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July 03, 2008
Draft’s Holbert commits to Salem
Stuarts Draft second baseman and pitcher Mickie Holbert has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Salem International University, an NCAA Division II school located in Salem, W.Va. Holbert received a partial scholarship to join the Fighting Tigers.July 01, 2008
Post 340 still winless through seven games
The magic number for Post 340 is seven, but it’s not a lucky number as the men from the River City were trumped 13-3 by Orange Post 156 at Kate Collins Field on Tuesday night. The loss was the squad’s seventh straight loss in its winless season.
“We play well for five to six innings and if we get frustrated, we lose it,” said manger Gary Weatherholtz.
June 24, 2008
Players, assistant coaches lament Critzer’s resignation
It was no surprise to some Waynesboro baseball players that coach Jim Critzer made his exit official on June 18.
Although the Little Giants were prepared, many were still mourning the final curtain call.
June 23, 2008
Giants’ Critzer resigns
In the days leading up to Waynesboro’s second straight Group AA Final Four baseball berth, speculation was abound that it would be skipper Jim Critzer’s last season at the helm of the Little Giants.
Critzer put the rumors to rest Monday, confirming that for the first time in four years the Waynesboro baseball program will have to search for a new coach.
June 07, 2008
Mixed Emotions
PULASKI
The end of the Waynesboro’s season came to an abrupt end on Friday morning, losing the Group AA semifinal 15-3 against Powhatan.
The Little Giants took the backfield like they normally do after a game to chat with skipper Jim Critzer.
June 06, 2008
STATE EXTRA: Waynesboro fans proud of the Little Giants
PULASKI
With the heat index escalating to 100 degrees, Waynesboro fans took shelter beneath the covered grandstand at Calfee Park before the Little Giants and Indians met in the Group AA semifinals Friday morning.
STATE EXTRA: The final goodbye
PULASKI
Waynesboro gathered in left field, some staring into Calfee Park’s lawn, others looking past the mountain in right field and a handful watching their coaches make the final post-game speeches of the season.
STATE EXTRA: Blonde Bombers’ bats hammer away at Calfee
PULASKI
Last season’s Powhatan juniors grew into this year’s “Blonde Bombers” as the Indians moved into the Group AA baseball finals after eliminating Waynesboro in the semifinals Friday morning.
The Indians’ bats were as hot as the broiling sun beating down on the beautiful Calfee Park.
STATE EXTRA: A painful loss; Giants fall to Indians
PULASKI — Having used both aces in the state quarterfinals, Waynesboro and Powhatan had to pitch their No. 2 starters. It seemed fitting that whoever could score quick and often would win the game. Riding the powerful hitting of their No. 3 and 4 hitters, Powhatan hammered the Little Giants, 15-3, in the first Group AA semifinal of the day.
Daily Pooch Punt: For Giantdom, it has been too long
High school sports always throw them at you, these things we call “great stories.” Some get put into print and placed on the Internets. Others go untold to the general public, only talked about amongst those who know.
So let’s keep it our secret, OK? Let those hoity-toity big-city papers keep high school box scores buried on B10. Those guys have bigger fish to fry.
Let them opine on how the return of the Lakers and Celtics to the NBA Finals is the greatest thing since bread and its eventual slicing.
We’ll disagree and point over to Pickle Nuckols’ return to the Buffalo Gap football field in 2007 and say, “Whatever. Beat that.”
June 05, 2008
STATE EXTRA: Giants keep their cool
Waynesboro will dismiss the mere suggestion that Group AA semifinals make them quiver. “Look, does that look like a bunch of kids that are nervous,” Critzer said pointing to the dug out. “We’re not nervous, what do we have to be nervous about?” Last year the Little Giants were defeated by Hidden Valley at Calfee Park. Critzer shrugged off the do or die situation that his team faces today against Powhatan in the Group AA semifinals.STATE EXTRA: Thompson chases state gold
When Waynesboro slugger Jay Thompson’s name was announced over the public address system on May 30 in the Region III semifinals in Amherst, Jefferson Forest took notice.
Cavalier fans shouted, “move back the outfield,” or “pitch around that guy, he can hit.”
June 04, 2008
GIANTS EXTRA: Wolfe’s season of learning
Little Giant catcher Kendall Wolfe guards home plate with all his heart, usually soiled with dirt and sweat pouring off his face.
Through the season he has picked up a few lessons and is learning to control his throws when runners are in motion and threaten to steal.
The Little Giants are making their second in as many years to Calfee Park to play in the Group AA Final Four against Powhatan. Last season they were ousted by Hidden Valley.
GIANTS EXTRA: Up to the challenge
They have the bats that have punched holes in opposing pitchers this season.
Eric Hall and Derek Hall made the offensive sledgehammer that kept the Little Giants rolling this season. Many of the Giant players played together as youngsters and by the time they reached their freshmen year in high school, they had an idea about each others personalities and who can do damage on the diamond.
June 03, 2008
STATE EXTRA: Critzer gets a bath, some love
With their 6-2 victory over Abingdon on Tuesday night, the Little Giants are one step closer to the state crown.
STATE EXTRA: Giants heading back to Pulaski
Even when odds and reality suggested otherwise, Abingdon’s baseball team thought it could rally for a win in Tuesday’s Group AA quarterfinal.
After all, the Falcons wiped out a 9-3 deficit with six outs left against Hidden Valley in Friday’s Region IV finals.
June 02, 2008
STATE EXTRA: Falcons flying high
Abingdon coach Mark Francisco normally uses this week to prepare for his instructional camp that he gives for area Little Leaguers. “I’ve got to order shirts for it this week,” he said Sunday night. In between gathering registration forms and picking up T-shirts, Francisco still has a baseball team to coach. Not that he minds one iota.STATE EXTRA: Critzer: Teams are equal
Waynesboro coach Jim Critzer said his team is evenly matched in tonight’s Group AA quarterfinals against Abingdon. “I see a lot of similarities, they’re not per se a dominating team,” Critzer said. “They know how to comeback, they showed that against Hidden Valley on Friday night. They have a couple of good pitchers and when one is not pitching, the other one plays short stop. It’s pretty much what we do with [Jeremy] Hahn and Joseph [Lucas].”STATE EXTRA: Three arms know where they want to go
The standard bearer for Waynesboro this season was “never surrender.” Freshman Drew DeMoss discovered that during his short tenure wearing a Little Giants’ jersey. Last Thursday, DeMoss stopped the bleeding in relief and closed the door on Jefferson Forest 10-8 for the Group AA berth. He will join the hurlers Joseph Lucas and Jeremy Hahn. Those three arms are expected to carry the Giants in their bid for a return trip the Final Four.
DeMoss is enthralled by the prospect of going all the way in his rookie season.
May 30, 2008
Giants fall in Region III championship
AMHERST — The Waynesboro Little Giants couldn’t find enough firepower to overcome the Alleghany juggernaut and fell to the Mountaineers 10-5 in the Region III championship game at Amherst on Friday.
Every batter in the Alleghany lineup produced at least one hit, and two of those cleared the fence.
May 29, 2008
Waynesboro trips up JF, gets second straight berth to Group AA Tournament
AMHERST — Waynesboro was jittery when the bases were loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Freshman pitcher Drew DeMoss came out of the bullpen and eased the tension leading the Little Giants to a 10-8 win over Jefferson Forest in the Region III semifinals, locking up a Group AA berth.
The road back to states
Inning-by-inning coverage of Waynesboro baseball's win against Jefferson Forest in the Region III semifinal.
May 26, 2008
Draft takes over Hill City, beats Heritage
LYNCHBURG — Stuarts Draft’s baseball team wasted no time in making itself at home in the Hill City during its first round Region III tournament game at Heritage. The Cougars pounded the Pioneers (16-7) for 10 hits, including two homers and nine runs in the first two innings, advancing to today’s 5 p.m. quarterfinal game at Alleghany with a 12-7 victory.May 23, 2008
Slideshow: Fort Defiance beats Waynesboro 11 - 9
The third time was the charm for Fort Deifance, as the Indians beat Waynesboro 11-9 Thursday in the Southern Valley District title game Thursday at the KC.May 22, 2008
Luray stops an upset
HARRISONBURG – Luray won the Shenandoah District championship on Thursday night defeating Wilson Memorial 4-2.
“Wilson played a good game,” said Bulldogs coach Steve Griffith. “They defeated Gap 1-0, but both teams were loose, maybe a little to loose. We did better when there was pressure on us.”
Fort holds off Giants to win tourney
Fort Defiance ran out to a six-run lead but had to hold off a surging Waynesboro squad in the seventh inning to grab an 11-9 win and the Southern Valley District baseball tournament championship at the KC on Thursday.
The Indians blitzed three Waynesboro pitchers for 17 hits and needed almost all of them to keep the top seed at bay.
May 21, 2008
Ferguson no-hits Nelson to finals
Nelson County defeated Appomattox 9-2 on Wednesday night in the Dogwood District semifinals. Nelson pitcher Josh Ferguson pitched a no-hitter in the win with four strikeouts and five walks. Chris Garwood went 2-for-3 with two runs and a double. Chris Jones was 2-for-4 with two runs, a triple and hit a homerun. Andy Gordon went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double. He added a home run and four RBI. Nelson will advance to the district championship at Chatham on Friday at 6 pm.Draft stays alive
STUARTS DRAFT — The weather was off and on throughout the evening, but Stuarts Draft was dead on.
Timely hitting, great defense and four shutout innings by Seth Via set the tone for a 12-0 five-inning win over Rockbridge County in the Southern Valley consolation game. The win gave the Cougars a bid in the Region III tournament next week when they will hit the road to face an opponent yet to be named.
Stuarts Draft locks up Region III berth
STUARTS DRAFT — The weather was off and on throughout the evening, but Stuarts Draft was dead on. Timely hitting, great defense and four shutout innings by Seth Via set the tone for a 12-0 win over Rockbridge County in the Southern Valley consolation game. The win gave the Cougars a bid in the regional tournament next week when they will hit the road to face an opponent yet to be named.May 19, 2008
