REGIONAL BRIEFS: Greenwalt Gets it Done for Greeneville

Bristol Herald Courier Staff Reports
Published: June 18, 2008

From Staff and Wire Reports
Kyle Greenwalt earned his first professional win and the Greeneville Astros spoiled Nick Leyva’s debut as Kingsport Mets manager with a 7-5 Appalachian League victory on Tuesday night at Hunter Wright Stadium.

Greenwalt worked five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out three. The 19-year-old Pennsylvania native went 0-7 with a 7.53 ERA in 12 appearances for Greeneville last year.

Colton Pitkin and Brian Wabick polished off Greenwalt’s win. Designated hitter Kyle Miller led the Astros’ offensive barrage with two hits and three RBIs, while first baseman Kody Hinze went 1-for-1 with four walks, three runs and two RBIs.

Wilmer Flores and Daniel Stegall each had three hits to lead Kingsport. Leyva is in his first season as the Mets’ skipper after serving as a third-base coach with the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He led the Bristol White Sox to the 2002 Appy League title.

Danville 5, Burlington 3
Gerardo Rodriguez crushed a two-run home run in the sixth inning and the Danville Braves downed the Burlington Royals in their season-opener.
Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Danville, the defending Appy League East Division champions. L.V. Ware scored two runs for the Braves, while Junior Rogas worked 3 2/3 strong innings to pick up the win in relief.
Angel Franco, Diego Cruz and Salvador Perez each had two hits for Burlington. The Royals were hurt by four errors.

Elizabethton 12, Bluefield 6
Defending Appalachian League champion Elizabethton picked up where it left off a year ago as the Twins trounced the visiting Bluefield Orioles in the season opener for both teams.
Michael Harrington, Daniel Rams and Jonathan Waltenbury all hit home runs for Elizabethton. The Twins used a seven-run eighth inning to clinch the victory.
Levi Carolus drove in two runs for Bluefield.

SOCCER
VHS players honored
Two players from Virginia High earned first-team honors on the Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Group A girls’ soccer team.
Midfielders Carrie Wisman and Caroline Gentry both earned first-team accolades after they led the Bearcats to the inaugural Clinch Mountain District and Region D titles. VHS (15-3-1) advanced to the state semifinals, before losing to Goochland.
Meanwhile, forwards Abigail Shankel and Hannah Shankel represented the Bearcats on the second team. Hogoheegee District player of the year Kelby Dove of George Wythe was also a second-team selection.
Patrick Henry’s Jessica Morgan, Lebanon’s Brooke Mitchell, John Battle’s Anna Davis, Virginia High’s Candice West, John Battle’s Alma Schafer, John Battle’s Danielle Owens, John Battle’s Whitney Osborne and the Virginia High trio of Mary Goodpasture, Kirsten Frye and Selena Trichel were honorable mention picks.
Radford goalkeeper Desi Simmons (player of the year) and George Mason’s Jennifer Parsons (coach of the year) took the top honors.

MISC.
Radford wins Cup
Frank W. Cox (Group AAA), Western Albemarle (Group AA) and Radford (Group A) were awarded the trophies in the Virginia High School League Wachovia Cup athletic competition.
The award goes to the school in each classification that has achieved the best record in state-level competition in 27 sports.
Grundy and Richlands were the top Southwest Virginia schools in the Group AA competition, finishing in a tie for 35th.
Radford finished with 335 points en route to the Group A title and the Region C member achieved its most points in the spring.
Gate City — which had its volleyball, football and boys basketball teams advance to the state finals — was the top local Group A school. The Blue Devils attained 185 points en route to a fifth-place showing.
Other local schools were Virginia High (9th), Lebanon (18th), George Wythe (21st), Twin Valley (23rd), John Battle (24th), Patrick Henry (25th), J.J. Kelly (27th). Castlewood and Clintwood were tied for 29th.