Well, here we go. The Chief’s pride and joy; the quarterly Total Market Coverage edition.
The sports department puts on its fanciest Loudmouth pants for this extravaganza, meaning a late-night product review and dusting off the cobwebs of the Wild Bill mailbag. As they say at the Franklin County Speedway, it’s time to drop the green flag.
We open the proceedings this week with a congratulatory shout to Hidden Valley’s Walker Brand for turning the perfect double play. Brand, who will head to Washington & Lee this fall to continue his stellar football career, received the Artie Levin Personal Life Award during Monday night’s B’nai B’rith awards ceremony.
Like hitting back-to-back homers, Brand then took home the B’nai B’rith’s Athletic Achievement Award, given to the top area student athlete since 1951. Yale-bound Claire Ewing-Nelson, a distance runner at Blacksburg High School, picked up the top spot among the girl’s nominees. Candidates are from 19 area high schools, recognizing scholarship, athletics and personal life.
Speaking of awards, the prestigious Don Holliday Scholarship and its $ 20,000 check will be awarded next Wednesday morning at Roanoke Country Club. Mum’s the word until the last minute on the winner. Check this column online next week for the recipient.
The Salem Red Sox open a 4-game stand against the Potomac Nationals Friday through Monday at Salem Memorial Ball Park. Game times are 7:05 Fri. , 6:05 Sat. , 4:05 Sun. and a 1:05 matinee set for Memorial Day.
Also this weekend, a double-dose of trading paint at the Franklin County Speedway. Saturday night’s 7:00 p.m. green flag will be followed by a 3:00 p.m. shoot-’em-up on Memorial Day. Sunday’s slugfest set the stage for what should be a classic confrontation after a car was rear-ended during caution and a horrific crash in turn one left one car on its side in a sheet metal disaster. Understandably, tempers flared and paybacks may be in order.
High school baseball and softball complete the regular season this week, with tournament playoffs leading to a run for state titles just around the corner. Here’s a look at the Wild Bill ” Big-11 ” Top-3 in each.
BASEBALL:
#1) Hidden Valley- The 14-2-1 Titans stay atop the poll and hope to make big noise in the playoffs. Solid defense, pitching and offense anchor the Hidden Valley squad. A rivalry matchup with Cave Spring concludes the regular season Thursday.
#2) Northside- The Vikings, 13-5, keep pace in the second spot after a close win over William Byrd on Monday. Northside has the guns to make a statement in the playoffs.
#3) tie-Patrick Henry and Glenvar- The 10-8 Patriots made a statement Tuesday with a walk-off win over Hidden Valley. Glenvar enters the poll with 8-1 record in the Three Rivers and 13-4 overall.
SOFTBALL:
#1) Cave Spring- The Knights ( 18-1 ) stay in first after their 11-1 rivalry win over Hidden Valley on Monday and 3-1 win Tuesday at Carroll County. The Cave Spring offense is dominating, with defense and starting pitching to match.
#2) Northside- Lynn Richmond’s ultra-talented Vikings are waiting for a Cave Spring slip. The 16-2 Vikings kept the pressure on with Monday’s 10-0 win over William Byrd.
#3) Lord Botetourt- The Cavs ( 11-5 ) hold on to the third spot heading into tournament action. Botetourt may be the dark horse for a deep playoff run.
Now, to the much awaited late-night product review where driving convenience takes an unexpected wrong turn. We bring you the GoPilot. At first glance I figured the name implied a GPS device or some type of automatic remote ignition starter. Au contraire, my good readers.
The GoPilot is pitched as a convenience must-have that makes it easy to….well, in order to maintain the propriety of this column…..wee-wee while driving. The GoPilot looks like a box with a vacuum cleaner hose attached.
The testimonials for the GoPilot are priceless. Herb says he no longer has to carry a water bottle for “emergencies”. One gal says her family no longer uses zip-lock bags to avoid bathroom stops. And, a snow plow driver claims that during his winter excursions, after drinking coffee to stay awake, he can avoid going in the dark and freezing cold with the GoPilot in tow. That really makes sense in case you unwittingly discover a guard rail is actually an electric fence.
I’m giving the GoPilot a neutral rating. Positives for avoiding electric shocks and the saving on driving time. But, minus on the pricey cost of $29.95. Seems like a styrofoam cup could accomplish the same objective. Trust me on that one.
On to the mailbag, where one reader thanks us for reviewing the CityKitty.
Dear Wild Bill: Thanks for the lowdown on the CityKitty. My cats love it and they now have more self-esteem. A purr-fect addition to my home. (Lorraine/Troutville)
Glad we could be of help, Lorraine. There’s nothing better than ascending to the throne for any feline family.
Well, until next week, keep your GPS inquiries dialed into [email protected].
Zip-lock bags? Are you kidding me? And, I thought those swerving drivers in front of me were just texting.
– Bill Turner
