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NEW ALBANY, Ind. – It was a successful start to the Region XII softball tournament for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

The second-seeded Cavaliers advanced to the winner’s bracket finals of the six-team event with a 5-2 decision over No. 6 Tennessee Wesleyan Wednesday at Koetter Complex.

Virginia-Wise (27-17) will play the host school, Indiana University-Southeast, at 2 p.m. Thursday. The Grenadiers upset top-seeded Milligan 4-3.

A pair of Cavaliers earned All-Region XII honors Wednesday. Catcher Shelley Newton (.368-6-38) made it for the fourth time, while outfielder Maddi Ridenour (.453-0-15) made it as a freshman.

Horner signs with VI

Virginia Intermont announced Wednesday it has signed Gate City’s Samantha Horner to a letter-of-intent.

Horner is a three-year letter-winner in softball and a four-year letter-winner in basketball who was part of state championship teams.

Horner isn’t playing softball this spring, but coach Eric Senter sees her as "a nice fit for our team."

PREP SOFTBALL

Appalachia 17, Pound 2

Becca Estridge went 2-for-3 and scored five runs as Appalachia cruised to a Lonesome Pine District win at Pound.

Lauren Howard, Lindsie Stacy and Suzanna Long each added two hits for the Bulldogs. Samantha Balthis was 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Wildcats (7-10, 1-8), which made a whopping 10 errors.

Holston 6, St. Paul 1

Hannah DeArmond went 2-for-4 and scored two runs as Holston downed non-district rival St. Paul.

Stephanie Fritts was the winning pitcher, tossing a six-hitter and not allowing a run over the final six innings. Amanda Bradley had two hits and scored a run for St. Paul.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Belmont 5, Tennessee 3

Tennessee’s late-season pratfall continued for Belmont’s benefit, the Bruins winning the non-conference game to extend the Volunteers’ losing streak to six games.

Matt Zeblo’s three-run homer gave UT (25-24) its third loss in less than a month to a losing Atlantic Sun Conference team. The Vols wasted Kentrail Davis’ 12th homer of the year.

UT hosts Kentucky this weekend in a key Southeastern Conference series. The winner gets the inside track on the final spot in the SEC Tournament.

Robbins, King players honored

Brad Robbins of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, along with three players from King, were honored with selections to the NAIA All-Region XII team.

Robbins entered the regional tournament with a .479 average, 11 homers and 43 RBIs.

King pitchers Jace Smith and Brandon Wallace, along with first baseman Mike Torrence, also made the team. Smith led the Tornado in wins and Wallace was their best reliever, while Torrence paced the team in average and RBIs.

PREP BASEBALL

Grundy 14, Council 4

Cody Billiter homered twice and picked up a complete game win as Grundy cruised to a non-district triumph at Council.

Billiter had three hits and scored four runs for the Golden Wave (3-12), which scored seven runs in the top of the first inning. Freshmen Cody Justus and Jon Kelly each added three hits and two RBIs.

Corey Barton went 4-for-4 for the Cobras (3-11).

Hurley 13, Phelps 9

Gary Blankenship cracked a grand slam to highlight a 10-run second inning that lifted Hurley to a non-district home win over Phelps (Ky.).

Blankenship also got the win for the Rebels (4-9-2), while Larry Burks added four RBIs. Hurley finished with 13 hits.

St. Paul 4, Haysi 3

Josh Brooks squeezed home Matt Dupuie in the bottom of the seventh inning as St. Paul notched a non-district home victory over Haysi.

Bryce Lawson had two hits and a run for the Deacons (7-10), and also picked up the win in relief. St. Paul made six pitching changes involving four hurlers.

Tyler Mullins went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Tigers (10-7).

Oak Hill Academy 9, Patrick Henry 8

Despite a 4-for-4 effort from Cody Foglesong, Patrick Henry lost a non-district game to Oak Hill Academy in extra innings.

Taylor Fish scored on Johnny Walker’s game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give Oak Hill the win. Patrick Henry had scored four runs in the top of the seventh to force extra innings, but couldn’t pull off the victory.

Ronnie Groves went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Rebels (9-8), who have three games remaining in the regular season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

McNeil on Rimington list

Tennessee junior Josh McNeil is one of 42 players on the spring watch list for the 2008 Rimington Trophy, awarded to the sport’s top center.

McNeil helped the Volunteers’ offensive line allow an NCAA-low four sacks last year, when UT won the Southeastern Conference’s East Division and also beat Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

King men sign two

King coach George Pitts has signed guards Josh Padgett of Johnson City and Eddie Piccinini of Orlando, Fla. for the 2008-09 season.

The 6-foot-2 Padgett averaged 22.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for University High, helping it reach the Class A semifinals.

The 6-0 Piccinini averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 39 percent from the 3-point line for Class A champion Pine Castle, which also appeared in the Arby’s Classic.