Evans Looks to Expand Game in Offseason
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/14/2010
By Jeff White
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- As a senior at Hampton's Bethel High, Jontel Evans scored 33
points in a game against crosstown rival Kecoughtan.
The 5-11 point guard averaged 14.2 points that season, and "it wasn't all layups,"
Evans said Friday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum.
With his first season at UVa behind him, Evans' mission is clear. He's a dynamic
on-the-ball defender, but until he becomes a scoring threat, the Cavaliers will
continue to play 4-on-5 when he's on the court.
"It's just a confidence thing," Evans said after UVa's season-ending loss to
eventual champion Duke in the ACC tournament.
"I don't think my confidence was there in my shot. So that's what I'm going to
work on in the offseason: my shot, and building confidence."
In its two games at the ACC tournament, ninth-seeded UVa beat No. 8 seed Boston
College 68-62 and lost 57-46 to top-seeded Duke. Evans played 43 minutes in
Greensboro, totaling 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 steal.
"He's certainly a bulldog defensively and on the ball, and he provides such a
spark for us, and sometimes he'll create some offense from that," Tony Bennett
said after the final game of his first season as UVa's coach.
Evans played suffocating defense in Greensboro, but he didn't score. He was 0
for 5 from the floor -- all those shots were from inside the 3-point arc -- and
didn't attempt a free throw.
He's aware of his weaknesses, and Evans is eager to get in the gym with Bennett,
one of greatest shooters in college basketball history.
Together they'll work on "tightening up [Evans'] shot, making it compact,
becoming more consistent," Bennett said. "Because certain teams will play us
differently when he's on the floor, and you have to be somewhat of a threat."
In Greensboro, as he had all season, Evans showed the ability to dribble past
his defender, but on those occasions when he didn't pass and chose to shoot, the
Wahoos came away with nothing.
"He's got to work on finishing," Bennett said. "This offseason will be
important. But he's so explosive and quick. He got in there, but you gotta be
able to finish. Those are some tall trees and big boys in there."
Evans appeared in all 31 games this season, starting 11. He played about 17
minutes a game and averaged 2.4 points, 1.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1
steals, and he had only 27 turnovers.
His shooting numbers weren't encouraging. Evans was 31 for 84 (36.9 percent)
from the floor, 2 for 12 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range, and 9 for 16 (56.3
percent) from the line. Even so, his coach likes Evans' upside.
"He got thrown into the fire a lot for a first-year guy," said Bennett, who
played point guard at Wisconsin-Green Bay and with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
"The experiences he had are invaluable. I mean, to play in this setting, to have
to guard the Ish Smiths, the Malcolm Delaneys, the guards in this league that
he's gone against. So I think a lot was [asked of] him, and yes, he'll have to
improve, as will all of our guys in the offseason."
Evans will "grow from this," Bennett said. "But finishing's big. We work on
finishing a lot. We get the sticks and the pads and we have our guys drive."
Bennett laughed.
"I guess we need bigger pads and taller sticks to get them better," he said.
Sammy Zeglinski, who'll be a junior in 2010-11, played some point during the ACC
tournament, but the coaches prefer to use him at shooting guard. Which means
Evans will be a candidate to start as a sophomore.
He's excited about the future, not only his but the Cavaliers'.
"We took the first step with Coach Bennett," Evans said. "I think it's going to
be some great things."
London debuts his new team
Media General News Service
Published: March 15, 2010
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nowBuzz up!
The waiting is over for Mike London. He’ll take the field and run the Virginia
football players through their first practice of the spring this afternoon.
The 3:50 p.m. practice, which will take place at the practice fields in the
school’s athletic complex near the McCue Center, is open to the public. That is
the case for the first six practices of the season, which will be followed by a
scrimmage March 27 at Old Dominion University. The school’s spring game is April
10 at Scott Stadium.
Today’s practice will be conducted without pads or hitting — those things will
be eased into as the spring progresses.
Entering the month of practices, here are some storylines:
London’s disciplinary ways: In his first months, London said he already has
dismissed players for academic reasons. He hasn’t named names, so it’s likely
that today’s attendance on the practice field will give the first glimpse of the
identities of the offending players.
“There are two individuals that have not met the academic expectations of them,
so they’re not here with us,” he said. “There are some guys on the roster that,
based on my expectations of them as a student-athlete, in the community, what
they do, that’s going to be contingent on whether they return next year.”
Meanwhile Keith Payne, a running back who did not participate with the team last
year, will rejoin this year — pending academic success in the spring.
Looking for a quarterback: London has been working on building senior Marc
Verica’s confidence entering the fall campaign — he’s the only signal-caller
with college football experience.
Behind him are a handful of young players looking to establish themselves on the
depth chart.
Position switches: A handful of players have switched positions. Most notably,
Terence Fells-Danzer has moved from linebacker to fullback.
“We want to have a fullback in our offense — get back to having fullbacks,”
London said. “And because of the numbers, or the lack of numbers, Terence was
encouraged to make the position switch.”
Along those lines, the switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense has created an
extra defensive line position while eliminating one for linebackers.
Consolidating kickers: Last year, Robert Randolph kicked field goals while Drew
Jarrett handled extra points. London said he’d like to just carry one
all-purpose kicker, with possibly a kickoff specialist, so the competition at
this position should be strong.
Heading to Norfolk: The Cavs’ scrimmage at ODU (not a scrimmage against the
Monarchs, though — that’s against NCAA rules) will work out well for both
parties.
The fledgling program will get to raise its profile by hosting high school
coaches as part of the weekend’s festivities, and U.Va. also wins by showing in
a tangible way that it’s serious about recruiting the Tidewater area and
building visibility in the area.
Cavaliers Drop Series Finale to Seminoles, 9-8
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/14/2010
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Virginia baseball team dropped its series finale with
Florida State, 9-8, Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.
Tyler Holt's two-run home run in the eighth inning pushed FSU ahead for good in
the back-and-forth battle and helped the Seminoles avoid the series sweep.
Despite the loss, Virginia still scored its first-ever series win against
Florida State, capturing the series two games to one.
Both teams are ranked nationally among the top five. Virginia (12-3, 2-1 ACC) is
ranked as high as No. 1 in the Baseball America and Rivals.com polls, while
Florida State (13-2, 1-2) stands as high as No. 2 nationally in the Collegiate
Baseball, NCBWA and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls.
Holt hit his two-run blast with one out in the eighth off Virginia relief
pitcher Tyler Wilson (Jr., Midlothian, Va.), who was credited with the loss and
fell to 2-1 this season. Mike McGee (2-0) pitched the final 1.2 innings for the
Seminoles to earn the win. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI at
the plate.
Virginia starting pitcher Cody Winiarski (Jr., Franksville, Wis.) worked 3.2
innings and gave up four earned runs, seven hits and a walk while striking out
three. Florida State starter Geoff Parker tossed 5.2 innings, allowing five
earned runs, seven hits and three walks while striking out six.
Dan Grovatt (Jr., Tabernacle, N.J.) finished off a big weekend for UVa with a
3-for-5 day and his third home run of the series. He went 8-for-14 with four
runs scored and five RBI in the series. Steven Proscia (So., Suffern, N.Y.)
added a pair of hits and two RBI, while Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.)
hit a solo home run.
Both teams held leads on two separate occasions Sunday, and the game was tied
three different times.
Grovatt got the Cavaliers' offense going with a two-out solo home run to
right-center in the first inning. UVa tacked on a run in the second when Franco
Valdes (Sr., Miami, Fla.) grounded into a double play with the bases loaded.
Jarrett Parker (Jr., Stafford, Va.), who led off the inning with an infield
single, scored on the play.
Florida State quickly tied the game in the bottom of the second when McGee and
Stuart Tapley hit back-to-back home runs to start the inning.
The Cavaliers immediately countered when Gosselin homered to left-center on the
first pitch of the third inning for his third long ball of the season. With two
out, Proscia singled to right, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to
third on a wild pitch as Parker struck out. Parker and Proscia then combined on
a double steal, with Parker swiping second and Proscia stealing home with a
nifty slide to evade catcher Parker Brunelle.
FSU tied the game against Winiarski in the fourth inning while doing all of its
damage with two out. Jayce Boyd started the rally with a single to right.
Winiarski then walked Brunelle, and Holt followed with a double down the
left-field line to plate Boyd and knot the score at four. Neal Davis (Sr.,
Baltimore, Md.) came on in relief and got a weak grounder back to the mound from
Ramsey on his first pitch to strand runners at second and third.
Virginia used a two-out comeback of its own to re-take the lead in the fifth.
Grovatt singled to center and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Proscia
then pulled a double down the left-field line to score the run.
The Seminoles again came back in their half of the fifth, scoring three times to
take their first lead. With one out, McGee singled up the middle and then scored
on a double to right-center by Tapley. FSU forged ahead on the next pitch on a
bloop single to center by Justin Gonzalez. Boyd followed with a triple off the
fence in right-center to push the Seminoles' lead to 7-5.
UVa slashed the Seminoles' lead in half in the sixth on a Stephen Bruno (Fr.,
Audubon, N.J.) two-out pinch-hit single, scoring Reed Gragnani (Fr., Richmond,
Va.). The Cavaliers then tied the game in the seventh despite not recording a
hit. With one out and runners at first and second, John Hicks (So., Sandy Hook,
Va.) hit into a fielder's choice, but the relay throw to first sailed high for
an error, allowing Parker to score from third with the tying run.
Virginia took the lead back in the eighth inning. Gragnani led off with an
opposite-field double to left against FSU's Daniel Bennett. One out later, pinch
hitter Chris Taylor (Fr., Virginia Beach, Va.) drew a walk against the new
pitcher, Corben Madden. Grovatt then singled sharply to right to load the bases.
McGee moved from left field to the mound and got ahead in the count at 0-2
before Proscia lifted a fly ball to shallow center. Shortstop Calvin Cardullo
made the catch as he collided with left fielder Sean Gilmartin, and Gragnani
scored easily to give UVa the 8-7 lead.
Florida State took the lead for good in its half of the eighth, as Brunelle drew
a one-out walk and Holt followed with a home run just over the left-center field
wall to push the Seminoles back in front, 9-8.
Virginia returns home at 5 p.m. Tuesday for a rematch with William and Mary,
whom the Cavaliers topped 12-6 in an exciting game in Williamsburg last
Wednesday. UVa then travels to James Madison for a 6 p.m. contest Wednesday.
’Noles avoid sweep
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: March 15, 2010
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nowBuzz up!
In Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State salvaged one game in a pivotal series with
top-ranked Virginia on Sunday, using a two-run homer from Tyler Holt in the
eighth inning to register a 9-8 victory at Dick Howser Stadium.
The game featured six lead changes and three ties and had the Cavaliers (12-3,
2-1 ACC) up a run with six outs left before the Seminoles mounted their final
rally.
Virginia knocked off the fourth-ranked Seminoles in the opening two games by a
combined margin of 14-8.
“We have to be proud of what we did this weekend but you cant be satisfied,”
Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “I don’t think our team is satisfied with
just getting out of there with two wins. We had multiple opportunities today to
win the ballgame and we didn’t do it.
“I think there is enough maturity on the team to understand what we did
accomplish this weekend. Anytime you win a series you have a chance to win a
championship if you win those series consistently.”
Virginia took its final lead in the contest, at 8-7, in the top of the eighth
after Steven Proscia lifted a popup into shallow left field that turned into a
sacrifice fly after two Seminole defenders collided, allowing Reed Gragnani to
score from third.
But Holt answered for the Seminoles (13-2, 1-2) as he drove a fastball from
Virginia reliever Tyler Wilson over the left-field wall for the game-sealing,
two-run homer.
“This was a big win, there are no two ways about it,” FSU coach Mike Martin
said. “We fall behind going into the eighth inning, we got a lot at stake and
Tyler Holt does a great job of getting the big hit, no doubt about it.”
The seesaw affair saw 34 players employed, some due to the inability of the
starting hurlers to pitch deep into the contest. In all, 10 pitchers were used.
“Everybody is still trying to figure out what combination of players to use, not
only out of your bullpen but in your lineup and with pinch hitters,” O’Connor
said. “It is still early in the season, but it was a good ballgame and
unfortunately we came out on the wrong end.
“Both on Saturday and Sunday we have to pitch deeper into the ballgame, and we
will.”
Virginia took its first lead in the first inning after right fielder Dan Grovatt
hit a solo homer, his fourth blast of the weekend. Grovatt finished with three
hits in the game.
The teams jockeyed back and forth until the fifth inning when FSU scored three
runs on four hits off Virginia reliever Neal Davis, giving the Seminoles a 7-5
lead.
The Cavaliers, who finished with 10 hits, added lone runs in the sixth, seventh
and eighth to reclaim the lead, setting the stage for Holt’s second homer of the
year.
Wilson took the loss on the mound for the Cavaliers, falling to 2-1 on the
season.
Virginia will return to action on Tuesday at home against William & Mary at 5
p.m. The Cavaliers beat the Tribe on the road on Wednesday 12-6.
O'Connor said sophomore Will Roberts would get the start on the mound.
Home, Bulldogs heal Stith
The business side of the NBA had soured UVa's all-time leading scorer on
basketball.
By Robert Anderson
981-3123
RICHMOND -- Bryant Stith hated basketball.
But how could that be?
A VHSL legend ... the University of Virginia's career scoring leader ... a
10-year NBA veteran.
Basketball sure did not hate Bryant Stith.
Nevertheless, four years ago, here was Stith, back in his hometown of
Lawrenceville, a one-stoplight community smack in the economic blight called
Southside Virginia.
His 6-foot-6 body was broken down from 82-game regular seasons. He was tired of
being away from his wife and two sons. He wanted to catch up for all the times
games and practices took him away from his parents.
Yes, Stith hated basketball.
And he came home to let everyone know it.
"I got caught on the negative side of the business end of the NBA toward the end
of my career," Stith said. "I was very bitter when I left the NBA, didn't want
to have anything to do with basketball."
That was until a bunch of hungry high school kids ruined the game plan.
Stith's alma mater, Brunswick High School, needed a boys head coach. The
principal called. Stith said no. Six weeks later, the principal called back.
The rest is history.
Stith has been Brunswick's head coach for four seasons. When the Bulldogs face
Cave Spring on Saturday in the Group AA Division 3 championship game at VCU's
Siegel Center, it will be the fourth straight time he has coached in a state
final.
Stith will be wearing his game face. But wait, was that a smile?
n n n
Stith led Brunswick to back-to-back Group AA championships in 1987 and 1988,
finishing his high school career with 2,221 points.
He was a third-team All-American as a senior at Virginia, ending his career as
the Cavaliers' all-time scoring leader before he was taken with the 13th pick in
the 1992 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Stith played eight seasons in Denver, averaging a career-high 14.9 points in
1996-97. He was traded to Boston, starting 73 games for the 2000-01 Celtics. He
spent his final year with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Then his career ended. Stith said the reason can be summed up in two words:
LeBron James.
The Cavaliers were more interested in positioning themselves to get the No. 1
pick in the 2003 NBA Draft than winning games. So in the summer of 2002,
Cleveland shipped Stith and Andre Miller to the Los Angeles Clippers. Stith was
released in training camp.
Cleveland drafted James with the No. 1 pick in 2003, turning the Cavaliers into
an instant NBA contender.
"They did things in order to ensure they got the first pick," Stith said. "It
killed my career, but it lifted their organization."
James is still a big presence in Stith's life.
"My kids have his picture on their wall," Stith said. "I said, 'Don't you kids
know that guy put your daddy out of a job?' They said, 'You played long enough.'
"
n n n
Following 18 years of high school, college and NBA basketball what else would
Stith title his charitable foundation in Southside but "SCORE?"
The acronym stands for Setting Children On the Road to Empowerment, words that
Stith lives by in the economically distressed Brunswick County area.
"A lot of our main employers are closing," Stith said. "The prison just closed
last year and that provided a lot of jobs. It's really sad. The median income is
below what it is across the state of Virginia. It's tough everywhere. We can't
use that as a crutch. We've reaching out to different agencies for people to see
if they can come in and just give these kids hope."
Brunswick gives its Southside basketball rivals little hope. The Bulldogs own
three state titles -- including a victory over Cave Spring in the 2003 Group AA
final -- and have missed just one regional tournament in the last four decades.
Cave Spring coach Billy Hicks is a big Stith fan.
"He obviously cares about those kids," Hicks said. "He's not big-timing them.
He's not just standing over there saying, 'I'm Bryant Stith.'
"Just having him standing over there gives those kids a sense of pride. I think
one of the things that makes Brunswick so good year after year is that sense of
pride. There's absolutely nothing negative you can say."
n n n
Stith's bond with Brunswick is forged in steel.
His father, Norman, spent three decades as a long-distance truck driver hauling
steel up and down the East Coast. Bryant often was traveling out of state
playing AAU basketball for the famed Hampton-based Boo Williams club.
So every year during his boyhood Stith would miss the first week of school and
ride shotgun in his father's 18-wheeler.
Two years ago Norman Stith suffered a stroke, paralyzing his left side. Now
father rides with son.
"I felt the Lord brought me home for a reason, to watch my kids grow and be
closer to my mother and my father," Stith said. "I didn't have much of a
childhood. I was always travelling with Boo Williams in the summer. I missed out
on a lot of things in the pursuit of my dream."
Saturday, that means a fourth straight championship game.
Brunswick lost to William Fleming 66-57 in the 2007 Group AA final and fell to
Millbrook 53-43 in 2008. Last year the Bulldogs lost 39-33 in overtime to Cave
Spring.
Like any high school coach, Stith feels heat from fans.
"They cut me no slack," he laughed. "We're 24-3 and I probably made about 10
dumb decisions tonight in their eyes. But I love it. It keeps me on edge and I
love the pressure."
Stith is sharing the ride with his two boys. Brandan Stith, a Brunswick
freshman, will miss Saturday's final with a knee injury. Younger brother
Broderick is an eighth-grader many already are comparing to Bryant at the same
stage.
"Broderick and Brandan, they can play," Stith said.
But how long will they stay in Brunswick?
The former UVa All-American and NBA player does not hide the fact that his entry
into high school coaching has changed his focus on the future.
"So much so, that I have my aspirations set a little bit higher than just
coaching at the high school level," Stith said. "Therefore, at the right point
in time it's going to be time for me to part ways with Brunswick."
Stith came back to Brunswick to hide from basketball.
Home and his old high school have healed him.
"These kids have restored the love that I had for the game," Stith said. "They
have given me more than I can give to them. It was one of the best decisions
that I've made in my life."
Nielson Finishes Second at Tiger/Wave Classic
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/14/2010
New Orleans, LA - Virginia junior golfer Calle Nielson shot 3-under 69 during
Sunday's final round to finish second at the Tiger/Wave Golf Classic at English
Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans. Nielson finished the three-day
tournament at 2-under 214, one shot behind LSU's Megan McChrystal, who managed a
birdie on her final hole to secure the victory. Nielson had three birdies and
one bogey during her final round.
Behind Nielson's play, No. 18 Virginia finished fifth in the 23-team field that
included 16 teams ranked in the current Golfstat top-50. Auburn, ranked No. 2,
won the tournament at 25-over 889. TCU was second at 896, No. 7 Alabama was
third at 897, No 20 LSU was fourth at 901 and UVa was fifth at 902. The
Cavaliers shot 3-over 291 during the final day, their best round of the
tournament.
Nielson's final finish and score were her best this season. It was the 11th
top-10 showing during her career and her second highest finish at UVa. Last year
she tied for first at the LSU Classic.
Freshman Brittany Altomare was Virginia's next highest finisher in 31st place.
She finished at 12-over 228 including a 72 during the final round after opening
with scores of 76 and 80. Eleana Collins was 41st overall at 230. She opened the
tournament with a career-best 18-hole score of 73 and followed that up with
rounds of 83 and 74. Collins' finish was the best in her career.
Nicole Agnello was 53rd overall at 232. She opened and closed with scores of 76
and shot 80 during Saturday's second round that featured high winds that
inflated the field's scoring. Whitney Neuhauser placed 101st at 244 and only
counted as a scorer during the opening round when she shot 74. Lauren Greenlief,
playing as a non-scoring individual, was 110th at 247.
The Cavaliers are next in action March 26-28 at Georgia's Liz Murphey Classic.
Tiger/Wave Golf Classic
English Turn Country Club
New Orleans, LA
Par-72, 6,132 yards
Final Results
Team Results
1. Auburn 305-296-288-889
2. TCU 305-298-293-896
3. Alabama
293-315-290-897
4. LSU
294-307-300-901
5. Virginia 296-315-291-902
6. Tennessee 305-311-289-905
7. Georgia 307-313-286-906
8. North Carolina
302-312-295-909
9. Wake Forest 314-315-283-912
10. Mississippi 300-321-296-917
11. Vanderbilt 303-325-291-919
12. Arkansas 314-316-293-923
13. Notre Dame
310-314-300-924
14. Purdue
303-327-296-926
15. NC State
306-319-302-927
16. Tulane 305-327-300-932
16. Furman 305-334-293-932
18. Louisville 313-317-304-934
19. Col. of Charleston 313-318-304-935
20. Kentucky
308-326-312-946
21. UNC-Wilmington
322-324-314-960
22. Central Florida 321-325-315-961
23. Mississippi State
320-331-318-969
Individual Leaders
1. Megan McChrystal, LSU 72-72-69-213
2. Calle Nielson, Virginia 73-72-69-214
3. Cydney Clanton, Auburn 73-71-71-215
4. Candace Schepperle, Auburn 76-76-67-219
5. Tessa Teachman, LSU 70-75-75-220
6. Marina Alex, Vanderbilt 75-77-69-221
6. Nathalie Mansson, Tennessee 76-77-68-221
6. Rachel Raastad, TCU 78-71-72-221
9. Emilie Burger, Georgia 81-75-66-222
9. Camilla Lennarth, Alabama 72-76-75-222
9. Brooke Pancake, Alabama 70-80-72-222
Virginia Results
2. Calle Nielson 73-72-69-214
31. Brittany Altomare 76-80-72-228
41. Eleana Collins 73-83-74-230
53. Nicole Agnello 76-80-76-232
101. Whitney Neuhauser 74-86-84-244
110. Lauren Greenlief* 81-91-75-247
* Competing as an individual
Virginia Sweeps DH at Maryland in Conference Opener
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 03/14/2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Virginia softball team (12-9, 2-0 ACC) opened Atlantic
Coast Conference play with two victories over Maryland (10-9, 0-2 ACC) to sweep
the doubleheader Sunday at Taylor Stadium in College Park, Md. Behind two solid
outings from pitcher Melanie Mitchell, the Cavaliers claimed the first game,
5-3, and won the second, 3-1.
It marks the first series win over Maryland since the 2006 season; the two teams
played just two games of the series because of inclement weather on Saturday.
Mitchell, a native of White Plains, Md., went the distance in both contests; in
the second game she allowed one earned run on eight hits with four strikeouts
and just one walk. The Cavaliers had a solid defensive effort behind her.
The Terps outhit UVa in game two. Sophomore Giannina Cipolloni and senior Nicole
Koren each recorded two hits; Alex Skinkis and Alison Pittman also had singles
for the Orange and Blue.
The Virginia bats were hot early. Cipolloni led off the game with an infield
single and later scored on Koren's double to right center. Koren then scored on
Skinkis' RBI single up the middle as the Cavaliers jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
UVa added another run in the third. Cipolloni again led off with an infield
single. Koren then singled to left to score her teammate as Virginia led 3-0.
Maryland got one run back in the bottom of the third. With one out, Kathy
McLaughlin beat out an infield single to second. A single from Vangie Galindo
put two runners on; McLaughlin would score on a Kerry Hickey RBI single to
right. Mitchell would get out of the jam with a strikeout to end the inning.
The Cavalier defense stayed tough and shut out the Terps for the final four
innings of play.
Virginia took game one 5-3 after a solid outing from Mitchell and two-hit
performances from seniors Sarah Tacke and Abby Snyder.
For the game, the Cavaliers outhit Maryland 9-6. Koren chipped in a double in
addition to Tacke and Snyder's two singles; Lauren McCaskey, Skinkis, Pittman
and Taylor Williams also registered hits in the win.
Mitchell threw a complete game and finished with 11 strikeouts.
Virginia took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. McCaskey walked, stole second and
came into score on a Tacke RBI single up the middle.
Tacke came through again in the second inning. With two outs, she singled
through the right side to score Snyder and McCaskey, who each recorded singles
earlier in the inning.
Aggressive base running led to two more runs for the Orange and Blue in the
third. Clara Kendall and Alexa Martinez both walked. Williams reentered the game
to run for Martinez and both runs scored on two errors by the catcher when
Kendall attempted to steal third. Williams scored all the way from first after
the second overthrow.
Maryland came back and cut the lead to 5-1 after Alex Schultz hit a solo home
run over the center field fence in the fourth. The Terps added two more in the
bottom of the seventh, but it would not prove to be enough.
Virginia is back in action at the prestigious Judi Garman Invitational, which
begins Thursday in Fullerton, Calif. The Cavaliers will face Louisiana-Lafayette
in its first game of the tournament at 9 a.m. PDT (noon EDT) on Thursday.
UVa women to learn destination
By Jay Jenkins
Published: March 15, 2010
» 1 Comment | Post a Comment
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nowBuzz up!
After a week of waiting, the Virginia women’s basketball team will learn its
fate tonight at 7 when the NCAA tournament bracket will be announced on ESPN.
It could be a short trip for the Cavaliers (21-9), with a regional in place in
Norfolk at Old Dominion.
It could also mirror what the program experienced last year when they were
shipped to California, where two regionals will be held.
Virginia could also land in regionals such as Ames, Iowa, Cincinnati, Norman,
Okla., or Seattle.
The most logical place is in Norfolk, however, after ODU lost in the CAA
championship to James Madison, likely knocking the Monarchs off the NCAA bubble.
A regional without Old Dominion would likely need an in-state team, either UVa
or JMU (or both), to help attendance numbers.
ESPN analyst Charlie Creme certainly thinks so — he projected that the Cavaliers
will be the fifth seed in Norfolk, with Kentucky holding the fourth seed at the
same site. That regional would start play on Sunday and the two winners would
play on Tuesday.
Virginia will enter the NCAA tournament looking to turn the page from one of the
season’s most troubling losses — the Cavaliers stumbled against sixth-seeded
N.C. State 66-59 in the ACC quarterfinal round.
Monica Wright said it would be tough to turn the page after having the team’s
side of the bracket become favorable with second-seeded Florida State’s defeat
just prior to Virginia’s game with the Wolfpack.
“This was handed to us,” the school’s all-time scorer said. “It was like they
handed it to us and said, ‘UVa, here you go.’
“They placed us in a position where we could win. I don’t think we realized that
it was handed to us.”
While Wright scored 32 points in the ACC tournament loss, the four starters that
joined her in combined to shoot 6 for 25 from the field.
“It was set up for us to win the ACC championship and we didn’t realize the
opportunity that we had,” Wright said. “We didn’t even play like we wanted to
play.
“There were a number of things that we didn’t take care of. Even if we make
those mistakes we should be good enough to make up for it.”
With an NCAA bid all but secured with a high RPI, a free viewing party is
scheduled at Bryant Hall this evening at 7 p.m.