Long before the Saints embarked on what equated into a 16-win campaign this season that stretched into the state semifinals, Swanson had told school officials that he would not be returning for the upcoming academic year.

“We just weren’t playing very well,” Dave Breslin said. “But I told the kids that they had the next 24 minutes to do something special.”

“He hardly ever talks anymore, but he’d always know how many goals I’d scored and he’d say ‘Four goals?’ or ‘Seven goals?’ and give me a big high-five,” Jack Thomasson said.

In Spotsylvania, Tyler Marshall and Sean Sweeney combined for a two-hit shutout as Albemarle Post 74 defeated Courtland Post 55 12-0 on Friday night.

In the tenth inning, trailing by one run, the Albemarle offense rallied once more, and after Ryan Hughes drove in the tying run, Patrick Collins drove in Daniel Haugh to win the game, 5-4.

While the pressure may have nagged him, Moyers was able to overcome it, defeating Jack Wilkes 2-up at Birdwood Golf Course to become the first-ever repeat champion.

After two days of stroke play qualifying, the VSGA kicked off its Junior Match Play Championship on Thursday.

Tasmin Fanning, a former standout at Western Albemarle High School, advanced to today’s finals in the 5,000-meter run in the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.

The 2008 All-Central Virginia Baseball team has been announced. 

It was a serendipitous twist of fate that brought the 2008 All-Central Virginia baseball coach of the year together with his overachieving Albemarle team. And while the Patriots’ season ended on their bus rather than on the diamond, the foundation is set for a return trip to the state tournament.

The countless hours of practice paid off — Kyle Long was named the 2008 Central Virginia baseball player of the year after dominating in two-way fashion.

Kenny Fleming didn’t begin his baseball career like a seasoned veteran. He started off like any other rookie — nearly clueless.

When the dust settled, Western Albemarle came out on top, winning the Virginia High School League’s Wachovia Cup for Group AA schools, an award that combines points earned from appearances and finishes in various VHSL sponsored state tournaments. The VHSL announced the final cup standings Tuesday.

Western Albemarle High won the VHSL’s cross-discipline competition Tuesday.

Monticello has settled on a replacement for departed girls basketball coach Melvin Ely — and athletic director Fitzgerald Barnes didn’t have to look far. 

The sophomore managed a win and set the table for Western’s powerful doubles group, where Preve and freshman Teddy Nelson teamed for a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles that clinched Western’s second straight state title with a 5-2 victory. 

Western Albemarle’s win in the VHSL state finals was a fantastic finish to a dominating season, but the state final match also provided a chance for redemption for the Warriors’ Jamie Thomas, Ben Fitts and Joey Manilla. 

Gabe Kosowitz battled through footwork problems to pick up a three-set victory at No. 2 singles, clinching a 5-0 victory for the Warriors in the Group AA boys tennis team semifinals over Harrisonburg. Western will face Salem this morning at 9 a.m. the finals with the chance to win its second straight state title.

Unfortunately for Western Albemarle’s Joey Manilla, that was not the case — he lost in the state semifinals to Region I champion Elliott Mee of Jamestown in three sets, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-2, but Artis saw the heart of a champion.

Shutting Brittany Griel down proved tougher than anyone imagined as the Chantilly star scored six times to lead her team past the Patriots, 11-9.

It appears that Albemarle’s baseball team isn’t the only squad that came out on the short end of Mother Nature’s stick. Charlottesville’s girls soccer team’s state quarterfinal battle with Courtland was called a 1-0 Courtland victory after a thunderstorm delay of nearly three hours. There were 38 minutes left on the clock when the game was delayed, but those 38 minutes won’t ever be played.

Joey Manilla fell in the first round of the VHSL boys tennis state semifinals. 

On Tuesday, Albemarle’s baseball team drove away from its Virginia High School League state tournament quarterfinal down 5-4 in the middle of the fifth inning to defending Group AAA champion James River. The Patriots left with the assurance they’d be back Wednesday for a chance to rally and extend their season.

Charlottesville’s girls soccer season came to a halt Wednesday night by way of a series of severe thunderstorms that swept across the state.

Albemarle High filed a formal appeal at 10:30 a.m. today on behalf of the baseball team, but the VHSL has ruled that the Patriots’ 5-4 loss to James River Tuesday night will stand as ruled.

Lee Downey is Louisa County’s new athletic director.

In spite of the discussion, the VHSL ultimately decided to call the game after just four and a half innings of play, but not until both teams were well on their way home.

The Warriors simply couldn’t find an answer for Chantilly’s defensive slide as the Chargers knocked Western out of the VHSL state tournament with a 10-5 semifinal victory at Westfield High Tuesday night.

The Cougars exploded for an eight-goal run through the third frame to take control and romp to a 14-3 victory to advance to the state championship game.

Athletes from Albemarle, Charlottesville, Monticello, Western Albemarle, Covenant, and St. Anne’s-Belfield were all recognized for the 2007-2008 season in sports.