting guard from Philadelphia, was the Virginia player who most closely resembled the son of a bricklayer - not teammate Solomon Tat.

The 6-foot-4, 193-pounder, the all-time leading scorer in the history of the famed Philadelphia Catholic League, came into Sunday’s game against N.C. State shooting just 19 percent from the field in ACC play, including an equally woeful 20-percent clip from 3-point range.

But in Virginia’s 78-60 win over the Wolfpack, Jones was 4 of 8 from the field en route to scoring an ACC career-high nine points.

“The whole coaching staff told me that there are going to be a lot of ups and downs this year,” Jones said. “They just said to stay focused because it’s going to be your time when you start playing good. It finally came these last couple of games.”

Jones has seemed to be playing with more confidence since reclaiming his starting job against Wake Forest on Feb. 9. In the loss to North Carolina three games ago, he was 3 of 6 from the field for seven points. Then, in the win over Boston College, he was aggressive on his drives to the hoop and wound up with four assists, a career-high.

However, Jones has still struggled with his jumpshot. Coming out of high school, he was known for his silky shooting touch, but Virginia fans haven’t seen too much of that. Since drilling five 3-pointers in the upset of Arizona in November, Jones is just 2 of his last 25 from downtown.

Jones doesn’t seem too worried, though.

“Eventually that will come,” he said. “All the coaches say it’s going to come. I just try and put all my focus on my defense - really play pressure, on-the-ball defense. Coach always tells me that when you play pressure defense, it will carry over to your offense.

“All the coaches always say, ‘You know you’re a shooter since high school, since elementary school. We know that it will come.’”

Leitao liked what he saw on Sunday. While Jones didn’t hit any jumpers, all of his points came as a result of strong moves toward the rack.

“He got those two early baskets and made positive plays and was in the middle of the game,” Leitao said. “Hopefully that means we can continue to put him in that position where he can grow with his confidence and at some point make a jumpshot back-to-back.

“I believe he can shoot the ball,” Leitao continued. “He has his whole life. I just believe that for some guys it’s a process that you have to go through psychologically.”

Midway through the first half, Jones displayed good defense when he stole the ball from N.C. State’s Simon Harris and fed it to Jamil Tucker for an easy fastbreak layup. Early in the second half, when Jones got the ball inside, he showed no hesitation in taking the ball up against Wolfpack big man J.J. Hickson for a tough deuce.

“He was definitely in attack mode and got himself some open looks,” said Virginia senior Sean Singletary. “That’s good for us.”

Leitao the NHL fan?

Most Virginia fans are pretty aware of coach Dave Leitao’s affinity for the NFL and his New York Giants, but after UVa’s win over N.C. State on Sunday, Leitao busted out some hockey knowledge.

When asked about his team’s ill-fated trip to Georgia Tech last week that resulted in postponement due to a leaky roof at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Leitao quipped: “I take the Boston Bruin approach to it. We got a point and we came back home.”

Mr. Klepto

Singletary, who had a career high seven steals against N.C. State, said he had no idea he had tied the school record. “I wish I had known that during the game,” Singletary joked. “I would have gotten one more.”

Lithuanian magic?

Nearly lost in the shuffle of Virginia’s second-straight win was the deft passing ability of UVa big man Lars Mikalauskas.

“The Pride of Lithuania” tied his career-high with three helpers, including one very sweet dish to Mike Scott underneath that resulted in an easy layup.

Leitao, however, wasn’t ready to group the rough-n-tumble crowd favorite with the likes of Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy or Steve Nash.

“I don’t know if it looked like that,” said Leitao, when asked if the Lithuanian’s passing skills had improved lately. “I think he’s just done a good job of playing the game the right way.”

 

Third-ranked team looks to declaw visiting Catamounts
Virginia prepares for Vermont after posting victories against Drexel and Stony Brook to start season; Cavaliers represent second consecutive top-five opponent for Catamounts
Megan McDonald, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
 

Going up against No. 3 Virginia this evening, the Vermont men's lacrosse team will face off against a top nationally ranked team for the second time in just three days. Having lost to No. 2 Duke 19-7 during the weekend, the Catamounts travel to Charlottesville looking for the upset they were unable to secure Saturday.

The trip to Klöckner Stadium may be somewhat surreal for Vermont head coach Ryan Curtis, a Virginia lacrosse alumnus. Having graduated in 2000, Curtis was a captain of the Cavaliers' 1999 national championship team and that season's NCAA Defenseman of the Year.

Virginia (2-0) will head into the game coming off a hard-fought, nail-biting win against Stony Brook Saturday. With both teams taking the field after a short three-day respite, the early season matchup will test everyone's endurance and fitness.

"This time of year we put a couple extra games on the schedule so you can make some personnel decisions," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "You like to think you are a little healthier early in the year so you play some extra games."

With the Cavaliers having defeated Stony Brook by large margins in years past, the fact that Saturday's game remained undecided until the final minutes was somewhat of a surprise for both Virginia players and fans. After the game, both junior Danny Glading and senior Peter Lamade said that they were excited to get back out on the field quickly.

Starsia expressed the same sentiment, saying that the Vermont game is a chance for the Cavaliers to correct some things and to practice playing well before heading into this weekend's Face-Off Classic in Baltimore, Md.

As the Seawolves battled back Saturday, Starsia replaced his starting goalkeeper, freshman Adam Ghitelman, with fifth-year senior Bud Petit. When asked why he made the switch, Starsia acknowledged that the Stony Brook comeback was certainly not all Ghitelman's fault, but said he felt he needed to give his young goalie a chance to regroup.

"Generally you feel like when your starter sort of gets knocked out of the box, you come back with him and give him a chance to establish himself," Starsia said after Saturday's game. "We will talk about it and figure out where we are at going into Tuesday's game, but I am confident [Ghitelman] will bounce right back."

As with nearly all early season games, Virginia will go into this evening's contest somewhat blind. The Duke matchup was Vermont's only regular season contest thus far, leaving little material for the Cavaliers to scout.

"We don't know much about them -- we take our games one at a time," Glading said after the Stony Brook game. "But we will start looking at what tape and reports we do have."

With little information about Vermont, Virginia will focus on preparing itself to play to the best of its ability instead of focusing on the specific tendencies of its opposition. And while the Cavaliers certainly are not underestimating the Catamounts, they are aware of the fact that this Saturday they will take on a national top-10 opponent for the first time this season in No. 9 Syracuse.

"Every game is going to be hard this year," Lamade said. "We certainly have the talent, but we play Syracuse soon, and they have already proved they are going to be good this year as well. We have to have a good week of practice, have a good game against Vermont and get ready for that."

 

Virginia takes on Coppin State, Old Dominion after quick start
Following a successful weekend in which Virginia outscored Lehigh 27-4, Cavaliers look to continue winning ways in matches against Eagles, Monarchs
Meredith Hulley, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
 

After a successful opening weekend against Lehigh, the Virginia baseball team (4-0) will play seven games in eight days, beginning with Coppin State Tuesday and Old Dominion Wednesday.

Coppin State (0-0) expected to come to town with at least two games under its belt, but its scheduled contests with Hofstra were rained out. Instead, the Eagles will open their season at Davenport Field Tuesday against Virginia at 4 p.m.

"It's another game on the schedule, and I'll probably play some different guys out there and pitch a bunch of guys that haven't had a chance to pitch yet and get their feet wet," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said of the match against the Eagles, who compiled a 0-44 record last season.

The Eagles fielded a team last year despite only having 11 players, two more than the maximum that can play at one time. This season, they will have significantly more depth with a 27-man roster, including six pitchers, up from last year's two-man staff.

Virginia will put senior Robert Poutier? on the mound in the right-hander's first start of the season.

Following their match against the Eagles, Virginia will face the Monarchs, preseason favorites to win the Colonial Athletic Association championship.

Old Dominion (1-1), which split a doubleheader against Rutgers to open its season this past weekend, will play North Carolina this afternoon before coming to Charlottesville for a 4 p.m. game Wednesday against the Cavaliers.

"They're ranked 25th in one of the polls," O'Connor said. "On paper, they look, out of these first six games, [to be] the most formidable opponent."

Virginia may have dodged a bullet with the scheduling, because both of the Monarchs' best pitchers were on the mound during Sunday's doubleheader with Rutgers. It is unlikely either one will be ready to pitch Wednesday.

Those two pitchers are junior Anthony Shawler, ranked as the No. 9 pitcher by Rivals.com, and junior pitcher Dan Hudson. Virginia junior pitcher Jacob Thompson is ranked the No. 1 pitcher by Rivals.

In his first appearance of the season, Shawler struck out 10 batters in six innings, while allowing no runs on just two hits.

Hudson, a 2007 first-team all-CAA player, gave up three runs, one earned and six hits in five innings.The right-hander also walked three and struck out three.

Virginia will counter with left-handed sophomore Matt Packer, who pitched two hitless innings in relief in Saturday's 5-1 victory against Lehigh.

Virginia will focus on continuing its offensive success against the two teams, seeking to taking advantage of weak spots in the rotation. The Cavaliers scored 27 runs in four games during the weekend.

The Cavaliers will also try to continue their dominance on the rubber and turf from this weekend, when the pitching and defense held opponents to one run per game. Only one Cavalier starting pitcher has given up an earned run, giving the starting rotation a miniscule earned run average (0.43).

With a tightly packed schedule to follow, the two upcoming games are important contests in Virginia's early season schedule.

"Ultimately, if we just come out and play good baseball, good things will happen," junior second baseman David Adams said.

 

Weekend well spent
Eric Strow

For those of us fans who taste the thrill of victory and feel the agony of defeat along with Virginia's student-athletes, this weekend was a much-needed shot in the arm. Virginia's teams were 8-2 this weekend in Charlottesville, providing a source of entertainment (and more importantly, enjoyment) for die-hard Cavaliers supporters.

My parents were in town this weekend, so naturally, we spent the entire weekend in the JPJ-Klöckner-Davenport vicinity. Saturday's tripleheader started at noon with part one of the baseball twin bill, continued at Klöckner Stadium for the end of the men's lacrosse victory and concluded with game two (and win number two) at Davenport Field. Sunday's festivities began at 11 a.m. for another baseball doubleheader, and after watching the Cavaliers take both games convincingly, we walked over to see the men's hoops team take the floor at JPJ. It was a great feeling to see six Virginia wins in person over a two-day span, but that wasn't all for the Cavaliers' athletic program. To the not-in-the-right-order scoreboard we go!

In baseball, the Cavaliers posted 5-1 and 4-1 wins Saturday, and followed that performance up Sunday with 12-1 and 6-1 victories. Considering that my older brother goes to Lehigh, this four-game sweep was great. There was no better way for the Cavaliers to open the baseball season, and my sibling rivalry makes the victories that much sweeter. Outscoring an opponent 27-4 in a 48-hour period is something I've never heard of before in baseball, but needless to say, I'm pretty happy about it. Both of Virginia's preseason All-Americans played well, as junior hurler Jacob Thompson pitched 5 strong innings in the first game of the season, and junior second baseman David Adams knocked two home runs in Sunday's opener. Virginia 4, Opposition 0.

If you have never been to a lacrosse game, you should go. You have no excuse. The men and women are each ranked in the top five in the nation, and the atmosphere at the games is intense. You think soccer parents are nuts? Watch a lacrosse game at Klöckner. It was almost as entertaining listening to the Stony Brook fans whine and moan as it was to see our guys score two quick goals in a span of less than 12 seconds with under three minutes left, sealing the 15-13 win. Even people who don't know the rules of the game would enjoy watching this sport. Virginia 5, Opposition 0.

In the meantime, Virginia's men's tennis players were beating No. 39 Old Dominion 7-0 and Boston College 6-1 at Boar's Head in a Saturday doubleheader of their own. Eight Cavaliers got in on the action, as Virginia swept all the six doubles matches and won all the singles matches but one. I personally can't wait for the team to make the move to the outdoor courts at Snyder, but for now, I think we'll all have to settle for perfection indoors. Also, the team was honored at halftime of the men's basketball game Sunday for winning the National Team Indoors Championship less than two weeks ago in Seattle. Virginia 7, Opposition 0.

Speaking of basketball – whew! The convincing 78-60 win the men posted against N.C. State allows some of us to breathe easier, considering it had been a full five weeks (and a day) since the Cavaliers won in John Paul Jones Arena. Singletary's 21 points and 7 steals were proof that yes, he is a great basketball player despite a nagging injury. The Cavaliers only turned the ball over nine times while grabbing 16 steals from N.C. State. Maybe this is just the optimist in me, but if we beat Miami, beat Georgia Tech, beat Duke, and beat Maryland ... the NIT might be calling us. Or, if we win the ACC Tournament, we're going to the NCAAs ... OK, I got ahead of myself. But you never know. Virginia 8, Opposition 0.

(Side note: While this did not occur in Charlottesville, Virginia took home another championship this weekend as the women's swimming and diving team captured the ACC crown in convincing fashion. Congrats, ladies.)

Unfortunately, two Cavaliers teams came up short of victory this weekend while playing at home: wrestling lost a 16-15 heartbreaker to No. 22 Maryland, and the women's tennis team fell Sunday 4-3 to No. 23 Tennessee. But all in all, it was a great college sports weekend in Charlottesville. Final score: Virginia 8, Opposition 2. I'll take an .800 winning percentage any day.

If only all weekends were like this.