Wild Bill’s Sports Roundup!

Bill Turner
Bill Turner

There’s nothing better than a holiday edition of the Wild Bill Column.

America’s holiday, fireworks and plenty to celebrate throughout the Fourth of July festivities. I’ve got to give The Chief credit for planning our holiday spectacular edition to hit the newsstands right before the Fourth.
So, we’ll wave our flags and head right to this month’s column where we celebrate state champions, name All-State selections from our “Big-11” teams and take a peek at plastic mice running rampant as the rockets still glare.
We open with cheers and fireworks for a pair of “Big-11” state championship tennis teams. And, the two are located just 2 miles apart.
Congratulations to the Hidden Valley Boys Tennis 3A State Champions after their convincing win over Blacksburg on the Liberty University courts in Lynchburg.
Shout outs likewise go out to the Cave Spring Girls Tennis Team who completed the triple crown at Liberty when the Knight team defeated the Blacksburg girls for the 3A title. To add to the celebration Cave Spring #1 singles player Fallon Delp rolled to the 3A singles title, while Fallon teamed with her sister Reagan Delp to capture the 3A doubles championship.
The Cave Spring tennis dominance leads us to an unusual sidebar on the tradition of VHSL championship rings awarded to state championship players and coaches. Each member of the winning team is entitled to a ring, so Fallon, Reagan and head coach Susan Delp (their mom) and assistant coach Ken Delp (their dad) get a ring. In the singles, Fallon sizes up a ring along with Susan and Ken, while in the doubles Fallon, Reagan, Susan and Ken pick up more finger hardware.
That’s 11 championships for the Delp household in 2016. Add to that the eight won in 2015 by the Delps and you’ve got 19 championship rings up for grabs in the last two years. Yes, you always learn something when you read this column.
Now, to the rockets red glare for our “Big-11” All-State selections.
Group 5A Boys All-State Lacrosse First Team: Patrick Henry’s Noah Hollander (attack), Christian Blackwell and Brice Johnson (middies), Andrew Hamilton(defender) and Isaac Smith (goalkeeper).
Group 5A Boys All-State Soccer Second Team: Patrick Henry’s Irakoze Donasiyano (forward).
Group 4A Boys All-State Lacrosse Second Team: Salem’s Anthony Migliarese (middie).
Group 4A Girls All-State Lacrosse First Team: Salem’s Lilly Blair (middie).
Group 4A Girls All-State Lacrosse Second Team: Salem’s Kara Yates and Arie Newman (attack), Maggie Crute (defender) and Maddie Bowman (goalkeeper).
Group 4A Boys All-State Soccer Second Team: Salem’s Paul Duffy (defender).
Group 4A Girls All-State Soccer First Team: Salem’s Hannah Coulling (middie) and Skyler Hayes (defender).
Group 3A All-State Softball First Team: Northside’s Madison Via (outfielder).
Group 3A Girls All-State Soccer First Team: Lord Botetourt’s Sara Bane (forward) and Emily Barranco (middie) along with Cave Spring’s Lauren Huff (forward)
Group 3A Boys All-State Soccer First Team: Northside’s Nick St. Pierre (middie)
Group 3A Boys All-State Soccer Second Team: Cave Spring’s Skyler Mattox (forward) and Paxton Daniels (defender) along with Lord Botetourt’s Grant Goldsmith (defender).
Group 2A All-State Baseball FirstbTeam: Glenvar’s Zach Duncan (pitcher) and Matthew Pulliam (utility).
Group 2A All-State Softball First Team: Glenvar’s Amber Smith (catcher) and Haley Green (1st base).

Group 3A All-Sate Baseball First Team: Northside’s JD Mundy (3rd base)

Group 3A All-State Baseball Second Team: Lord Botetourt’s Alex Snyder (catcher), Hidden Valley’s Cody Boone (shortstop) and Northside’s JoJo Wampler (outfield).
Important Note: Cave Spring also captured the 2016 Group 3A Wells Fargo Cup for Academics.
Finally, we take a peek at this edition’s late night product review, The Racin’ Rascal and laser pointer.This silly gadget is nothing more than a plastic mouse than zips around to drive your cat nuts. They claim you control the fun, but you’d have more fun letting this thing loose in a restaurant than staying at home and boring your feline companion. I found something similar at Wal-Mart for under $5. Pair the Racin’ Rascal with the advertised Buzzin’ Bee and your into to this with S&H for the tidy sum of $35-plus.
Although the people in the ad seemed mesmerized, how long can you watch a plastic mouse and what pet chases a plastic bee? You do get a 100% cat satisfaction guarantee. Just what my cat wants. Like a wet firecracker, I’m rating this one a first class dud. Have more fun and buy some real mice to cut loose for a spirited romp.
Until next time, let the screaming begin and have happy Fourth, varmits or not!
Bill Turner

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