While there might be some slight tweaking Friday, the Colonial Rivers Conference 25 baseball and softball tournament picture is moving into focus. The eight-team Group 3A conference, which involves five Bay Rivers District schools, begins quarterfinal play Monday.
The marquee baseball matchup that day will be between No. 1 seed Lafayette (15-3) and No. 8 Warhill (5-14), at 11 a.m. at the Warhill Sports Complex. A year ago, both reached the regional tournament, which Warhill won en route to a first-ever state quarterfinal appearance.
Should Warhill lose the contest, it will mark the final one for head coach Joe Henzel, who announced recently that he was stepping down at the end of the season. Lafayette enters on the heels of its first district championship since 2005, when Henzel guided them to that title.
The expected schedule for the Colonial Rivers baseball quarterfinals includes No. 7 York at No. 2 Park View-South Hill at 1 p.m., No. 6 Poquoson at No. 3 Colonial Heights at 6:30 p.m. and No. 4/5 New Kent versus No. 5/4 Southampton, time and site to be announced.
In softball, No. 1 Park View will get a first-round bye because winless Lafayette has opted not to participate. The rest of the schedule is expected to be No. 7 Poquoson at No. 2 York at 5 p.m., No. 6 Warhill at No. 3 Colonial Heights, time TBA, and Southampton versus New Kent, time and site to be announced.
Hill coaching football again
Former Smithfield High football coach Tyris Hill was introduced last week as the new head football coach at Bertie High in North Carolina, the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald reported. Hill coached at Smithfield from 2008-11, guiding the Packers to a 21-20 record.
Hill led the Packers to an 8-3 record in 2009, when they shared the Bay Rivers District title (with Bruton) for the first time in 16 years. In a curious twist, Hill replaces Will Harrell as head coach at Bertie.
Will Harrell is the son of Clark Harrell, who was selected the head coach at Smithfield after Hill’s departure. Clark Harrell led Smithfield to the Bay Rivers District title in 2012, his first season with the Packers.
Will Harrell began the 2013 season at Bertie as offensive coordinator. He was named interim head coach at Bertie when Rayshawn Spencer departed after only one game, and guided the program to one victory in its final nine games.
Transfer catcher leads Falcons
York High softball coach Amy Hunter says that she’s gotten transfers from across the Coleman Bridge in Gloucester before, but says none came as highly recommended by Gloucester High coach Red Lindsay as sophomore catcher Devon Smith.
Smith justified Lindsay’s praise by making some big plays in York’s 3-2 win Wednesday at Smithfield. One was her sprint to second after she reached on a bunt single — as Smithfield pitcher Sydney Gay walked back to the pitcher’s circle.
Smith advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly for a key run that put York ahead 3-0 in the top of the sixth. That proved to be the winning run as the Packers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Smith made a crucial field of a bunt and throw to first to gun out the runner by a step in the bottom of the sixth. Her throw ended the inning, preventing Smithfield from loading the bases.
“Devon had a great game,” Hunter said. “Smithfield is known for playing small ball and she was on her toes when they bunted.
Tabb-Jamestown baseball ppd.
The Jamestown at Tabb baseball game scheduled for Thursday was postponed because of wet grounds. That game is rescheduled for 4 p.m. Friday.
It will be a preview of their Conference 19 tournament semifinal, which will be played Thursday at Jamestown. The winner of the conference semi will advance to the 4A South Region tournament.
Grafton (15-5) is the No. 1 seed in Conference 19. The Clippers will host the winner of Tuesday’s Smithfield-Powhatan game on Thursday, also with a 4A South Region berth on the line.
Conference 19 softball
Powhatan is the No. 1 seed for the Conference 19 softball tournament. On Thursday, the Indians host the winner of Tuesday’s Jamestown-Tabb game in the semifinals, with a 4A South Region tournament berth on the line. No. 3 Smithfield visits No. 2 Grafton on Thursday in the semifinals, with a 4A South Region tournament berth also on the line.
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