by Bill Turner
Six Roanoke-area high school players were among the talented West All-Star team that competed in the Coventry Commonwealth Games last weekend in the round-robin format at Kiwanis Field in Salem.
Included in that group were Dustin Garst of Salem High School, Dallas Chocklette and Jo Stickney of William Byrd, Dylan Powers of Lord Botetourt, as well as Reece Kingery and Steve Klaiber of Cave Spring.
All will be starters returning to their respective high school squads next year.
Although the West team did not medal, they proved to be tough competition throughout. Their highlight win came on Sunday morning in the completion of a rain-delayed game carried over from Friday night. Klaiber provided the big blow in the 4-3 win with a three-run homer in the second inning. Klaiber also went 2-for-4 in the West’s 9-4 loss to the Central Virginia team Saturday.
Also, on Saturday, Powers sent a blast over the right field wall for a two-run homer as the West fell short in a 4-3 loss to the East. Garst was 2-for-3 in Sunday’s bronze medal 6-3 loss in a rematch with the Central team.
